Reforms 1825 - 1850

The influence of the Second Great Awakening played a huge role in social reforms in the United States. Between 1825 through 1850, society in the United States was changing due to transitions and the desire for control and order. People found themselves living in social instability and in a society were values were being challenged. Because of the Second Great Awakening, it encouraged an excitement of evangelicalism that led to a movement towards reforms. These movements brought up various issues such as prison reforms, temperance, woman's suffrage's, and the crusades to abolish slavery which would then lead to an expansion of a democratic life in America.

The humane treatment of individuals in American society focused for democratic ideals. Before the age of reform, the United States gave equal punishment to juveniles as of an adult. The penitentiary system promoted brutal punishments, such as whipping and branding. But after the start of reforms a better system for juvenile delinquents was created (doc. A). The start of reformation of juvenile delinquents promoted the penitentiary system that focused more on disciplining the child then punishing them. The people of New York saw this as an effective way of rescuing the child and making them a value member of society. And the purpose of the new penitentiary system in society was not just to punish, but to rehabilitate the people.

During 1826, the start of the temperance movement was formed by the American Society for Promotion of Temperance. The goal of this movement was to reduce or even ban the consumption of alcohol. Before the movement, people saw that because of the consumption of alcohol, it decreased the efficiency of labor, increased the danger of accident in the workplace, destroyed families, and physically harmed the women and children. From the "Drunkards Progress/From The First Glass To The Grave," (doc. H) it shows the nine stages of the consequences of drinking. Just after the first stage, it would lead to terrible consequences such as married men flirting with other women (stage 2), poverty and disease (stage 6), and even death and suicide (stage 9). Also, under the bridge of drinking stages, we see a woman and her child crying outside of their burning home, which might have been caused by the drunken husband. And because of the temperance movement, it was able to show society the evil of hard liquor and create stronger ideals of democracy.

Women in this time period still remained inferior to men, who dominated American society. Because of this, women were given no rights such as voting,