Antebellum Reform Movements essays

Antebellum Reform Movements essays The Antebellum era or the Pre-Civil War period was known for many reform movements. The society at the time was experiencing a major change. Many movements such as the Transcendentalism and the Second Great Awakening inspired many intellectuals. These people are given the knowledge and the courage to fight for many things in society that were unfortunately looked down on in the past. These reforms were meant to rectify conditions that were considered inhumane and evil. Inspired by the Second Great Awakening, an optimistic spirit permeated public awareness of the underprivileged and the unfortunate. Those associated with improving the life of the society were known as humanitarians. Many reformers and humanitarians strived for success with their reforms. However, there were always those that frowned upon the new changes in society. From both sides, these reform movements have reflected both optimistic and pessimistic views of human nature and society. Before the Antebellum era, many women were denied many rights. After a marriage, the husband had legal rights to control all of his wifes property, earnings, and children. Also, women were kept away from owning property, learning higher education, and participating in civil and political events. The womens rights movement officially began in 1848, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. This convention addressed the inequalities of gender difference among many events especially marriage. Additionally, in the mid 1850s, Susan B. Anthony and the Grimke Sisters joined the crusade for womens rights by pushing for suffrage which later came true with the adopting of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Later, women were able to attend school with the help of other reformers. The womens reform movement had shown many optimistic views within the society. Because of the reform movement, it showed that equalit...