The United States of America

The United States of America experienced many kinds of reforms during the time period between 1825 and 1850. The different types of reform movements in the United States during this time period sought to expand democratic ideals through religion, abolition, and women trying to gain the same rights as men. The reform movements were effects of the Second Great Awakening, which began in New England in the late 1790s, and would eventually spread throughout the entire country. Then we have The Second Great Awakening that in difference with the first one, people were now believed to be able to choose whether or not to believe in God.

There are documents to show us the kind of propaganda and at the same time they express all that feelings that couldn't be told liberally. According to Charles G. Finney, the church should reform society (Doc. B). In 1834, he said, "When the churches are...awakened and reformed, the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow." We can perfectly see that the author has been influenced by Second Great Awakening ideals because he says that "drunkard and infidels" could also be converted and to have God in their lives. Every person no matter what they are, they could be saved, and therefore, we've concluded that the Second Great Awakening helped expand democratic ideals by bettering the moral standards of the common man. In 1835, another example of democratic growth can be shown in Document C, where Patrick Reason painted a black female who appears to be a slave in chains and shackles. Above her is the quote saying, "Am I not a woman and a sister?" This reflects how the abolition and women's movements often tied into one another since both of these movements helped expand democratic ideals in that they desired increased rights.

Women played a big role during this period of time spreading democratic ideals. As we can see in Document I. Elizabeth Cady Stanton played a very important role in The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. This convention also sought to expand democratic ideals and also was one of the most important reforms. They produced a declaration that stated that all men and women are created equal, and because of that they should be treated equal. Stanton believed that women should be equally "represented in the government" and they also should have the right to vote. This can be confirmed in Doc I that talks about the Seneca Falls Declaration on August 2, 1848, where Stanton states that the women