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Charles Finney preaches in the Second Great Awakening
During the 1820's and 1830's the Second Great Awakening occured. Preachers like Charles Finney told the people that listened to them that instead of God choosing who was to be saved, which was told during the First Great Awakening, their sins would be forgiven if they did good things. One such good thing was improving society. -
William Lloyd Garrison starts the anti-slavery newspaper called The Liberator
Garrison was one of the many abolitionists, the growing group of people against slavery. He started a newspaper called The Liberator. His printing press and home were destroyed by pro-slave groups. -
Oberline College becomes the first college to admit women along with men
At the time, most women did not attend school. In fact, they were discouraged from it. In 1837, Oberlin College was the first to admit women and men together. Eventually, most public universities also allowed women. -
Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton attend the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London
The organized movement for women's rights was actually caused by Lucretia and Elizabeth becoming friends. When they went to the Anti-Slavery Convention, they were mad that they could not speak and had to sit in a balcony behind the curtain. It was then that they became friends. -
Dorothea Dix discovers the horrors in jails and prisons
When Dorothea Dix agreed to teach Sunday school at a jail, she was changed forever. Children were jailed with criminals that were bound with chains. Mentally ill were treated like criminals as well. She campaigned for better prison conditions and got them. Prisoners were treated better, mentally ill had public asylums, debtors were not put into prison, and special justice systems were made for children. -
George Ripley founds Brook Farms
George Ripley started a community called Brook Farms in which residents tried to cooperate instead of competing.They shared work to support their group. It was one of many model communities like this. -
300 people participate in the Seneca Falls Convention
Eight years after the convention, Stanton and Mott met again and decided to hold a women's convention in Seneca Falls. About 300 people came, with 40 being men. At the convention, the Declaration of Sentiments was read. After this, women's rights were established. -
Horace Mann achieves some success in public education
Before the reform, most children did not attend school, and those who did were either rich with a private tutor or were in crowded one-room schoolhouses. Horace Mann believed that people with good education would behave better. He spoke out for public schools so that students could receive a better education. Reforms were made, but women and African Americans were not admitted until much later.
