Study Guide-Moral Minorities

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Study Guide Moral Minorities and the Making of American Democracy Part 1-Introduction & Chapters 1-3 Introduction 1. How does the author characterize “moral reform?” The author characterizes moral reform as a series of grass roots movements beginning in the 1820’s that sought to ensure a Christian moral majority in America. These movements included Sabbath reform, the temperance movement, and radical abolition. 2. How does the author characterize “grass roots minority rights activism?” Grass roots minority activism is characterized by local leaders who were usually located in the North where reformers had the most influence over public policy used the growing news media to bring their struggles to national attention. This had the affects of bringing matters of policy, law, and minority rights to ordinary Americans who in turn became more active in political matters. 3. How does the author point to a Long History of the Civil Rights Movement? The author points to the LCRM by mentioning that the popular struggles in the 20 th century had its origins in the mid-19 th century by those who protested majority rule, and that this history of minority-rights activism shows continuity between the two periods. 4. In one sentence what is the thesis of the book? How the minority rights activists of the 19 th century built the blueprint of organized and persistent activism that later civil rights activists would use. Chapter 1 1. How did reformers organize their activism? Reformers organized their activism by holding local meetings as well as state and national conventions. Sponsored public lectures and agents to raise funds and used propaganda such as pamphlets, newspapers, and journals to spread their message. 2. What types of policies (and legislation) did temperance reformers promote? Temperance reformers promoted policies such as reinforcing the Sabbath, ending the lottery, reducing or ending the sale and consumption of alcohol, and abolishing slavery. 3. How did temperance reformers transform politics? Through their use of grassroots activism temperance reformers showed that it was possible for minority rights activists to effectively, and more importantly, successfully campaign against majoritarian rule. 1

4. How did moral reformers transform notions of “majoritarian rule?” Moral reformers transformed notions of majoritarian rule because of the influx of voters their grassroots movements bought to the political stage. In the early years of the country very few people used their ability to vote often leaving public policymaking and elections to the educated and politically connected. With larger numbers of people beginning to put their input on how the county is run the nature of majoritarian rule changed. By the 1830’s elections transformed into relentless campaigns, newspaper wars and increased political spectacles such as rallies, conventions, and electioneering. Chapter 2 1. What changes in society occurred to bring on Sunday Laws activism? The rise of Sunday Laws activism correlated with the increase of American nativism. Growing anti-immigrant sentiment combined with religious dogma saw to the increased pressure to pass the Sabbath reforms. Those who advocated for these laws reasoned that since the majority of America followed Protestantism and since the country was founded by protestants and since most Americans worshiped on Sunday then majority rule dictated that the laws should be passed. Further complicating things, proponents of the Sunday Laws stated that the repealing or dismissal of these laws was a denial of America’s identity as a Christian republic. 2. What was the argument(s) against Sunday Laws? Business owners, laborers, and followers of other religions argued that the Sunday Laws violated their rights as Americans and impeached upon the notion that America was a country that separated church and state that allowed religious freedom. 3. In what way did Sunday Laws challenge majority rule? The Sunday Laws showed the dangers of majority rule. If the majority could pass all the laws and elect all the officials, then the minority could potentially have their rights stripped. With this danger growing more apparent to the public more organized grassroots movements led to the increased activism for minority rights. Chapter 3 1. How did Rice v. Foster force activists and supporters of temperance to change their thinking about government? Rice v. Foster demonstrated the dangers of direct democracy. Bayard and Clayton argued that by accepting the Constitution the people placed limits on their own power, namely that laws could only be passed by representatives. Bayard and Clayton showed how representative democracy was a good thing because representatives could deliberate and balance the needs of society, including those of the minority, in an environment that was divorced from heated emotions and prejudice. Another argument was that under a direct democracy, states could have wildly different laws on issues that should really have one codified solution such as murder and slavery. 2

2. How did liquor licenses and the activism surrounding them reflect a critique concerning majoritarian rule and minority rights? Liquor licenses showed the issues with majoritarian rule, namely that under a direct democracy the policies of the country would become subject to the whims of the people who could easily become influenced by their emotions and swayed by demagogues. This would destabilize the country as each state and even each county could have its own laws. Also the rights of minorities would be completely stripped. Part 2 Chapters 4-Epilogue Chapter 4 1. To white abolitionists what was the problem with marriage laws? To white abolitionists, the problem with the ban on interracial marriage was not a matter of matrimony but discrimination. The issue was that there was an official state statute that discriminated against people purely on the color of their skin. 2. In what ways did abolitionists link the fight for minority rights for African Americans, democracy and Christian teachings to the fight against marriage laws and later segregated schools? Abolitionists argued that by discriminating against someone on the account of their skin color was not only immoral but went against the egalitarian values of Christianity. They also argued that under democracy people should be able to live how that want and if their deportment was correct that should not be persecuted for how they chose to live their private lives. 3. How did African Americans themselves introduce and organize against segregated schools? African Americans organized against school segregation by petitioning school boards, boycotting, holding public meetings, and publishing protests to change policy. 4. How did school laws and Commonwealth v. Dedham contribute to the argument against segregated schools? While the case of Commonwealth v. Dedham was not about racial equality it did provide a judicial precedent that helped the cause to end segregation in schools. The case said that schools should benefit the whole town and that courses offered in one area must be offered in all areas and that all children should have equal privileges for their education. 5. What was the Equal School Rights Committee? Would you characterize their movement as successful? The Equal School Rights Committee was an institution created to formalize and organize activism against school segregation. The movement was successful in that in 1855 they successfully managed to have legislation passed in Massachusetts that outlawed school officials 3

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