2. Education Reform- 1828/1830’s
• Among many efforts to reform education in America, two of these
efforts were most prominent:
• 1. Noah Webster’s publication of the first Webster’s Dictionary in
1828, but was titled, American Dictionary of the English Language.
This dictionary did something that no other book in American
history had done; it provided a standard for the spelling and usage
of old and new American words. This dictionary also included words
that were strictly words used in America 1.
• 2. William H. McGuffey’s publication of McGuffey’s Readers in the
1830’s. These readers written to help younger students learn to
read not only taught reading but simultaneously taught virtuous
principles 2.
CW
3. Education Reformers
Webster
-Family owned Libraries, read more
than average child.
-Taught by mother as a child, attended
Yale at 15 years old.
-Developed “Reading Lessons” used in
1800s read by millions. Reformed
textbooks because of his experiences
with their lack of explanation.
-Webster’s Dictionary, originally called.
The American Dictionary of the
English Language, was named after
Webster.
McGuffey
-Family continually moved Westward
throughout his childhood.
- Attended Washington College.
-McGuffey’s Readers- Taught Morality
and Patriotism. 122 million copies.
AW
4. Religious Reform- 1830’s and 1840’s
• The Second Great Awakening was a religious reform in America comprised
of many new individual movements and ideas such as:
• 1. The preaching of Charles Grandison Finney. Finney went around the
North in 1830 and 1831 preaching against pivotal issues such as alcohol
and slavery 2. He is considered to be one of the most influential men
involved with the Second Great Awakening.
• 2. The traveling Methodist Minister Peter Cartwright. Cartwright was a
preacher who traveled all over the country. His style of preaching was bold
and moving, reportedly bringing thousands of people to Christ 2.
• 3. The Mormon religion being founded in the 1830’s. The religion was
founded by Joseph Smith. The book of that religion was based off of
golden plates that Smith owned which he professed were given to him by
an angel 2. Mormonism grew years after this and is still prevalent and
growing today.
CW
5. Religious Reformers
Peter Cartwright
-Key contributor Second Great
Awakening.
-Personally baptized thousands.
-”Circuit Rider.” Rode around the
frontier teaching and preaching the
Bible.
Charles Grandison Finney
-‘’Greatest of revival preachers.’’
-Originally lawyer, developed
persuasive skills used in sermons.
-Female involvement was
encouraged by Finney.
-Opposed slavery, alcohol because
of their violation of Biblical truth.
Joseph Smith
-1830s, claimed received “golden
plates” Book of Mormon.
-Smith murdered, Brigham Young
takes control and leads group to
Utah.
AW
6. Alcohol Reform- 1826
• The Alcohol Reform which began in the 1820’s,
was most famous for the American Temperance
Society. This society was founded in 1826 in
Boston, Massachusetts 2. The society was one of
the first organizations opposed of drinking, but
led to the formation of thousands of smaller
groups 3. As the movement progressed, the
societies pushed for total abstinence of all
alcoholic drinks, not just “distilled spirits 3.
CW
7. Alcohol Reformers
Neal Dow
-”Father of Prohibition.”
“Napolean of Temperance.”
-Sponsored Maine Law preventing
manufacturing and selling of
liquor.
-Mayor of Portland, gave him
influence when battling for
prohibiton.
AW
8. Women’s Reform- 1848
• The women’s reform in America was lead by many
women such as Catharine Beecher, Lucretia Mott, and
Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These women, along with
many others, fought not only for women’s right to
vote, but also for other various rights for women. The
most notable event in women’s fight for rights was the
Seneca Falls Convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls,
New York 2. The convention raised awareness of
women’s rights, and in the years following women
were granted more and more rights 2.
CW
9. Women’s Reformers
Catherine Beecher
-Claimed that Women needed to
enter the teaching ministry
-Advocated Kindergarten for all
children.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
-Advocated voting rights for
women, out of the norm.
-Worked with Susan B. Anthony,
desired improvement in women’s
rights. Abolitonist.
Lucretia Mott
-Quaker. Was not recognized at
antislavery convention in London.
This offended her and propelled
her to fight for women’s rights.
-Dedicated her life to this fight.
AW
10. Literary Reform- 1820’s and 1830’s
• America’s literary reform was not necessarily a reform to
promote literature, but to create a form of literature
unique to America. James Fenimore Cooper was the first
American to write novels that aimed to reform literature.
He published novels that were about American history,
such as The Spy, a novel published in 1821 that was about
the American Revolution 2. Another moment in American
history famous for promoting literary reform was Ralph
Waldo Emerson’s speech to Harvard in 1837. This speech
was titled, “ The American Scholar” and was a plea to the
students to make literature that was a style only found in
America 2.
CW
11. Literary Reformers
James Fenimore Cooper
-First American Novelist to gain
fame.
-The Spy- Widely read story of
Revolution.
-Last of the Mohicans.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
-Transcendentalist- born in
Boston.
-Rejected early faith he had been
taught, became writer.
-”The American Scholar”- speech
at Harvard.
-Implored Americans to reject
British ideas and “delve into the
riches of their own backyards.”
AW
12. Works Cited
http://www.britannica.com/
David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey, The
American Pageant
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/noah.htm
http://www.pbs.org
http://www.online-literature.com
AW
13. Works Cited
• 1. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-
history/websters-american-dictionary-of-the-
english-language-is-printed
• 2. The American Pageant : A History Of the
Republic. Thirteenth Edition. Advanced
Placement* Edition. David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth
Cohen, Thomas A. Bailey.
• 3.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversi
es/The-American-Temperance-Society.html
CW
