Social Reform Dbq

During the early 1800s there was a surge of religious belief. This lead to the Second Great Awaking; a time for social reform. This spread of religious reform created groups and societies fighting for abolition, the intemperance movements and women's suffrage. These popular views on reform came from religious revivals which thousands of people attended from all denominations and regions. Without this spark of religion we might not have some of the human rights we have now in the United States of America.

In the early 1800s religious revivals were very popular. These were places where anyone could come and not be judged or persecuted. Not all people back then had all the rights that are guranteed today and when people such as white women and black people attended these sermons there left with a sensation of hope for all people to one day be considered equal. In document 1 by Peter Cartwright it says, “Ministers of almost all denomination flocked in from far and near. The meeting was kept up by night and day. Thousands heard of the mighty work, and came on foot, on horseback, in carriages and wagons…,”. This quote tells us about how big this events were. These events truly enlightened how people view different social issues.

In document 7 Angelina Grimke talks about how women do not even have the right to vote at the World Anti-Slavery Society, an organization based on equality. Grimke also states, “What then can woman do for the slave when she is herself under the feet of man and shamed into silence?” This quote is very powerful because she talks about wanting to help the abolition movement but she cannot do anything because as a woman she is under man and is shamed into silence. The surge of religion that is the Second Great Awakening helped shine a spotlight on those