The Antebellum Period

1. The Antebellum Period The Ferment of Reform and Culture (1790-1860)

2. Religion • Church attendance was typical • About ¾ of the 23 Million Americans went to church in 1850 • Churches were not as strict as colonial days • Reasons: Rationalist Ideas from French Revolution • Thomas Paine’s book “The Age of Reason.” • “[Churches were] Set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” –Thomas Paine

3. Deism • Mode of thinking that emerged as a result of the Age of Enlightenment • Reason over Revelation • Embraced by some of our Founding Fathers • Many Deists believed in a supreme being, but not one that completely runs our daily lives

4. Unitarians • Spin off of Deism • God exists in one person, not holy trinity • Jesus is not divine • Human nature is good • God gave us free will • Salvation can be achieved through good works • God is a loving father

5. Unitarian movement • Embraced by Ralph Waldo Emerson • Applied to intellectuals who rejected Calvinism

6. The Second Great Awakening (Wait, one wasn’t enough?) • Reaction against liberalism • Began on the southern frontier and moved to the northeast Only in North did it play a role in reform • One of the most momentous episodes in the history of American religion • Camp meetings-giant groups of up to 25,000 people that would last for several days • Circuit riders

7. Charles Grandison Finney • Regarded as the greatest of revival preachers • He was a great speaker • Was successful in converting over half a million people • Allowed women to pray in groups • Denounced alcohol and slavery • Later served as president of Oberlin college in Ohio

8. Diversity in Religion • Western New York became known as the burned over district because so many preachers were preaching fire and brimstone. • In the 1830s William Miller and his Millerites (later becoming the Adventists), were influential in this area • Believed that Jesus would return to earth on October 22 1844 • Lines between classes and religions were widened

9. Churches start to split • Slavery is still a huge issue at this time, especially with churches • Southern Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians were splitting with their northern brethren over slavery • This serves to be a HUGE precursor to the secession of southern states

10. The Mormons • In 1830 a man named Joseph Smith claims he received some golden plates from an angel • Once he interpreted them it formed the book of Mormon, forming the Mormon faith • Joseph Smith tried to preach and spread his revelation • Met with heavy opposition, especially in the states of Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois • In 1844 Joseph Smith and his brother were murdered by a mob in Carthage, Illinois

11. The Torch Is Passed • Brigham Young manned the helm of the Mormon faith after the death of Smith • Brigham Young was stern, only had 11 days of formal schooling, but was still a great speaker • From 1846-1847 he led the Mormons across the plains of Utah to settle out west • Through a system of cooperative irrigation, the Mormons were able to thrive in the desert

12. Public Education • Tax supported primary schools were scarce in the early republic • The ones that were around were ragged and run down • Lower class Americans pushed for free public education • Tax supported public education lagged in the south, but flourished in the north between 1825-1850 • One room school houses were beginning to pop up • “A civilized nation that was both ignorant and free never was and never will be.”

13. Educational Reform • Due to the bad conditions of public education, reform was clearly needed • Horace Mann, who was the Secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education, pushed for better school conditions • Wanted: Better school houses, longer school terms, higher pay for teachers, and expanded curriculum • Mann was very influential in several states, and some improvements were made • Unfortunately, education remained an expensive luxury for many communities

14. More about Education • Southern black slaves were legally forbidden to receive education • Northern free blacks were often turned away from schools • Noah Webster: Very intelligent patriot who wanted to establish an American language and named a dictionary after himself

15. Higher Education • The 2nd Great Awakening led to planting of many small liberal arts colleges In south and west • Not strong academically • Most had a very narrow curriculum • First state supported universities sprang up in the south • Women being educated was still frowned upon • Oberlin college opened up to women too in 1837 • Libraries start growing, door to door book peddlers help knowledge grow, and Lyceum speakers become popular

16. An Age of Reform • Lots of reform began at this time and religion played a valuable role in this • Several reformers still had a Puritan vision of the perfect society-No cruelty, war, alcohol, or discrimination • Many women became prominent in these reforms • People wanted to reaffirm traditional values in an America because things were becoming more industry based • Huge reforms in prisons thanks to Dorothea Dix

17. “But Why is the Rum Gone?” • The ever present drink problem attracted dedicated reformers • The American Temperance Society steps in. • They were groups of people that implored drinkers to sign a temperance pledge • made good use of propaganda to show the evils of alcohol • Neal S. Dow was a reformer, employer, and Mayor of Portland. He saw the effects of alcohol on his employees and was known as the “father of prohibition.”

