antebellum reform overview

Antebellum

Period before the war, specifically referring to the 1820s-1850s in this context

Second Great Awakening

Religious revival movement in the early 19th century emphasizing salvation through faith and hard work

Charles Finney

Presbyterian minister who preached radically in the 1820s, shifting focus to emotion and salvation

Mormons

Members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, founded by Joseph Smith in 1830

Transcendentalists

Group questioning organized religion and materialism, advocating intuitive thinking and artistic expression

Women's Rights Movement

Advocacy for women's suffrage and rights, exemplified by the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848

Temperance

Movement advocating for alcohol regulation due to health, poverty, and moral concerns

Aid to the Disabled

Efforts to improve conditions for the mentally ill and disabled, led by figures like Dorothea Dix

Education Reform

Efforts to make education accessible beyond the wealthy, spearheaded by Horace Mann

Utopian Societies

Experimental communities aiming for ideal living conditions, such as Brook Farm and Shakers