Zhang,Jiaying
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Tang Essay: Reforms and Democracy
Reform is defined as to “make change” and the reform movement of the early 19th century certainly changed the society, the economy and the political landscape of their time. But what sparked this radical movement for change? The reform movement was spurred by the revived religious fervor via the Second Great Awakening and would be hailed as a progressive, democratic movement pushing for democratic ideals. But does that argument hold any water? When one examines the reform movements one would find that although the reforms did not greatly expand democratic ideals and even tried to limit the rights of certain demographics its most significant impact laid with its uplifting of women's …show more content…
The women’s movement was arguably the reform that drew the most attention. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Motts, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and many other fought for the equal rights for women and although they would not live to see that achieved in their lifetime, their adamant effort in their struggle for equality is still one of the greatest testaments to the strengths of our democracy and would be perfectly illustrated during the Seneca Falls Convention where the issue of women’s rights would be brought to the world’s attention at the signing of the Declaration of Sentiments where the women highlighted all their grievances (Doc. H). Women were also crucial to reform movements like prison reforms where Dorothea Dix advocates for the re-education and separation of juvenile inmates and the formation of “insane” asylums for those with mental illnesses (Doc A). Women were also a huge factor in the fight for abolition and became the centerpieces of abolitionist art like the stunning symbol of a woman in chains with the iconic quotes “Ain’t I a Woman and a Sister?” (Doc C). Emotional pieces like those will come to define the fight for the rights of enslaved people and women
1*
Tang Essay: Reforms and Democracy
Reform is defined as to “make change” and the reform movement of the early 19th century certainly changed the society, the economy and the political landscape of their time. But what sparked this radical movement for change? The reform movement was spurred by the revived religious fervor via the Second Great Awakening and would be hailed as a progressive, democratic movement pushing for democratic ideals. But does that argument hold any water? When one examines the reform movements one would find that although the reforms did not greatly expand democratic ideals and even tried to limit the rights of certain demographics its most significant impact laid with its uplifting of women's …show more content…
The women’s movement was arguably the reform that drew the most attention. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Motts, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and many other fought for the equal rights for women and although they would not live to see that achieved in their lifetime, their adamant effort in their struggle for equality is still one of the greatest testaments to the strengths of our democracy and would be perfectly illustrated during the Seneca Falls Convention where the issue of women’s rights would be brought to the world’s attention at the signing of the Declaration of Sentiments where the women highlighted all their grievances (Doc. H). Women were also crucial to reform movements like prison reforms where Dorothea Dix advocates for the re-education and separation of juvenile inmates and the formation of “insane” asylums for those with mental illnesses (Doc A). Women were also a huge factor in the fight for abolition and became the centerpieces of abolitionist art like the stunning symbol of a woman in chains with the iconic quotes “Ain’t I a Woman and a Sister?” (Doc C). Emotional pieces like those will come to define the fight for the rights of enslaved people and women