Summary of 19th Century Reforms: Crash Course US History #15

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

This video from Crash Course US History discusses the history of the abolitionist movement in the United States. Abolitionists were those who argued that slavery was wrong and that all people, regardless of race, deserved the same rights. They used their arguments to sway public opinion and eventually helped to bring about the abolition of slavery in the northern states.

• 00:00:00 During the 19th century, many Americans attempted to reform society by separating themselves from the negative aspects of the industrialized market economy. Some utopian communities, like the Shakers, were based in religion, while others, like Brook Farm, were more worldly attempts to create new models of society. The religious nature of these reform movements was largely Protestant. The 2nd Great Awakening, which emphasized individual choice and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, was deeply influenced by the market revolution.
• 00:05:00 In the early 19th century, a number of reformers advocated for limiting or even banning alcohol, constructing asylums and other homes for the outcasts, and compulsory, state-funded education. The radical abolitionists believed in equality of freedom, and their inclusive vision of freedom appealed to politicians and the public. Eventually, all northern states established public schools, and abolition became a movement largely due to the radical tactics of its advocates.
• 00:10:00 In this video, Crash Course US History explains the history of abolitionism in the United States. Abolitionists, including Frederick Douglass, Henry Highland Garnett, and David Walker, argued that slavery was wrong and that black people were entitled to the same rights as white people. Their arguments became one of the strongest arguments in favor of abolition.