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The Reform movement in the United States both did and did not seek to expand democratic ideals from the period of 1825-1850. The reforms in this era were social reforms, religious reforms, and institutional reforms. The social reforms consisted of slavery, women’s rights, and the Temperance movement. Many religious revivals, like the Second Great Awakening, expanded democratic ideals, but many nativists often used religion as an excuse to persecute others. As well as social and religious reforms, there were many institutional reforms such as public education and better conditions for the mentally ill.
There were many social reforms that impacted the United States. The issue of slavery is shown in Document C. There is a slave and the quote “Am I not a Woman and a Sister?” right above this slave. This shows that slaves were not even considered people, let alone females. This quote also demonstrates that despite the white man’s view that slaves were not people; the slaves themselves did have such human feelings (Doc C). Women were seen as weak and fragile; they were supposed to belong at home. This is seen through “The Cult of Domesticity.” “The Cult of Domesticity” had a guide on what the perfect woman should be like. By trying to break free from this model, Elizabeth Cady Stanton declared that women should be given rights at Seneca Falls. She felt that women should have the power to vote; just like any other man (Doc I). Also, women felt that alcohol tore families apart. This mindset was the cause of the Temperance movement. The women believed that alcohol was the reason why their husbands did such horrible things (Doc H).
The Second Great Awakening was a key religious movement. It helped people have better souls. It helped people be grateful for what they own or have achieved. By doing so, the characters of these people improve (Doc E). Another example of religion doing good is shown in Document B. It describes all of these people that are corrupted. But...