Important Figures and Amendments
Who was Charles Finney?
A preacher during the Second Great Awakening known for his role in the revival movement
What was the Second Great Awakening?
A religious revival that emphasized personal salvation and social reform
How does the Constitution protect people's rights?
Through amendments and the Bill of Rights, which guarantee freedoms like speech and religion
What is suffrage?
The right to vote in public elections
How did a Massachusetts newspaper article from 1837 show citizens can influence public policy?
By raising awareness and mobilizing public opinion
What does the 13th Amendment do?
Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
What was the abolitionist movement?
A movement to end slavery in the United States.
What rights did early 19th-century American women not have?
The right to vote, own property, or have equal education and employment opportunities.
What is civil disobedience?
The act of refusing to obey certain laws as a form of peaceful protest
What were some themes of literary and artistic movements during this time?
Nature, individualism, and social reform
Who were transcendentalists?
A group of writers and philosophers who believed in the inherent goodness of people and nature
What was one goal of prison reform?
To improve conditions in prisons and to rehabilitate prisoners.
How have people's rights changed since 1830?
Many reforms have led to greater rights for women, African Americans, and other groups
What was significant about the women's rights movement in the early 19th century?
It began the organized fight for women's equality and suffrage.
Why did the abolitionist movement start?
To end the moral and legal acceptance of slavery.
What does the 19th Amendment guarantee?
Gives women the right to vote
What became a main focus of the women's rights movement?
Gaining voting rights for women.
Why was the 19th Amendment important?
It marked a significant step towards equality by allowing women the right to vote.
What was the Age of Reform?
A period when many Americans sought to improve society through movements like abolition, temperance, and women's rights
What change did the 13th Amendment bring?
It legally ended slavery in the United States, changing the lives of millions.
What impact did the 19th Amendment have on society?
It significantly changed American society by ensuring women had a voice in politics and decision-making processes.
How did the Second Great Awakening influence other reform movements?
It inspired a wave of social reforms, including the abolitionist movement, women's rights, and temperance, by encouraging people to improve society based on moral grounds
Why is the Constitution considered a living document?
Because it can be amended to reflect changes in society's values and needs, such as through the 13th and 19th Amendments, which expanded civil rights
Explain the relationship between the abolitionist movement and the Civil War.
The abolitionist movement intensified national debates over slavery, contributing to the tensions that led to the Civil War, ultimately resulting in the abolition of slavery.
How did literature and art contribute to social reform movements?
Writers and artists used their works to highlight social injustices, stir public sentiment, and support reforms by drawing attention to issues like slavery, women's rights, and the need for prison reform