18. Wilderness Utopias • New Harmony Indiana- Founded by Robert Owen. A very communal society. It had 100 thousand members, but fell apart in 2 years from confusion and fighting • Brook Farm Massachusetts- Founded by intellectuals. These people lived plainly, pursued life of the mind. However after their communal home burned down, they fell into debt and the community dissolved • Oneida community, New York- One of the more radical utopian communities. Practiced free love, birth control, and Eugenics • Shakers- Women originally brought over from England who had a lively dance worship, communal living, and practiced celibacy

19. Women in Revolt • In the 19th century, it was still a very male dominated society in Europe and America • Wives were immersed to homes, submissive to husbands, could not vote, could be legally beaten, and could not retain title to her property when she married • Women were thought to be artistic, refined, needed to teach the young how to be good citizens, and had to guide their husbands • Several women activists and reformers were able to gather influence halfway through the century

20. Women in Revolt • Lucretia Mott- Took fellow female delegates to the London anti slavery convention and were not recognized • Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Primary author of Declaration of Sentiments. Co founder of first women’s temperance movement • Susan B. Anthony-Co founder of first women's temperance movement • Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell-First female graduate of medical school • Margret Fuller-Edited a well known journal at the time

21. More Women In Revolt • Sarah and Angelina Grimke-Sisters who fought for women's rights, as well as anti slavery • Lucy Stone-Retained her maiden name after marriage • Amelia Bloomer-Protested women’s clothing by wearing Turkish Trousers • Lucretia Mott-Woman who fought for women’s rights, as well as anti slavery.

22. Seneca Falls • The woman’s rights convention was held at Seneca Falls New York • It was a gathering of feminist activists where Elizabeth Cady Stanton read her “Declaration of Sentiments.” • This stated that “All men and women are equal,” and helped launch the modern women’s rights movement • Unfortunately this was mostly shadowed by the slavery issue

23. Health concerns • In terms of basic science, Americans borrowed and adapted the findings of Europeans • Medicine was still behind at this time, and bleeding was still a common cure • Smallpox and yellow fever became rampart too • Illness came from improper dieting, eating too fast, perspiring and cooling off to rapidly, bad teeth, and ignorance of germs and sanitation

24. Artistic Achievements • Architecturally, America contributed little in the first half of the 19th century • American painters were relatively unsuccessful as well • The Hudson river school helped out American painters because it provided an American Artistic movement that produced romantic renditions of local landscapes • Music starts to come back from rhythmic and nostalgic black tunes that were popularized by whites

25. American Artwork

26. American Literature • America didn’t have many books or authors • Mostly they had old writings by founding fathers, or works that were plagiarized British books • There was a huge wave of nationalism after the war of 1812 which caused a desire for American authors • Washington Irving- First American to win international recognition as a literary figure. Wrote works like Rip Van Winkle and Sleepy Hollow. Helped Interpret Americans to Europeans and vice versa • James Fenimore Cooper-First novelist of America and also won international recognition. Regarded as being a nationalistic writer for his American themes.

27. Transcendentalism • There was a golden age of American literature in the second quarter of the 19th century • “Literary and intellectual movement that emphasized individualism and self reliance, predicated upon a belief that each person possesses an inner light that can point the way to truth and direct contact to God.” • Truth transcends the senses and cannot be simply observed • Focuses on Individualism, self reliance, self culture, and self discipline. Hostility to authority and conventional wisdom

28. Ralph Waldo Emerson • Boston transcendentalist • Used to be a minister, but became a writer to reach a wider audience • Gave an address called “The American Scholar,” Which called for an intellectual declaration of independence • It called for people to throw out European traditions and establish a self image

29. Henry David Thoreau • Close associate to Emerson • Hated the fact that government supported slavery and refused to pay a poll tax, winding up in prison • He resisted bodily urges for a pursuit of truth through study and meditation • Ended up inspiring men like Gandhi and Dr. King

30. Walt Whitman • A very romantic, emotional, and unconventional poet • His collection of poems called leaves of grass didn’t catch on at first, but eventually gained him popularity in Europe and America • He caught the exuberant enthusiasm of an expanding America that had turned its back on the old world

31. More great writers of the time • Professor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow- one of the most popular poets in America, he was accepted by less cultured masses and had wide knowledge of both European and American themes • John Greenleaf Whittier- A fighting Quaker who was also a poet. He wrote about anti slavery, and was a huge moving force behind the anti slavery movement • Louisa May Alcott- Female author who wrote books like little woman to support her mother and sisters • Emily Dickinson- A famous female American poet. Wrote brilliant poetry, but was rather reclusive

32. Doom and Gloom Writers • Not all writers at the time had the same positive views about man that Transcendentalism had • Edgar Allen Poe- Master poet and writer. Had a morbid sensibility opposite of America. Wasn’t popular in America at time, but was with Europeans • Nathaniel Hawthorne- Was enthralled with the Calvinist belief of original sin and the constant struggle of good vs. evil. Wrote the scarlet letter • Herman Melville- His writing tended not to be straightforward and upbeat, which is why his work didn’t really catch on until after his death. Wrote Moby Dick

33. George Bancroft • Was a secretary of the Navy • Helped found the Naval academy • “Father of American History.” • Wrote a super patriotic history of the U.S.

34. Major Points to take away • Through religion, education, reform, women taking action, advances in artwork, and literature, Americans started throwing off European identity and formed American identity and sense of self.