The document summarizes several reforms that took place in American society in the 19th century sparked by religious movements. The Second Great Awakening emphasized individual salvation and responsibility for self-improvement. Transcendentalism focused on finding truth in nature. Dorothea Dix persuaded Congress to improve prison conditions. Women became involved in abolition, temperance, education, and healthcare reform. The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 was a landmark women's rights meeting. Industrialization changed the workplace, leading to early factories and strikes to demand better conditions. Immigration increased greatly in the mid-19th century.

1. Reforming American Society American History Chapter 8

2. Religion Sparks Reform Second Great Awakening After 1790, religious movement that stressed the individual Salvation is not predetermined Individual responsibility to improve themselves and society Revival : meeting to awaken religious faith through passion African American churches: Offered hope of salvation from slavery

3. Transcendentalism : Henry David Thoreau Ralph Waldo Emerson Emphasized the truth found in nature, personal emotion, and individual conscience Utopian communities : Optimism led people to try to create “utopias,” or perfect societies Religion Sparks Reform

4. Reforming Prisons Dorothea Dix, persuaded Congress to improve conditions at prisons Prisons held mentally ill patients, as well as criminals Improving Education Tax-supported schools Prepare students to become good citizens Religion Sparks Reform

5. Women and Reform Cult of domesticity : Housework and childcare considered the only proper activities for married women Young, unmarried women often worked in factories Women reform: Abolition: the call to outlaw slavery Temperance movement: effort to prohibit drinking of alcohol Education Healthcare

6. Women and Reform Women’s rights movement Seneca Falls Convention: first woman’s rights meeting Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth

7. Changing Workplace Industry changes work Cottage industry  early factories Prices go down, unskilled workers able to perform machinery tasks Lowell, Massachusetts Unmarried farm girls were workers Could play lower wages

8. Changing Workplace Lowell, Massachusetts 6-8 girls shared a housing room Work 13 or more hours a day Fed bread and gravy for dinner 1834, wage cuts prompted a series of strikes National Trades’ Union One of earliest attempts for workers to organize strikes Better working conditions, better pay Supreme Court will back the strikers, Commonwealth vs. Hunt

9. Changing Workplace Immigration 1845-1854, 3 million new immigrants Most were German or Irish Great Potato Famine Irish were discriminated against Poor and Roman Catholic