09. Creating an American Culture – 1790-1860

Creating an American Culture – 1790-1860

I. Religion – by 1850 ¾ claim to be religious, but not most far from Puritan form
    A. Deism – God is great clockmaker – founding fathers
    B. Unitarianism – God is loving creator, father figure, people control destiny
    C. Second Great Awakening – attempt to return to conservative religious practice
        1. Effects – more converted, some churches destroyed, others created
            a. Methodists/Baptists – poor attracted/non-traditional
        2. Camp Meetings – traveling preachers, thousands gather, get “saved”
    D. Mormon – Joseph Smith – organized, group dynamic – new message from God
        1. Feared by neighbors – voted as unit, polygamy, n ot individualistic
        2. Brigham Young moved to Utah – MO and Ohio kicked out

II. Education Reform – creation of public schools/state sponsored universities
    A.    Before – public schools seen as for poor only – convinced that education benefits society
    B.    Little Red Schoolhouse – not effective, multiple grades one room, poorly trained teachers
    C.    Horace Mann – longer school term, better teacher training/pay
    D.    Universities start for women + state supported universities
    E.    Create common school texts to be shared across nation – Webster’s Speller

III. Reform Movements – inspired by Great Awakening – on earth you should try to combat evil
    A.    Women – considered keeper’s of nation’s morals – led movement
        a.    Gained more power – especially on frontier – supply and demand
    B. Some say those involved for self-centered reasons – they get to create society to benefit self
    C.    Temperance – excess drinking affecting labor, family, crime, and rowdy social occasions
        a.    Choices – temperance (moderate use) or legislation
            i.    Women’s usage actually decreases
    D.    Jails – not just punishment but help “penitentiaries” (penance) or “correctional facilities”
    E.    Mentally ill – Dorothea Dix – better treatment living conditions at mental hospitals

IV. Transcendentalists – avoid conformity, get to know nature, think about world, Civil Disobedience

V. Literature – Begins to be dark – looks at faults of human soul – Edgar Allen Poe

VI. Utopian Movements – design perfect societies where everyone works together
    A.    Over 40 attempted – failed – uncommon sexual practices + lazy people
        a.    People end up desiring independence and market economy/free enterprise
    B.    Oneida – free love, male birth control
    C.    Shakers – religious group, eugenic selection of parents

VII. Alexis de Tocqueville – What then is this American?
    A. America successful because based on meritocracy not birth