The Age of Reform between 1820 and 1840 was characterized by the raise of voluntary groups which worked to prevent sins in society and to improve institutions such as prisons, public schools, and better conditions for wage laborers. Eventually, some reformers moved away from the large society and lead their voluntary groups into becoming communities called reform communities. The idea of individualism was replaced by the idea that people in the society had to cooperate with each other in order to achieve improvements. About 100 communities were born in these years, and they were named Utopian communities. The Shakers, founded by Mother Ann Lee, was the most successful one, in which God had both a male and female personality. Consequently, men
