Reforms Leading To the Civil War

Prison Reforms

1800

Prison reforms were an attempt to improve the penal system and the living conditions in prisons. Improving the conditions allowed the prisoners to gain education rather than degrading punishments. Overall, it made the criminal justice more fair, it reduced costs, and improved the public's safety. https://lasentinel.net/senate-and-house-approve-bipartisan-prison-reform-bill.html

Temperance

1808

The Temperance Movement was done to prevent drinking in the US because it was causing health issues and problems during the work day. The heavy drinking also went against many people's religious beliefs. The Temperance Movement did lower alcohol consumption, but it came back when men went away in the Civil War. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/psychoactivesubstancesvls1/chapter/3-2-the-temperance-movement-alcohol-prohibition-in-canada-2/

Missionary Work in the West

1834

Missionaries worked to convert Indians to Catholicism. This caused a lot of disagreements and created division between the Indians and Catholics because of how pushy the Catholics were being. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46336355

Women's Rights

1848

The purpose of women's rights were to gain equality with men. Women could not own their own property, handle their own assets, or vote. Since woman's rights activists were against slavery they made sure that the war would put an end to slavery. Unfortunately, the war did not give women any more equality. https://www.openglobalrights.org/the-forgotten-origins-of-womens-rights-are-human-rights/

Abolition

1865

The abolition was an organized movement made to end slavery in the United States. The issue of slavery caused the Civil War and was finally put to an end afterward. https://oll.libertyfund.org/collection/abolition-of-slavery