Reform Movements In The Mid-19th Century

American society is constantly fluctuating, by reflecting the social, political, economic, and moral virtues of Americans from all occupations; American society has had no shortage of stark clashing viewpoints and drastic reforms throughout history. Reform movements such as the second great awakening and the abolitionist movement substantially defined American society during the mid-19th century, from the spread of Protestantism to growing anti-slavery sentiment in the north, these movements affected American society for generations. Ultimately, reform movements characterized the political and social landscape of America in the mid-19th century; the viewpoints expressed in these reform movements set the precedence for landmark legislature and the formation of American society. Prominent reformation figures including John Brown and Frederick Douglass controlled a sizeable portion the political and social landscape, mustering support and opposition to their respective beliefs. In the mid-19th century, American politics focused on state rights and ultimately around the issue of slavery. For example, The Missouri Compromise and Texas annexation are products of the contention between the southern democrat and republican platforms on …show more content…
The second great awakening contributed to an expansion of sectionalism in the United States that lasted for decades, evidenced by the faucet of the Texas independence movement against the catholic Mexican government. Abolitionism had long-term effects as well, gaining popular support through the mid-19th century, where it was transformed into a national issue by horrific accounts of slavery in the 1830’s. Though both of these movements occurred gradually, without ebb and flow, the questions they raised about American morality and the “peculiar” institution defines the freedom that we know