CHAPTER 10POLITICS, REVIVAL, AND REFORM

Adult white male suffrage◦ 1840: 90%

Blacks ◦ Racism

Women◦ Patriarchal beliefs

SOCIETY

Parades, rallies

POPULAR POLITICS

Dominating figure Indian removal

◦ Trail of Tears

ANDREW JACKSON

Millerites◦ Judgment day: 0ct. 22, 1843

UTOPIAN SOCIETIES

Temperance◦ Alcohol

A social norm Became abused Problems 1830: +7 gallons per capita

SOCIAL REFORM

This Currier and Ives lithograph, The Drunkard’s Progress, dramatically conveys the message that the first glass leads the drinker inevitably to alcoholism and finally to the grave, while his wife and child (shown under the arch) suffer. SOURCE:The Drunkard ’s Progress ,Library of Congress.

FIGURE 13.2 Per Capita Consumption of Alcohol 1800–60 The underlying cause of the dramatic fall in alcohol consumption during the 1830s was the changing nature of work brought about by the market revolution. Contributing factors were the shock of the Panic of 1837 and the untiring efforts of temperance reformers. SOURCE:W.J.Rorabaugh,The Alcoholic Republic:An American Tradition (New York:Oxford University Press,1979).

Restraint

Sylvester Graham◦ sexual activity◦ Excessive sex: bad◦ solution: special wheat crackers (Graham

crackers), fruit, cold showers

◦ Dieting, nutrition

SEX

1774, oldest utopian group

Mother Ann◦ Female version of God

Chastity and abstinence◦ Personal experiences

SHAKERS

Oneidas◦ Upstate N.Y.◦ John Noyes, 1848◦ Free love ◦ No marriage◦ Communal

Sex unions Child rearing

◦ Adultery

Mormons◦ Joseph Smith (adultery?) ◦ Polygamy legitimate

ALTERNATIVES

Horace Mann

◦ State based, mandatory

Reform

Education ◦ Standardization◦ Training

EDUCATION

Winslow Homer’s famous painting, The Country School is both affectionate and realistic, showing both the idealism of the young female teacher and the barefoot condition of most of her pupils. SOURCE:Winslow Homer,The Country School ,1871.St.Louis Art Museum

Blacks and Whites

◦ ACS – 1817 Liberia, West Africa

◦ Blacks: Douglas

◦ Whites: Garrison, Liberator

ABOLITIONISM

David Walker Appeal Anti-slavery Fight segregation

◦ Any means

BLACK RIGHTS

Second class citizens Women

◦ Could not advance◦ Serve men

Seneca Falls convention, 1848

WOMEN’S RIGHTS