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Dorothea Dix

Dorothea Dix. Jason Beneducci, Kiwi Buckler, Jack Sudnikovich. Biography. Born in Hampden, Maine, in 1802. Troubled Childhood Began to establish schools throughout Massachusetts. Found a new interest in better treatment of the mentally ill. “ A Memorial ”.

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Dorothea Dix

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  1. Dorothea Dix Jason Beneducci, Kiwi Buckler, Jack Sudnikovich

  2. Biography • Born in Hampden, Maine, in 1802. • Troubled Childhood • Began to establish schools throughout Massachusetts. • Found a new interest in better treatment of the mentally ill.

  3. “A Memorial” • After returning to America, conducted a statewide survey in Massachusetts to see how the poor and mentally ill and were being treated • After terrible results came back, Dix published “A Memorial” Bill to expand the state’s mental hospital in Worcester • “ I proceed. Gentlemen briefly, to call your attention to the present state of insane persons confined within this commonwealth, in cages, in stalls, pens! Chained, naked, beaten with rods and lashed into obedience

  4. “The Bill for the Benefit of the Indigent Insane” • Dix began to travel all around, observing the poor treatment of the mentally ill and putting in massive effort to get bills passed to create asylums • Her work amounted to “The Bill for the Benefit of the Indigent Insane” • Lobbied for 12,225,000 acres for insane people

  5. Civil War and Death • Superintendent of Army Nurses by the Union Army in the Civil War • Died on July 17, 1887 in Trenton NJ

  6. Transcendentalism/ Social Reform • Philosophical movement that developed in the 1830’s – 1840’s that stressed the need for individual independence • Transcendentalists blame society and its organized institutions for the destruction of human “purity” • People are truly their best when they are completely “self- reliant” • One of the central beliefs of these people was that people and nature are inherently good • Stressed the necessity of social reforms/improvements and the need to be optimistic

  7. Transcendentalism/ Social Reform • Dix sought to better the overall living conditions of the insane • They were considered people to, therefore they were deserving of the right to independence • Dix promoted the idea of optimism by attempting to better the conditions of the insane

  8. Contributions and Effect • Throughout her lifetime, Dix worked to improve conditions of mental hospitals in Worcester, Rhode Island, and New York. • Presented her findings to the Massachusetts government, pushing for legislature to be passed to improve treatment of the mentally ill. • Sparked nationwide empathy for those with mental illness and she is credited as the leader of a movement to reform mental hospitals in America.

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