chapter 12: an age of reform

local and regional push to reform

trying to make society better, various groups had different ideas of creating the perfect society

utopian communities

emerged to create perfect society, according to community members

temperance movement

the US had encouraged a substantial decrease in consumption of alcohol

women in utopian societies

perceived that they needed to be treated as equals

the shakers

believed that god had "dual" personality, both male and female, thus both sexes spiritually equal

the shakers practices

abandoned traditional family life, men and women lived separately in dorm-like structures, all members practiced celibacy

new harmony

robert owens, children would be removed from the care of their parents and be educated in schools to place the common good above their own desires

common schools

tax supported state schools in the north where they would receive support from labor organizations, factory owners, and the middle class reformers, preparing next generation

prisons and asylums

places that could rehabilitate individuals and then release them back into society

the liberty party

main goal was to make abolitionism a political movement

abolitionist movement

when compared to early antislavery efforts, this movement drew much more on the religious conviction that slavery was an unparalleled sin and needed to be destroyed immediately

american colonization society

promoted the gradual abolition of slavery and the settlements of black americans in africa

what events showed that america was fundamentally a white society?

the indian removal policies and the colonization ideas of formerly enslaved people

William Lloyd Garrison

argued in the Thoughts on African Colonization that blacks were not strangers in america to be shipped abroad but should be recognized as a permanent part of american society

bazaars

shopkeepers, jewelers, and craftsmen held these charity fairs around christmas holiday to promote slave labor free merchandise

elijah p lovejoy

an editor for an abolitionist newspaper in 1837, he is killed by a mob while defending his press

what did elijah lovejoy's killing convince northerners?

that slavery was incompatable with white americans' liberties

moral suasion

abolitionists adopted this strategy based on the belief that peacefully converting people to Christian values was the best way to achieve social change

what was the most impactful tactic used to press for citizenship rights?

free blacks challenging discriminatory laws in court

flooding the washington lawmakers with pamplets and petitions

abolitionists trying to convince lawmakers to abolish slavery

the gag rule

house of representatives passed this law to prevent congress from hearing antislavery petitions

what did the gag rule convince many northerners of?

that slavery was incompatable with the democratic liberties of white americans

feminism

the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of sexes

grimke sisters

first to apply the abolitionist doctrine of universal freedom and equality to the status of women

abby kelley

advocated for the liberation of enslaved people, equal status of women, and pacifism

the declaration of sentiments

accused men of seeking to keep women dependent on men, dont allow women to work and they rely on men for financial stability

sojourner truth

urged a focus on the plight of poor and working class women