Examples Of Reform Movements In The United States From 1825 To 1850

The years between 1825 to 1850 was a time for society to transform. Society was offering more opportunities to those who were below the white males on the social pyramid; which were women, child, blacks, and immigrants. The statement, “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals,” is a not valid for this time period because the reform movements were to benefit those who were fighting for equality, whereas, the democratic ideals were only benefitting the rich white males in society. Document C shows a picture of a slave chained to the ground with the quote, “Am I not a not a woman and a sister?” This is trying to say that the women were gaining more rights that was building up their social status to the men. However,

The picture is labeled, “The Drunkards Progress. From The First Glass To The Grave.” The meaning behind this is the men would abuse alcohol and this would lead them to die because they drank too much. It is showing from how the drinking started with a glass with a friend then it escalated to the climax of the drinking problem. Once you reach the summit, you were a confirmed drunkard. After the summit, it only went downhill from there. It would eventually lead you to death. This mostly occurred within first class families. They were the only ones that could afford it. Also, the middle class and the working class were had too busy of schedules to drink. Only the first class had the time in their day to constantly drink, hence the title First Glass (First Class). Once the man of the household died, the women and children were abandoned. The women did not receive much of an income nor were they stable enough to run a family. The Temperance Movement tried to stop men from drinking because nothing good would result from drinking. Women were getting abused at home because men were drinking, and their economic standing would also fall because the men would spend too much money on alcohol. This did not expand democratic ideals because letting men drink was not benefitting anyone in anyway, it was mostly just breaking family relationships apart as well as