Exam 12: Afire With Faith
Describe the range of antislavery positions, and mention at least three people who exemplified those different positions.
The range of antislavery positions varied widely, from those who believed in gradual abolition to those who advocated for immediate and complete emancipation.
One example of a gradual abolitionist is William Lloyd Garrison, who was a prominent white abolitionist in the United States. He believed in immediate emancipation and founded the American Anti-Slavery Society to advocate for this cause.
Abraham Lincoln exemplified a more moderate antislavery position. He initially believed in preventing the spread of slavery into new territories, but did not advocate for immediate abolition. However, as the Civil War progressed, Lincoln's views evolved and he eventually issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free.
On the other end of the spectrum, John Brown exemplified a more radical antislavery position. He believed in armed insurrection and led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in an attempt to start a slave rebellion. Brown was ultimately captured and executed, but his actions further polarized the nation and brought the issue of slavery to the forefront.
These three individuals represent the diverse range of antislavery positions, from gradual abolition to immediate emancipation to radical armed resistance.
How did romanticism contribute to American values? How did it strengthen the reform impulse?
Romanticism contributed to American values by emphasizing the importance of individualism, intuition, and emotion. It encouraged people to seek out their own personal truths and to trust their instincts, which ultimately helped to shape the American value of individual freedom and self-expression.
Additionally, romanticism highlighted the beauty and power of nature, which helped to solidify the American value of environmentalism and the preservation of natural landscapes. This emphasis on nature also contributed to the American value of manifest destiny, the belief that it was the nation's destiny to expand and grow, which had a significant impact on American expansion and westward movement.
In terms of strengthening the reform impulse, romanticism inspired social and political reform movements by encouraging people to empathize with the suffering of others and to work towards a more just and equitable society. This led to the rise of various reform movements such as abolitionism, women's rights, and temperance, all of which aimed to address social injustices and improve the lives of marginalized groups.
Overall, romanticism played a significant role in shaping American values by emphasizing individualism, nature, and the pursuit of personal truth, and by inspiring social and political reform movements aimed at creating a more just and equitable society.
Historians have seen the reform movements of the 1830s and 1840s as both conservative and radical. Give at least two specific examples of how aspects of the movement were conservative (how they upheld institutions and values). Then suggest at least two examples of how other aspects were radical (how they overturned institutions and values). On balance, was reform a greater force for change or for preservation?
The reform movements of the 1830s and 1840s were both conservative and radical in nature. On one hand, aspects of the movement were conservative as they upheld traditional institutions and values. For example, the temperance movement, which sought to limit or ban the consumption of alcohol, aimed to preserve the moral fabric of society and uphold traditional values of temperance and self-control. Similarly, the Women's Rights movement, while pushing for greater gender equality, also sought to uphold the institution of marriage and the traditional role of women as caregivers and nurturers within the family unit.
On the other hand, other aspects of the reform movements were radical as they sought to overturn existing institutions and values. For instance, the abolitionist movement, which aimed to end slavery, directly challenged the institution of slavery and the values of white supremacy that underpinned it. Additionally, the labor reform movement, which sought to improve working conditions and workers' rights, challenged the traditional power dynamics between employers and employees, thus overturning existing economic and social institutions.
On balance, it can be argued that the reform movements were a greater force for change rather than preservation. While certain aspects upheld traditional institutions and values, the overall impact of the reform movements was to challenge and ultimately transform existing social, political, and economic structures. The movements led to significant changes in society, including the abolition of slavery, the expansion of women's rights, and the improvement of labor conditions, demonstrating their radical and transformative nature.
Give three examples of reform movements that turned to political action to accomplish their goals. Why did these movements turn to political action? How did this represent a departure from earlier ideals?
List three utopian communities and three humanitarian reform movements in the Jacksonian era. Pick one from each group and compare their approaches to reform.
The writer ________ built a cabin on the edge of Walden Pond in Concord, living by himself for 16 months to demonstrate the advantages of self-reliance.
What is millennialism? How did millennialism encourage the cause of reform?
Consider the following statement: Revival audiences responded to the call for reform partly because they were unsettled by the era's rapid social changes. Describe these social changes and how revivalism addressed them. Do you find the argument convincing? Why or why not?
With respect to the middle-class family after 1820, all of the following explain the decline in family size in general and in the birth rate in particular EXCEPT
What was "true woman"? Describe how the concept became important during this period.
As a result of the ________, the dominant form of Christianity in America became evangelical Protestantism.
What was the "cult of domesticity"? Do you believe that ideal helped or hurt the position of women in American society? Support your argument with specific examples of how the new ideal affected women's lives.
Which of the following statements is the most accurate with regard to the temperance movement?
Why did the temperance movement enjoy such widespread support? Among the reasons you list, which do you think was most important?
Give three examples of how the middle-class family changed in this period. How was the middle-class family different from the family in earlier periods?
How do the activities of the Beecher family illustrate the tensions within the reform community? Discuss the activities of at least two of Lyman Beecher's children. How did their activities contrast with one another? How did their activities extend beyond the actions and goals of their father?
ch12 Key
By 1850 Catholics accounted for ________ percent of the U.S. population-the same percentage as Presbyterians.
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