Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Between the years of 1825 and 1850, a number of reforms surfaced in the United
States and helped shape the future of the nation. Although these reforms may have
foundation for democracy and placed fundamental rights in the hands of Americans.
society took place. Although once challenged by the wealthy elite, free public education
spread throughout the nation. This provided an equal opportunity and educated a
children and they rushed home from lessons to help their parents (E). The nation prided
themselves on being the first to instate a penitentiary system that “prevented the
commission of crimes” (A). Dorthea Dix was an advocate for improving these jail
conditions and preached the need for hospitals to care for the mentally ill. By reporting
criminals, debtors, and the mentally ill. Citizens sought to improve all social problems
through the proposal of the Temperance Movement. People believed that those who
started drinking with friends would ultimately subject themselves to a life of crime and
drink themselves all the way to their grave (H). Those who were tortured by alcohol’s
effects were able to seek help and be “awakened and converted” (B). By banning
conflicts at work and in the home and would in turn increase the quality of life.
During Andrew Jackson’s administration, the nation experienced the introduction
various political parties could each elect an individual to represent their party’s political
views. When election day arrived, voters’ choices influenced the vote of the electoral
college. By using the electoral college, the democratic voting system became more fair.
Improvements to the political parties and systems for voting amplified the voice of the
common man. However, the largest contributing factor to the new age of democracy
was universal male suffrage. Although women, blacks, and foreigners were denied
suffrage, opening voting rights to all white men increased the number of individual
voices being heard in government which helped to better reflect the needs of the
masses (C, D). This reform eventually presented the opportunity for women to protest
for their right to vote and “be free as man is free” which was a step towards a greater
democracy (I).
Although the introduction of reforms during the Antebellum period did not reflect
what the founding fathers had originally envisioned, they proved to serve as the building
blocks for a stronger sense of democracy in the nation. The government recognized
citizen’s fundamental rights and created a fair voting system that acted as the voice of
fundamental rights.