The United States was founded on key aspects to a create a strong, centralized democratic goverment: freedom and equality. In fact, one of the nations famous quotes, "Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness" complements the nations democracy as a whole. While America was just a newly developed country, it was evident to citizens that changes were necessary. Between the years of 1825-1850, a reformational period embodied America. Whether or not these reforms sought to expand democratic ideals was a question that required an answer. Reforms such as the abolition movement, women's rights, religious reformations, temperance movements and prison reforms did expand democractic ideals in America and change swept the nation. Abolitionists were activists
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Ameliorations in the church were caused by the belief that change will create the salvation of sinners. Many priests believed that "drunkards, harlots and infidels will be awakened and converted" due to these new reforms (document B). Being that religion played a huge role in American life during this time period, especially right after the Second Great Awakening, the religious reformations expanded democratic ideals. The primary goal of the church reforms were to improve the lives of everyday sinners in America. Another popular reform in the 1800s was the temperance movement. The temperance movement was a social campaign against the consumption of alcohol. Propaganda was created as a way to protest the amount of alcohol that citizens consumed and the damage it could cause. An example of a piece of propaganda in 1846 was "The Drunkards Progress." The picture exihibits how drinking not only affects a person, step by step, but the person's family, and states "from the first glass to the grave." (document H). The document proves the validity of the statement that reforms sought to expand democratic ideals because of the supporting process to improve the life of citizens in the nation. Lastly, along side of all of the other reformations were prisons. Prison reforms were another propular change in the country. Many people disagreed with the fact that prisons did not
Ameliorations in the church were caused by the belief that change will create the salvation of sinners. Many priests believed that "drunkards, harlots and infidels will be awakened and converted" due to these new reforms (document B). Being that religion played a huge role in American life during this time period, especially right after the Second Great Awakening, the religious reformations expanded democratic ideals. The primary goal of the church reforms were to improve the lives of everyday sinners in America. Another popular reform in the 1800s was the temperance movement. The temperance movement was a social campaign against the consumption of alcohol. Propaganda was created as a way to protest the amount of alcohol that citizens consumed and the damage it could cause. An example of a piece of propaganda in 1846 was "The Drunkards Progress." The picture exihibits how drinking not only affects a person, step by step, but the person's family, and states "from the first glass to the grave." (document H). The document proves the validity of the statement that reforms sought to expand democratic ideals because of the supporting process to improve the life of citizens in the nation. Lastly, along side of all of the other reformations were prisons. Prison reforms were another propular change in the country. Many people disagreed with the fact that prisons did not