How Successful Was The Reform Movement In The 1800's

“By 1830, the average American over 15 years old consumed nearly seven gallons of pure alcohol a year – three times as much as we drink today” (PBS, nd). The result was the temperance movement. The Temperance movement was an anti-movement that swept across the country in the 1830s and 40s. The abolitionists tried to show that drinking alcohol was a sin and that the country needed to be cleansed. They called for a prohibition of alcohol. On January 17th, 1920, an amendment to the constitution was passed that banned the making, transporting, and selling of alcohol and other intoxicating beverages.

The major changes in American religion that occurred in the early nineteenth century were the Second Great Awakening. The Second Great Awakening was a Christian Revival movement during the early nineteenth century. The movement began around 1800, it had begun to gain momentum from the 1820. With the Second Great Awakening; new religions were established, there were different academic curriculums, a change from the trinity to just one deity and they would touch on American culture and reform.

In the early 1800s the Second Great Awakening was gaining momentum, birthing several movements such as the Temperance Movement, Women’s Suffrage, and the Anti-Slavery Abolitionist Movement. These movements also sparked the idea of alcohol being a threat to society as a whole, stating that it was a ‘National Curse’. Under this guise that by ridding the country as a whole of alcohol, it would decrease crime and cause an increase in other industries. The idea was

The desire to control alcohol consumption, or advocate temperance, has been a goal of humanity throughout countless periods of history. Many countries have had organized temperance movements, including Australia, Canada, Britain, Denmark, Poland, and of course, the United States. The American temperance movement was the most widespread reform movement of the 19th century, culminating in laws that completely banned the sale of all alcoholic beverages. The movement progressed from its humble local roots to nationwide organizations with millions of members and large amounts of political power. The growth of the temperance movement resulted from the changes in society between the original American settlers and the post-Revolutionary War

The Temperance Movement in Antebellum America was one of the largest moral reforms of in 1800s. Several members of the community fought for the prohibition of alcohol, rather than just limiting the about being consumed. However, “many farmers argued that the society and its desire to eradicate King Alcohol—as temperance advocates often termed alcoholic beverages—were a scheme to deprive the people of their liberty." Starting with main in the 1851, twelve states and territories outlawed the consumptions of alcohol. Temperance leaders came about and the movement created many different temperance groups that later used an assortment of tactics and persuasion to get their points across such as political, art, and even education. “During the first great wave of temperance protest lasting from the 1830s through the 1850s, working-class radicals and union organizers had urged temperance as necessary to both self-improvement and resistance to workplace oppression.”

Movements for change have existed throughout history and have different motives. The Prohibition movement in the early nineteen hundreds is started a small group of women and religious leaders. The motive for this movement is to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol. As the movement grew, the group influenced government policy in favor for their issue. Positive intentions included the removal of alcohol from medicine, to relieve addiction. On the other hand, women supported this cause to better their life, while multiple theorist believing alcohol is detrimental to politics. This movement helped inspire others and mold the roles of men and women while making progress. Prohibition is represented to be a success, since it reveals how a belief by a few can grow and have a positive intention.

Before the nineteenth century, Christianity dominated the lives of its followers. But in the first half of the nineteenth century, there was an enormous divide that broke that previous stronghold - the Second Great Awakening - where new religious denominations came about. Following these new ideals were both reform movements that took to heart the newfound beliefs of said religious sects and a revival of antiquated religions, such as Christianity. The religious ideals of the Second Great Awakening influenced the emergence of religious reform movements that emphasized how its followers should take their religion and adapt it to their lives, social reform movements that addressed the unfair conditions numerous American citizens were forced to

During the Second Great Awakening from 1825-1850, people in the United States came to aspire for a more democratic country. There were several reform movements throughout the awakening that sought to expand democratic ideals. Reform was attempted in several different areas of American life. Attempts to improve and refine women's’ rights, abolitionism, education, religion, immigration, and utopianism in the United States were made.

The great awakening was a devoted religious revival movement in the 1720s through the 1740s that was spread throughout the colonies by ministers. It inspired ordinary citizen to assert their right to independent judgment by allowing them to make their own decisions about their religion and personal lives. The great awakening sparked people to stand up for what they believed in; their religion. It inspired ordinary citizens to stand up against the authority so that they could basically have freedom of religion.

From 1825-1850 many reform movements arose mainly due to the Market Revolution. The Market Revolution produced the idea that society will forever be fluctuating. This concept led to the Second Great Awakening, which ultimately inspired many positive movements of change including women's suffrage, abolitionism, workers rights, prison reforms, educational improvements, and respecting the mentally ill. Some reforms actually restricted liberties, such as prohibition, nativism, and the increase of utopian societies. The majority of these reform movements sought to expand democratic ideals. However, some reform movements were too focused on creating a better society where democratic ideals were compromised.

Dix’s life changed in 1841, when she began teaching Sunday school at the East Cambridge Jail, a women’s prison. She discovered the alarming treatment of the prisoners, specifically those with mental illnesses, whose place of residence had no heat. She immediately went to court and ensured an order to provide heat for the prisoners, along with other advancements. She began traveling around the state to research the conditions in prisons, and ultimately arranged a document that was presented to the Massachusetts Legislature, which enlarged the budget to expand the Mental Hospital at Worcester. Dix was not content with reforms in Massachusetts. She toured the country documenting the conditions and treatment of patients, campaigning to authorize

American reform movements in the early to mid 1800’s strived at improving our developing society. America was growing larger, and with the expanding population, many new ideas sprang up. Conflicting opinions between the people of the United States caused the emergence of an Age of Reform, where people tried to change things such as the educational system and women’s rights. These movements were the result of our nation’s self-determination and interest in improving the society we live in.

The Second Great Awakening was a Religious Revival Movement in American that started in 1790. Many Inspiring Movements were birthed from this revival. Some examples would be the Abolitionists Movement which sought to end slavery and the Woman’s Rights Movement which sought to secure equal rights for women.

Temperance became the biggest reform movement in the early 1800’s. Alcohol abuse was a cause of many factors such as spousal abuse, unemployment (poverty), crime, and family neglect. Alcoholic spirits were being produced at a large rate of 25 million gallons a year. To me this seems like a small rate to what we drink in our day and age but I could be wrong. The Temperance movement was brought to attention by Benjamin Rush. Rush fought for Temperance and was one of the founding fathers of the United States (which I did not know); he signed the Declaration of Independence and served as Surgeon General in the Continental army. Rush talks about the effects of Alcohol abuse and what it does to the human system. Later he forms a community to try

The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival in the United States, taking place in the late eighteenth century. In the 1700's many people were no longer going to church,spiking religious revivals that emphasized the importance of following God. New religious groups were created, such as the mormons who were not pleased with the preexisting faiths. These revivals also immensly helped Baptists and Methodists, who had the most people converting to their religions. As a result, church attendence grew in the nineth century. The picture shows the Cane Ridge revival in 1801.