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New Harmony
Robert Owen established the town of New Harmony, dedicated to creating a community with new morals. Children educated from an early age, women no longer under their husbands rule, and more rights for all. This town strongly inluenced the labor movement, educational reformers, and women’s rights advocates. -
The American Colonization Society
Founded in West Africa in 1816, it promoted the abolition of slavery and the settlement of black Americans in Africa. Many were confused by this idea, however, several influential political figures supported the society. Thousands of black Americans immigrated to west Africa for a variety of reasons, but majority of African-Americans apposed the idea. They believed they were entitled to remain free with rights in America. The society inspired the first black convention in Philadelphia. -
Common Schools
Common schools founded in 1823, supported by Horace Mann and the labor movement, are state schools funded by taxes that are open to all children. It brought equality and social advancement to society by bringing children of all backgrounds together. By 1860, every northern state had established common schools, but the South(who feared literate blacks)lagged behind. The main effects of common schools were increased separation between the North and South and a career path for women as teachers. -
The Temperance Movement
The American Temperance Society, founded in 1826, aimed to redeem habitual drunkards and occasional drinkers. They saw drinking as a sin and sought to remove it. By the 1830s they persuaded hundreds of thousands to give up drinking and the consumption of alcohol per person had dropped to less than half of the previous decade. Opposers said that one persons sin is another’s pleasure and didn’t think they were any less moral than someone who had abandoned drinking. -
American Anti-slavery Society
The society was devoted to the immediate abolition of slavery. It consisted mainly of ordinary citizens like farmers, laborers, and businessmen. The main leaders included Theodore Weld(who highlighted the immoral ways of slavery and the fact that it was a sin), and Charles Finney(who helped gain popularity). Abolitionists pioneered charity fairs to raise funds, women sold items sent out by anti slavery groups. They were held during Christmas which led to the idea of Christmas shopping. -
Dorothea Dix
Dorothea Dix was a teacher in Massachusetts along with the leading advocate of humane treatment for the insane in 1834. The insane were typically held in jails alongside criminals. However, her efforts led to twenty-eight states creating mental hospitals before the start of the Civil War. -
Gentlemen of Property and Standing
The group mainly consisted of northern merchants with commercial ties to the South who feared that the abolitionist movement would interfered with slave labor profits. The first mob in 1835, which disrupted abolitionist meetings, was led by William Lloyd garrison. Mobs destroyed the printing press of James G. Birney(a former slaveholder and now abolitionist), killed Elijah P. Lovejoy(the abolitionist movements first martyr), and burned Pennsylvania Hall where abolitionists held their meetings. -
Gag Rule
In 1836, abolitionists flooded the government with petitions calling for the emancipation of the nations slavery. The House of Representatives adopted the “gag rule”, which forbid the house from considering anti-slavery petitions. However, the rule was repealed because of John Quincey Adams who represented Massachusetts in the house. -
The Liberty Party
Due to political opponents poor view on issues like womens rights and slavery, the Liberty Party was formed. Determined to make abolitionism a political movement, James G. Birney was nominated as presidential candidate. Although he only received 7,000 votes, the Liberty Party succeeded in making women’s rights a prominent discussion, they also succeeded in the creation of over 1,000 anti slavery societies throughout the North, and shattering the silence surrounding public debates over slavery. -
Utopian Communities
About 100 communities, named “Utopian Communities” meaning a perfect society, were established before the start of the Civil War. They were structured in different ways, some under the control of a single leader, and others more democratically run. However, they all set to reorganize society into individualism and to reduce the gap between rich and poor. Their effect was the words “socialism” and “communism” which entered the language of politics. -
Brook Farm
Brook Farm, established in 1841 by New England transcendentalists, showed that manual and intellectual labor could coexist. The community was based off of French social reformer Charles Fourier, who blueprinted working arrangements, residents, income, etc. The town also had time for music, dancing, discussions, and more which made it an exciting place to live. However, Brook Farm disassembled after a few years. -
Women's Suffrage
At the Seneca Falls Convention, women were denied access to education and employment, husbands were given control over the property and wages of their wives, women were restricted to the home, and more. It marked the beginning of the movement for women’s rights and access to all definitions of freedom. -
Feminism
Many middle-class women were angered at the restrictions that made it impossible to receive an education, work outside the home, or exercise their talents. Women argued that they deserved the right to individual choices and freedom. Some influential women at the time included Margaret Fuller and Sojourner Truth who pushed for transcendentalist ideas that freedom meant reaching for personal development and that marriage meant subordination to male authority. -
Oneida
Oneida, founded in 1848 in upstate New York by John Humphrey Noyes, was an influential and controversial community. Noyes formed this small private community in belief that all its members formed a single “holy family” of equals. Oneida was extremely dictatorial in that to become a member one had to live through Noyes religious teachings and rules. Members in this society observed one another and criticized those who violated the careful rules. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1851, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was an autobiography of fugitive slave Josiah Henson. It was the most influential piece of anti slavery literature of the time period, selling more than 1 million copies in 3 years. By portraying slaves as sympathetic and Christian men and women and their slaveholders as evil towards them, it gave abolitionists power. -
Summary
