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Middle Class & Reform Movements

Explore the origins and impact of the Middle Class and key reform movements in 19th-century America, from politics and industry to women's rights and utopian societies. Discover the pivotal contributions of figures like Jackson, de Tocqueville, and Sarah Hale.

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Middle Class & Reform Movements

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  1. Middle Class & Reform Movements

  2. Why do these Movements Start? • Politics – tone set by Jackson • Industry • Westward Movement

  3. Democracy in America • Jackson’s contributions as President are debatable, but this rhetoric sets a tone • Europeans who experience America have a wide range on comments on the matter

  4. Frances Trollope • From England • Wrote Domestic Manners of Americans – 1834 • Americans are uncouth slobs • Simple • Critical of slavery and treatment of Native Americans

  5. Alexis de Tocqueville • Frenchman • Wanted to see this functioning republic (France’s future) • 1831-1832 – toured America, wrote about experience • Democracy in America -1835 • Concluded that America is closer to having equality among men than any other nation • Critical of slavery

  6. Growth of America • Population increase • 1790 – 4 million people • 1860 – 24 million people • Push/pull factors • Push: revolution/famine • Pull: opportunity, growing industry

  7. Creation of the Middle Class Family • Growth of Industry  led to Middle class • Skilled positions…clerks, bookkeepers, managers • Family roles began to change • Gender Roles • Male – worked outside the home - breadwinner • Female – ran the household – decision maker • More of a team effort • Mothers did not work

  8. Cult of Domesticity or True Womanhood • Women must be the moral compass for the family • Sarah Hale was editor of Godey’s Ladies Book • Catherine Beecher wrote A Treatise on Domestic Economy for the Use of Young Ladies (1841) • Republican Motherhood • They contribute to the development of women as the homemaker and cultural icons

  9. Second Great Awakening • An attack on old testament Protestantism • Talked about .. • God’s mercy and the salvation of sinners • God is not “hands on” in peoples’ lives • Reflection of America’s do it yourself attitude? • Charles Grandison Finney • Said people can take salvation into their own hands • He said don’t wait to make your peace with God – death could come at any time • Finney put the “fun” back in fundamentalism • Women’s involvement

  10. American Temperance Movement (1826) • Movement to eliminate alcohol consumption. • Born in the Second Great Awakening • Embraced by employers • Also, women who attend revivals begin to argue its merits – neglectful husbands • Speeches, pamphlets & petitions • Over time will lead to restrictions on licensing the sale of liquor • Some local governments banned alcohol

  11. Abolitionism • David Walker: Appeal to the Colored People of the World -1826 • William Lloyd Garrison – The Liberator • Anti-Slavery Society • Constitution was a “covenant with hell” • Constitutional means for ending slavery were unnecessary

  12. Women’s Rights • Women lacked rights • Oberlin College – Ohio • Margaret Fuller – Women in the Nineteenth Century (1844) • Seneca Falls Convention (1848) – Declaration of Sentiments • “All men and women are created equal” • List of grievances against men

  13. Backwoods Utopias • Some adventurous Americans withdrew from middle class America and started/joined Utopian societies (experimental communities) • Shakers • Oneidas • Mormons

  14. Shakers • Founded by “Mother” Ann Lee • She was Jesus incarnate • Community near Albany NY • Grew rapidly and by 1830 had 20 communities • Practices • Emotional, vibrant rituals • Celibacy • Sexes lived apart • Lived communally • Industrious • Plain • Generally accepted

  15. Oneida Community • Founded by John H. Noyes • Do not follow gender norms • Equality of the sexes • Complex marriage • Developed manufacturing skills

  16. Mormons • Joseph Smith - 1820 in NY • Religious views unorthodox • Moved to Ohio, Missouri, Illinois • Smith authorized polygamy • Smith was killed by a mob • Brigham Young assumed leadership and in 1847 moved them to Utah • Here they flourished and had a significant impact on the development of the west and are significant to this day

  17. Institutions • Reformers established special institutions for dealing with social problems • Education for the blind • Orphanages, prisons, asylums began to appear • Studied showed that both inmates and citizens would benefit • They were intended to be humane • Dorthea Dix – provided for the insane, inspected insane asylums

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