Early Nineteenth Century Reform Movements

The Second Great Awakening pushed people to become morally and socially responsible. It emphasized the family and celebrated the mother as being an important part of society even though women had been treated as second -class citizens to this point. It also contributed to social unity and a greater sense of community for stamping out sin and produced social reform movements, which attacked immoral behaviors like drinking, gambling and prostitution.

The abolitionist movement challenged the most vital component of southern society. This, especially the Dred Scott Case, contributed to major political and social conflict between the north and south, pushing America to the brink of civil war. Women were largely involved in the abolitionist movement, viewing similarities between their oppression and slavery.

The women's movement grew largely out of their involvement in the abolitionist movement. Industrialism called men out of the home to work and left the women in their own domain to run the household and raise the children. They viewed this responsibility as an opportunity to make the world a better place through reform. This spawned the temperance movement, which opposed the consumption of alcohol. Many women believed that drinking alcohol was a way for men to waste money, distracting them from family obligations and inclining them toward violent and abusive behavior. Eventually, women began to make strides in securing their own liberation, working toward suffrage rights and equality.

These movements contributed to long lasting change in America by reinventing politics, which now had to appeal to a more expansive electorate. These movements established the base for today's special interest and lobbyist groups.