American Society During the Era of Good Feelings Religion

1. Staged revivals, sometimes lasting 5 days Rejected pre-destination & Calvinism American Society During the Era of Good FeelingsReligion Member-ship in churches increased Second Great Awakening Unitarianism: believed individual & social reform are important Africans formed their own churches

2. The Second Great Awakening “Spiritual Reform From Within”[Religious Revivalism] Social Reforms & Redefining the Ideal of Equality Education Temperance Abolitionism Asylum &Penal Reform Women’s Rights

3. Charles G. Finney(1792 – 1895) The ranges of tents, the fires, reflecting light…; the candles and lamps illuminating the encampment; hundreds moving to and fro…;the preaching, praying, singing, and shouting,… like the sound of many waters, was enough to swallow up all the powers of contemplation. “soul-shaking” conversion R1-2

4. American Society During the Era of Good FeelingsReforms Wrote “Walden” Emphasized living a simple life Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Truth found in nature Civil disobedience

5. The Transcendentalist Agenda • Give freedom to the slave. • Give well-being to the poor and the miserable. • Give learning to the ignorant. • Give health to the sick. • Give peace and justice to society.

6. American Society During the Era of Good FeelingsSocial Reform Mid-19th Century, Dorothea Dix advocated reform for mentally ill persons. She wrote a report for the Massachusetts Legislature & persuaded 9 southern states to improve conditions in institutions. Education was another area in great need of reform… Pennsylvania Massachusetts 1837-Horace Mann becomes 1st Sec. of Board of Education 1834-established tax supported school system Education Established teacher training & curriculum reforms Within 3 years, 42% of school age children were attending

7. American Society During the Era of Good FeelingsSlavery & Abolition By the 1820’s, more and more reform-minded people were advocating for abolition of slavery. Charles Finney, a revivalist preacher from Rochester, called it “a great national sin.” • Abolition: • Wm Lloyd Garrison -white man; started a newspaper—The Liberator • Anti-slavery associations created • Frederick Douglass- escaped slavery, articulate writer & speaker • Slavery: • Stated that slavery benefited the blacks, also blacks were happy in their condition • Said the black slave system was better than the wage system of the north Debates raged. Abolitionists pushed for immediate emancipation. Pro-slavery advocates secured a gag rule, limited debate on the issue in Congress. Violence would erupt in places; slave revolts & retaliation from slave holders.

8. American Society During the Era of Good FeelingsWomen & Reform Temperance: Many wanted to prohibit drinking; 1826-the American Temperance Society was created Education: For girls was not considered important. One of first women’s school opened up in 1821. Black women faced greater challenges Abolition: Appealed to the Christian ideals to condemn slavery Women’s Reform Movements Sojourner Truth: Black female reformer & abolitionist. Traveled extensively. Seneca Falls Convention Nearly 300 people gathered to advocate for women’s rights. Women should participate in public life.