Reform Movements

Reform Movements

During the 19th Century there were many reform movements that took place. Reform movements were movements that were organized to reform or change the certain way of things. Reform movements did not always work but the ones that did greatly changed the way our nation operates today. There were three major reform movements that have altered the nation; the abolitionist movement, the temperance movement and the women's suffrage movement. Without these movements, and the great leaders involved, many common rights would not exist today.

One of the most important social and political reform movement in United States history was the antislavery movement. This movement and the beliefs that were held by it started many antislavery organizations and abolitionist groups and newspapers. The most well known effect of this movement was the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was started in 1849 when Harriet Tubman escaped from her plantation. She returned to the south numerous times at first to retrieve her family and bring them to slavery, soon she was coming back to help anyone who wanted to escape to freedom with her. The underground Railroad was a route to Canada from the south to the north parts if the country. Along the way were houses belonging to abolitionist, mostly whites, who graciously hide the runaway slaves and then guide them to their next stop on their way to freedom in the north. Over a few years Harriet Tubman manages to lead hundreds of slaves up through the northern states into Canada.

Over the next few years many laws were passed stating the slavery was still legal and any runaway found was to be returned to their owner's and the punishment was to their discretion. In 1863, after the civil war, President Lincoln decrees that all slaves in Rebel territory (the south) are free on January 1, 1863. A couple years later in 1865 the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution outlaws slavery completely. Although blacks were freed from slavery, some remained on the plantations to work for food and a place to live because although they were not slaves they were still treated inhumane but those who were for slavery.

Another important reform movement was that of women suffrage. In the early 19th century, married women could not enter into contracts without their husband's consent. Women also lost all title to property or future earnings upon marriage. Children were also legally controlled by the father. Women were also often left without protection against kidnapping or even imprisonment by husbands and other male relatives. Women were also denied educational opportunities in a male dominated society. There were many women involved in this movement but there were a significant few who stood out. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the Seneca Falls Convention, and many other movements along with many papers and declarations calling for a women's right to own property and to vote. Later the two formed the National Women's Suffrage Association.

Over many years of protests and other