Unit 4: Topic 11 - An Age of Reform Flashcards
Who were the Millerites?
The Millerites were a religious group that predicted Christ’s return in 1843-1844. When Christ did not appear, they founded their own Christian sect, now known as the Seventh-Day Adventists.
Who was Joseph Smith?
Joseph Smith is known as the founder of Mormonism. He claimed to have found the 3rd testament on buried gold plates that expanded upon the teachings found in Judaism and Christianity. As God’s appointed prophet, he wrote down his findings and it became the Book of Mormon.
The Mormons were frequently persecuted, primarily on account of their belief in polygamy. To many Americans, the close-knit Mormon communities made them uncomfortable and the practice of polygamy was immoral. Joseph Smith himself was killed by a violent mob.
Why did the Mormons move west to the Utah territory?
The Mormons migrated to the Utah Territory to escape persecution and pursue their idea of a utopian community.
Brigham Young, the Mormon prophet after Joseph Smith, was the leader during the migration. Because the Salt Lake Valley was isolated and with very little government presence or oversight, Young saw its potential as a safe place to build their society.
Who were some popular leaders of reform movements during the early to mid-1800s?
Horace Mann was an educational reformer who promoted the idea of “common schools”, or universal education, for children. He considered education to be the “great equalizer” and an essential part of democracy in the United States.
Dorothea Dix helped reform systems for the mentally ill by exposing inhumane conditions and treatment. She was instrumental in the founding and expansion of dozens of hospitals dedicated to treating mental illness.
*Abolitionism, women’s rights, and temperance are discussed in separate flashcards but are also considered important reform movements from this time.
What were the goals of the American Temperance Society?
The American Temperance Society was a reform organization created in 1826 to combat common drinking problems. They called for total abstinence from alcohol and claimed it would increase worker productivity, gaining the support of businessmen and politicians.
Nationwide Prohibition of alcohol would not exist until 1920-1933.
How did slavery end in the North?
Slavery slowly ended in the North as individual states either outright banned the practice or had gradual abolition bills. Several states had laws that freed slaves when they turned 28, other states simply found it illegal under their state constitution as lawsuits were raised against slavery.
Even so, many Northern states still had discriminatory laws and practices designed to segregate black citizens, deny them rights, or keep them in poverty. Many abolitionists would continue to fight these laws even after slavery ended.
What was the American Anti-Slavery Society?
The American Anti-Slavery Society was one of the first radical abolitionist groups in the North. Founded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison, they demanded an immediate end to slavery.
The society was politically active, petitioning Congress and rallying public support for abolition. Frederick Douglass was a key member of the society, giving many sponsored speeches.
Who was Frederick Douglass?
Frederick Douglass was considered one of the most talented and influential speakers on the issue of slavery.
Douglass himself was an escaped slave and wrote an autobiography, “Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass” to detail his experiences in captivity.
What was proposed at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848?
The Seneca Falls Convention was a key moment in the women’s movement where they proposed equality for women (legal, property, voting rights, etc.)
The convention was organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Many prominent feminists attended including Susan B. Anthony. This event is considered to be the beginning of the women’s suffrage movement.
What is the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions?
The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was created at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. It is based on the U.S. Declaration of Independence in order to draw parallels between the women’s movement and the founding of the United States. It famously states that “all men and women are created equal”.
It uses the lack of suffrage, property rights, inequal divorce laws, and inequality in education and employment (among other items) in order to show the oppression of women by the government and society.
