Reform Movements in the 19th Century Essay Sample

In the early 1800s, multiple religious and social reformers attempted to improve American life, education, and help people with disabilities. The effects of the reforms brought changes in religion, politics, education, and overall life. Some reformers tried to improve society by forming communities based on their vision of a perfect society. Others tried to reform society by founding communities based on what they considered to be the right principles. The social reform movements transformed the United States by improving the way of life for women, African Americans, children, and sick people. 

One of the most important social reform was the abolition of slavery. The idea of banning slavery had been brought up once before at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The North was against slavery because slaves agreed to work for lower pay which would take jobs away from white people, the south was in favor of slavery because it was the backbone of their economy. The success of the abolition/anti-slavery movement took time. Slavery was banned from the United States after the North won the civil war. It was officially banned on December 6, 1865. Segregation was not banned until the civil rights act 1964. Banning slavery improved the lives of so many African Americans and made the U.S. the land of the free. 

Another significant social reform was the woman’s rights movement, which lasted from 1848 to 1917. Prior to the women’s rights movement, men dominated America while women were expected to sit at home cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. These women were expected to take pride in obeying their husbands, but some women wanted more freedom. Women that disagreed with society’s expectations were condemned by the community. Some women wanted to be able to have their own rights, such as voting. The first woman's rights convention was held on July  19, 1848, at Seneca Falls. The result of the Seneca Fall convention was the Declaration of Sentiments. This document recognized the rights of women and stated that men and women were equal in this world. These women fought hard for their rights and earned all women after them the right to feel equivalent to men. 

The social reform movement also improved the schools during the 1800s. The schools needed to improve in order for the rising generations and stir them to success. The schools used to be only for the wealthier kids who could afford the tuition. Kids in the north were most commonly educated because they were wealthier than kids in the South. Schools became free, enabling all the little white boys to go to school no matter how much money they had. Higher education made schools available to girls and African Americans. Then schools for blind and deaf children were built with special teachers to teach the kids. By letting girls, African Americans, and kids with disabilities go to school, America’s rising generations finally have a good education and are able to do great things for the future. 

Throughout the 19th century, people working together through the social reform movement improved the lives of many Americans by allowing all children to go to school, women to have rights, and ending slavery. If the social reforms movement didn’t happen, then America would not be the country it is today “The land of the free”.