Assignment 2

  Part I- Answer one question in 250 words Please choose one of the following questions to answer- 1. Choose one of the effects of the Second Great Awakening and discuss. 2. Why did women take such a prominent role in the reform movement? 3. When and why did the South move from seeing slavery as a necessary evil to seeing it as a good thing? 4. How effective were the abolitionists in achieving their goals during this time? Part II- Respond in 100 words Respond to post A- Bryan- Why did women take such a prominent role in the reform movement? When I was reading the topic I choose, the role of women and their political, economic, and social opportunities in American society shifted greatly from the preRevolutionary War era to the early twentieth century. In the years leading up to the American Revolution, women were viewed as subordinate to males and were therefore subject to the laws and regulations imposed upon them by men. They were expected to marry, raise families, and perform the duties of diligent wives and mothers. Because of the male dominated organization of society, women frequently did not have legal rights, such as the ability to vote or own property. However, as the years progressed toward the Civil War and Reconstruction, the social, economic, and political roles of women began to change. Women’s clothing became more fashionable, even for rural and working-class women. Their clothing, which began to display their figures to best advantage, demonstrated the desire and ability of women to remove themselves from the strict mandates of the patriarchal society. Although the majority of married women still worked in the home and their burden was growing heavier due to the increase in nonagricultural jobs for men it was not uncommon for women, particularly those who became widows during the Civil War, to earn working wages. Although the social and economic changes brought about greater rights for women, perhaps the most significant shift during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were comprised of the political changes. Respond to post B-Joshua- I believe that slavery to the south became a good thing to them instead of a necessary evil mainly because of the cotton boom shortly after the War of 1812. First off, even though slavery was a bigger part of the south, the north, however, had counted on the financial stability that was supplied from slavery. during talks of abolishing slavery in the south some anti-slavery Northerners seen the economic effects that would be associated with the abolishment. The northern textile mills were concerned that if slavery was abolished their work would be affected as well. Because of the massive demand for Cotton and that the majority of the worlds cotton came from the southern states, this was quickly one of the greatest economy concerns of the North and the South. Cotton is King, was a phrase mentioned by a politician describing the need for the slave labor for the North’s economy, as much as its needed for the South’s. The wealthiest southerners were landowners that owned slaves that farmed anything from tobacco to cotton. Most of the wealthy southern landowners were involved in politics and their descendants were afforded more opportunities to pursue high paying jobs. This type of high profile identity and political persuasion influenced the outlook of slavery by many and had an unfavorable impact on the abolishment of slavery. Respond to post D- Sophia - Why did women take such a prominent role in the reform movement? Women were very involved in the reform movement in the 1800's. Women naturally fill positions that help others, which is probably why they were so involved with some of these reforms. Woman tend to be more compassionate than men, so they were more likely to get people to understand the issues at hand. They were able to help others to understand why it was important to change our views towards women and blacks. Women and black people were alike, in the ways that they both did not have the same laws and rights awarded to them as the white men of society. Women were not allowed to hold positions next to men. They ended up creating organizations made up of women to support the reform movement. Women were tired of the way things were, and they wanted change to come. The involvement of women in reforms, such as the temperance, and antislavery is what led to women taking a stance against gender inequality. This was a way for women to bring up the issue of inequality that had been an issue for so long. Many of those who participated in the abolitionist movement ended up standing behind feminism. There was a women's rights conference at Seneca Falls that many of these people attended. There were male advocates who attended this conference as well. This was the beginning of real change in the woman's rights movement, which may have not been possible had they not been so involved in the reform movements.