Fed up!!

There are two sources of reform. The first is the government and the second is grassroots movements. More often than not, grassroots movements have influenced the government on several of the decisions that it makes. Following the war of 1812, the Federalist were destroyed. The decade or so following the war is often referred to as the “Era of Good Feelings”; the assumption being that social relations in the United States were characterized by consensus and relative social harmony. Despite this, sectionalism and slavery issues were always under the surface ready to disturb the tranquility. The grassroots movements in the age of the Reform were profoundly successful in achieving their goals. Women’s rights were successful through the Seneca Falls Convention, abolition through the likes of William Lloyd Garrison, and public education through Horace Mann.
The women’s rights movements emerged as a result of shared discontent by those who no longer tolerated subjugation. Prior to the women’s rights movement, women were not allowed to own property, vote, or seek professional job opportunities. They were considered second class citizens and inferior to the white race. Led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott among many others, women’s rights advocates met at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. It was here that they expressed in the “Declaration of Rights Sentiments” their demand to be enfranchised.
Slavery was very common within the southern states. Some may justify slavery a being economically acceptable because so many southern stated thrived off of the production of cotton. But from an emotional standpoint the institution of slavery is simply barbaric. It was often that slaves were treated cruel through whippings, rape, and many other severe punishments. Major abolitionist leaders such as, Fredrick Douglas, Harriett Tubman, and William Lloyd Garrison( William Lloyd Garrison’s newspaper “The Liberator” was very influential in abolitionist circles) played important roles in the abolition of slavery.
Prior to the education reform, the only schools available were private so only the rich could afford an education. One of the most outspoken advocates of the education reform was Horace Mann. His book “ Annual Reports” promoted the creation of a public school system. Giving everyone the opportunity to receive an education.
The grassroots movements caused a very important social change within the American society through women’s rights, the abolition of slavery, and the education reform. The period of Reform shaped the nation in a drastic way. It eventually led to the freedom of Blacks, more rights to women, and an education for all.