The Reform Movements In The 1825-1800's

Between the years of 1825 to 1850, democracy was defined by the ideals of equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This idea was instilled into the minds of the American people through reform movements. The goal of the reform movements was to create an America that was a civilized and united society. Through the reform movements, democratic ideals began to change and expand. The Second Great Awakening was a great boost towards an evolution in democratic ideals because the religious revival installed higher moral standard in common people. The mid-1800s is known for the reform movements that helped spread democratic ideals, such as equality and unity, in the advancement of women's education and rights, abolition, anti-slavery, temperance, …show more content…
The reform movement for women's rights was resolved and resilient; the women fought for their rights and to change men's view of females. Ever since republican motherhood, an idea that the only role a woman had was to care for her children and support her husband, women have been controlled and confined to select occupations and given very few rights. Being forced to be a stay at home mom further perpetuated gender stereotypes and made men believe that woman could never be an equal. in order to fight these social injustices, women, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, protested against the unlawfulness that contradicted the thought of equality. Elizabeth assembled the Woman's Rights Movement with the help of Lucretia Mott and Lucy Stone with the goal of creating a convention for all the women struggling within this society. Today, this convention is known as the Seneca Falls Convention, as it took place in Seneca Falls, New York, in July 1848. At the convention Elizabeth produced a constitution for the convention, which is known as the Declaration of Sentiments. The Declaration of Sentiments was inspired by the Declaration of Independence in form, and it outlined the key issues that were prominent in society: the lack of freedom like a man would have, the lack of a voice, and the lack of a right to vote (Doc I). The purpose of writing the Declaration of Sentiments like the Declaration of Independence was to inspire the same amount of support that the Declaration of Independence had. It demanded equality with men in the aspects of law, education, and employment. Sojourner Truth was also an advocate for women's rights. In her speech “ Ain't I a Woman” she states that if men see women as sensitive and weak human beings then why has she, a woman, who has done the same amount of work as men is still treated as a women. If she does the work like a man why isn't she treated like