Chapter 15: The Ferment of Reform and Culture 1790-1860 Flashcards
- What particular qualities did Evangelical religion give to the early American culture? Why did so many of its energies move toward the reform of society? Were there elements of American religion that resisted the reform impulse?
Evangelical religion in early American culture was a major part of the early American culture. A majority of Americans attended church regularly, and while not all Americans were the same denomination, most had passionate beliefs regarding God. Many Americans took their Christianity a step further, feeling obligated to help make all Americans better citizens in their morals, religion, and education. This led to more reforms and revivals, one of which was the Second Great Awakening. Other reforms included efforts to better education, medical facilities, and society as a whole. The Temperance and Abolitionist movements also came as a result of this drive for a more “Christian” society. Efforts to resist the reform impulse came from many who opposed the destruction of slavery. On the whole, however, the religious reform impulse was a mass movement.
- How important is a free public education to a republic? If it is important, why then was early education so poor? If it is not important, why did it begin? Do you agree that public education was “an insurance premium that the wealthy paid for stability and democracy,” as the authors assert? Is it important to a republic to have compulsory public education?
Free public education is very important to a republic. Education is important because of the role it plays in bettering the minds of the young, preparing them to take helpful roles in the society of a country that will aid in moving it forwards. Here in Rwanda, a majority of the people are uneducated, and most of the people who have not gone to school lack simple skills in logic and have many gaps in their knowledge. Many say that the lack of education is one of the factors that led to the 1994 genocide. When people are not educated, they can make choices that endanger their safety as well as the safety of others. In the case of early American public education, things started out poorly because of the lack of effort put into free schooling. Many of the wealthier community members would not put in the money and aid necessary for the schools to do their job. As a result, schools were often lacking in materials. Eventually, Americans realized that refusing to contribute to education could result in even more uneducated, rebellious, harmful people who had a vote. Other reasons why early education was so poor were the teachers and parents. Many teachers were generous with discipline, but lacking in instruction. Many parents kept their students out of school during harvest time to help them.
I do agree that “public education was an insurance premium that the wealthy paid for stability and democracy” to a certain extent. By paying for the education of others, many realized that they were insuring that voters had the knowledge and intelligence to make wise choices for the country. Education is important to republics all over, as can be seen in the results of public education in America versus the lack of education in Rwanda. While America still has its faults, like any other country, everyday life and development is so much more efficient, systematic, and generally better than in third world countries such as Rwanda. Many people cannot afford even the smaller fees for education in this country, and as a result, many people do not make wise, informed choices.
- Why did America produce so many reform and utopian movements? What did they contribute to American culture?
Many of the reform and utopian movements that arose out of America came about as a result of the evangelical drive to better its citizens. The Second Great Awakening was one of these evangelical events that led to more reform. Another part of the drive to better society was the desire to revive the traditional, old school values they once possessed in light to their progression into a very new era- an era with a market economy. These reforms also led to a reformation of various aspects of American culture. People were imprisoned for debts, the number of capital offenses was lowered, brutal punishments became fewer and further in between, and drinking was seen in a less positive light. These changes had mixed results.
- What made women such prominent leaders in the religious and reform movements? How did the women’s rights movement compare with the other movements of the period? What obstacles did women reformers face? Why did women often have more difficulty working on their own behalf than they did advocating other causes?
In the beginning of the nineteenth century, women were given roles very separate from men’s. Women were thought to be inferior to men, and their place was supposed to be in the house. Women began to see the extent of their chains, however, and as this restraining view of females was challenged, more women were willing to join the effort. Women reformers called for an end to slavery and put their voices out in favor of the temperance movement. Their passion was equal, if not greater to that of men. The other movements of the time, namely the campaign against slavery, overshadowed the women’s right movement but it did have a gradual effect. Women reformers faced obstacles such the widespread mentality that they were inferior, the property laws that gave all land to her husband, and the lack of a vote. Also, unfortunately women did were not taken as seriously by others when pushing for their own rights as they did when they worked for the rights of others.
