Throughout Unit VI, we focused on various reform movements that emerged from the Second Great Awakening (i.e., transcendentalism, temperance, abolition, women’s rights, mental health).
Which movement do you believe had the most profound impact on society during the early to mid-1800s? Why? Considering society today (in the 21st century), how have we continued to be affected by a reform effort that was initiated in the 1800s?
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words in length. No references or citations are necessary.
Journal Entry: Reform Movements
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The movement that had the most profound impact during the Second Great Awakening is the transcendentalism movement. This movement advocated for increased knowledge of self and appreciation of the uniqueness of individual people. To transcend refers to the process of appreciating the deeper reality that exists beyond the ordinary world.
The movement had the most significant impact because the idea was adopted by many people and it also influenced the development and growth of other social movements. The father of the movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson, encouraged people to reject mass conformity. Emerson encouraged people to develop individual thoughts and to make decisions based on their values. The class of literate adults in the country supported the movement since they were not satisfied with American life and sought satisfaction through spirituality. Many stories, essays, poems, and articles on transcendentalism were written within the period. Transcendentalism encouraged people to stand up against injustices in society and many followers expressed disgust over slavery and the Mexican-American war. Female transcendentalists such as Margaret Fuller played a significant role in the advancement of the women’s rights movement.
A reform effort that continues to affect our lives is the women’s rights movement. In the 1800s, the movement was based on the idea that women were like enslaved people since they lived in a society where men dominated everything and they had no freedom. The current women’s rights movement is also keen on advancing gender equality by ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men. Although women now have more rights than in the 1800s, society is still male-dominated hence the movement is still relevant.