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The Common School Era

The Common School Era. Massachusetts in the 1830’s Demographics Politics Economics Ideology. Demographic Changes. Settlers went from the coastal states to the interior territories Irish immigrants--settled in the northeast mainly Poor, unskilled and Catholic

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The Common School Era

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  1. The Common School Era Massachusetts in the 1830’s Demographics Politics Economics Ideology

  2. Demographic Changes • Settlers went from the coastal states to the interior territories • Irish immigrants--settled in the northeast mainly • Poor, unskilled and Catholic • Urbanization stimulated by industrialization. • Led to a growing gap between rich and poor • Increased crime

  3. Political Changes • 1789 fewer than 1 in 7 could vote • 1824, 4 in 7 white men could vote • Democrat Andrew Jackson gained more power as did his party. • Upper class supported the Whig party. • Upper class was alarmed at how many “uneducated” voters there were. • Upper class supported education so that theses voters could make informed and educated voting decisions.

  4. Economics • Transportation was a key change maker in the economy of Massachusetts • Transportation improvements increased people, goods and produce movement • Expansion of commerce centered in port cities, especially New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore • Industrial development began in country side with cottage industries. • Cottage industries became factories in New England • Rise in commerce and industrialization presented the need for schooling

  5. Ideology • Early in the period, Puritanism was still influential • Later in period more belief in a benevolent God who created a rational universe and endowed human nature with rationality • New Englanders began to believe that God had given them the power for improvement • Prisons were built—notion to reform rather than punish • Hospitals for mentally ill were built • Youthful offender institutions were developed--Reformatories

  6. Ideology continued • Women’s suffrage movement received support • Belief that God created even women with rational capacity • Abolitionists believed African-Americans should be free • Belief that all God’s creatures were equal • More government involvement and centralization of authority • Laissez Faire now meant the government should step in when necessary to assist economic development • Classic Liberalism spread from government to citizens now • Faith in human reason • Newton’s conception of Natural Law • Continuing progress

  7. Ideology continued • Politics, newspapers and churches became vehicles for new ideas • State power over education began to overpower local self-government. • Literacy was needed to read the Bible

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