Crash Course U.S. History: Religious and Moral Reform in 19th Century America

Introduction

• Host: John Green
• Focus on sex, religious, and moral reform movements in 19th century America.

Utopian Communities

• Response to industrialization: creation of utopian communities.
• Shakers:
  • Known for celibacy and excellent furniture.
  • Emphasized equality; membership peaked at 6,000.
  • Currently, only 3 members remain.
• Latter Day Saints (Mormons):
  • Persecuted, moved from New York to Utah.
  • Grew despite persecution.
• Brook Farm:
  • Founded by transcendentalists in 1841.
  • Mixed manual labor with intellectual engagement; inspired by socialist Charles Fourier.
  • Failed due to disinterest in farming.
• Josiah Warren's Communities:
  • Utopia, Ohio and Modern Times, NY.
  • Emphasized unregulated, voluntary systems, including marriage.
  • Collapsed due to extreme individualism.

Religious Revival: The 2nd Great Awakening

• Reached height in 1820s and 1830s.
• Characterized by revival meetings, particularly in New York.
• Increased number of Christian ministers (2,000 to 40,000 from 1770s to 1845).
• Oneida Community:
  • Founded by John Humphrey Noyes.
  • Practiced free love and became successful in silverware manufacturing.
• Upstate New York dubbed the "burned-over district."
• Stressed individual choice in salvation and personal relationship with Jesus.

Reform Movements

• Driven by religious fervor, particularly Protestantism.
• Perfectionism: belief in unlimited improvement of individuals and society.
• Freedom Redefined:
  • Freedom seen as self-discipline and control, not license to sin.
  • Advocated for sobriety, industry, and self-discipline.

Temperance Movement

• Aimed to limit or ban alcohol.
• Early 19th century Americans consumed large amounts of alcohol.
• Controversial among Catholics and immigrants from Germany and Ireland.

Institutions and Education

• Construction of asylums, jails, poorhouses.
• Compulsory Education:
  • Growth of common schools aimed at leveling the educational field.
  • Met resistance from parents who opposed moral instruction by the state.

Abolition Movement

• Biggest reform movement.
• Early challenges by slaves, free blacks, Quakers.
• Colonizationists: established Liberia for former slaves.
• Radical abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison.
• Promotion of equality for all citizens.
• Frederick Douglass: prominent black abolitionist.

Resistance to Abolitionism

• Often faced violent opposition.
• Gag rule in Congress suppressed discussion of slavery.

Conclusion

• Many abolitionist voices were female.
• Their efforts in abolition influenced the women’s rights movement.
• Preview of discussion on the transformation of women's roles in the next session.