Hour 5
DBQ
The Antebellum reform movement represented a turning point regarding the furthering of Democratic ideals. Between the times of 1825-1850, the Democratic ideals (liberty, equality and pursuit of happiness) spread amongst American. Reforms such as abolitionism, social, institutional, and religious (second great awakening) furthered this ideals.
The Second Great awakening ushered in a new perspective on religion. No longer was the Church cookie cutter. New forms of churches such as Baptist, Congregationalist, and Methodist attempted to resurrect the protestant faith. Charles Finney lead the Second Great Awakening, he preached a “social gospel” in the burned over district and redeemed multiple communities. He rebuked the idea of predestination, and said sin was due to social selfishness of individuals. He spoke to the church, stating that church reformations lead to the salvation of sinners (2). He paved the road for utopian communities such as the Rappites (who took the bible literally), Shakers (who had little believe in the human race and therefore celibate), and Mormons (whose founder Joseph Smith was killed by a mob due to the group’s controversial practice of polygamy and other factors). The Second Great Awakening opened the minds …show more content…
Currently America deals with the subject of racism (due to the increase in white officers shooting young black males), Church reformations (many no longer go to church/care about church), Women equality is still a big issue (women are not being paid the same as men), education systems don’t teach life skills, Nonviolent criminals are given life in prison, Alcohol is still a problem (it has always been a problem). At the end of it all, the antebellum movement is was a reform movement which represented a turning point regarding the furthering of democratic ideals. Many things changed for better and for