American History:Antebellum Reforms

The anti-bellum period was marked by an effort to improve life in America and reform many of the social and political structures of the time. This effort was motivated by a combination of forces, including the rise of religious revivalism and moral reform, the increased visibility of social injustice and inequality, the rise of organized labor and the changing nature of urban life. These forces inspired people to move beyond merely bringing about a moral and spiritual awakening, to actively working to bring about real change. Religious revivalism fueled the drive and commitment to bring about a reformed, equitable, and just America. Reformers like William Lloyd Garrison and Harriet Beecher Stowe linked civil liberties, women's rights, and ending slavery to this goal. This period also saw a rise in social injustice in the workplace, epitomized in the Lowell factory system, where cotton mill workers were overworked and underpaid – leading to a push towards labor reform. The visibility of the urban poor's living conditions, including overcrowding and disease, further spurred calls for reform in housing and public health. All of these different movements coalesced in the call for a just, equitable, and reform-oriented society, which pushed reformers to take action and fight for the transformation of America.