The book American Reformers, 1815-1860 by Ronald G. Waters was originally published in 1978 by Hill and Wang publishing company. This book describes the reformation that took place in America, its affects, and what was necessary to get the word out about its ideas. The reformation was an important step in the development of the idea that the negative aspect of a nation’s society could be done away with through an individual’s endeavors. The first chapter of the book deals with how economics, transportation revolution, and politics played a part in the antebellum reformation. It explained how reformers felt about America’s immoral leaders and the laws that they thought would make Americans “behave.”
Progressive reform was a movement, dominated by the working middle class, in hopes of eliminating corruption in American Government. During the 1890s to 1920s, it was clear to see that people were being mistreated and abused by large corporations known as trusts. These businesses were manipulating prices, and even buying out competition in order to guarantee maximum profit, which put the consumers at the mercy of the company. It was important for Progressivists to target and eliminate these businesses and their bosses in order to effectively distribute money to the population; at this time, about three fourths of the population were classified as poor. One of the most powerful, influential, and best-known presidents to adapt a progressive mindset
Many Irish immigrants came from a peasant and labouring class which were generally poor. Just like many German Immigrants, The Irish immigrants came from poor backgrounds with not much from their home. The Irish immigrants would receive better wages in America working than the jobs they would work back home. “Therefore, to them, the poor or the plundered Irish emigrants, the first and pressing necessity was employment; and so splendid seemed in the result of that employment, even the rudest and most laborious kind, as compared with what they were able to earn in the old country,” (Documents 219 and 220) The Irish just like the German much rather preferred the wages they were payed in America than the amount they would earn at their old countries.
To what extent did reform movements in the United States from 1825 to 1850 seek to expand democratic ideals? From 1825-1850 America was on the verge to Manifest it’s destiny as a national super power. From the increased industrialization of the north, to the social changes in the south, and to the expansion to the west, America finally took its first steps to become a self-sufficient country. Important events such as The Second Great Awakening and the Transportation Revolution occurred during this time.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s reformers in the United States were trying different methods to advance the country. The reformers had different goals such as earning women suffrage and assisting the poor. The reformers had their methods to help bring about change in society. Reformers had different goals and methods to help change the society.
Many reform movements between 1825 and 1850 sought to expand democratic ideals by advocating many social and political changes including movements to prohibit alcoholic beverages, to increase public education, and to support rights for women. Movements within society were encouraged through the church as well as harmony.
The United States in the first half of the nineteenth century was awash in reform movements led by dreamers and activists who saw injustice and fought to correct it (Shi, 391). The visions of creating a perfect nation were carried out and the ideas of equality, liberty and freedom were extended to all people, regardless of their races, genders, religious beliefs, and social classes. The advocates of abolition, women’s rights, mental health care, education, and religious reforms through spreading their ideas and mobilizing people profoundly changed the American dynamics. Thoughts and efforts to weaken slavery were never new to Americans, yet it was not until the 1830s that the flares an immediate abolition everywhere sparked.
Reforms of the Mid-1800s The 1800s was a busy century for America. From the abolishment of slavery, to technology advancements such as the first sewing machine. But with the Second Great Awakening and new moral values, came new ideas for the government and overall society. The main reforms were temperance, prison, education, and Women's’ education. All of these have lead to good advancements in society, but also come with drawbacks.
As urbanization continued to expand, many issues were prevalent and visible to the public due to the presence of muckrakers. This caused outrage from different types of people, all advocating for one goal: the common man's rights. The progressive era advocated for some changes similar to the Second Great Awakening. However, these changes were felt much more throughout society. Progressive reforms in the late 19th century began to shape the future of the United States, pivotal changes took place in American society including political, temperance, and women's rights changes.
They were denied education and never got an opportunity in their life. These reform movements were necessary as they sought to expand democratic ideals so the people being oppressed were given a chance in life. Immigrants started coming to America during the 1800's for many different reasons. Some came for the American Dream, such as the Germans. While others came because of disease, such as the Irish.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, American society began to focus on the welfare of minority groups. Women’s suffrage and abolition were rooted as deeply as the history of America, but asylum and prison reform sprouted with the Second Great Awakening, a movement that occurred in the early 1800s. The Second Great Awakening was led by religious leaders who advocated for changes in American society through the unity of the American people (Doc. Due to the Second Great Awakening, reform movements were established between 1825 and 1850 in order to represent the changes the people sought for in the issues of slavery, suffrage, and asylum and prison reform. The social aspect of the abolition movement led to the visible democratic changes in society and politics.
The progressives were successful in meeting their goals of reforming the United States socially, politically, and industrially. Progressives were average people who attempted to solve problems. There were many progressives for a wide range of problems. Progressives assisted in revolutionizing the United States and achieving justice for many Americans.
In Ronald G. Walters book, American Reformers, he explains the complicated topic of reform movements of the 1800s. These movements included: religious revivalism, women’s suffrage, temperance, and abolition. Each of these topics uniquely tell a story about Americans’ attitudes towards their society and its problems. Religion has always been a large part of American history, and in the 1800s it took a different form. Walters writes, “...but men and women, girls and boys, became convinced of their own sinfulness, went through intense emotional turmoil, and emerged with a belief that they had been saved...
In the early 19th century, millions of immigrants from Europe had traveled to the United States to escape difficulties faced in their native lands such as poverty and religious persecution. Italian, German, Irish, and many other eastern European immigrants sought the prosperous and wealthy lifestyle advertised in the land of opportunity, the United States. However, after settling down they often faced the difficulties they had fled from as well as sentiments of prejudice and mistrust from the American people. Most immigrants were discriminated against due to their religious beliefs as well as their language barriers which fostered the beliefs that they were intellectually inferior to Americans.
The progressive reformers attempted to promote economic and social equality through equal representation, fair and equal access to government, and equal protections. The reforms utilized party conflict, executive actions, and collective action tactics to achieve results. The long-term effects were lower voter turnout, balanced powers, collective actions, and congressional dependence on their
