19th Century Reforms #15

Which religious movement inspired many reform efforts in 19th-century America?

The Second Great Awakening.

Name three major social issues that reformers tried to address in this era.

Slavery/abolition, temperance (alcohol), women’s rights, education reform, care for mentally ill/disabled.

What kind of experiments did some reformers attempt as alternatives to mainstream society?

Utopian / communal societies (idealistic “perfect societies”).

Why did religion play a big role in the reform movements?

Evangelical fervor from the Second Great Awakening motivated people to improve moral and social conditions, and inspired activism.

True or False: All reform movements of this era succeeded and became permanent.

False — many experiments failed or were short-lived; change was uneven.

What shift in mindset characterized 19th-century American reformers?

A belief that society could be improved intentionally through activism, moral/religious commitment, and institutional reform — not just by tradition or passively accepting the status quo.

How did reform movements in this era affect the idea of American society?

They broadened the sense of social responsibility and activism; people began to see social ills (like slavery, inequality, lack of education) as fixable rather than inevitable.