Question

to what extent did individualism, new religious sects, abolitionism, and women's rights change American culture between 1820-1860?

Answer 1

Regarding individualism, there was this movement called “The Transcendentalist” that served as a reaction against the rationalism of the 18th. This was followed by a humanitarian trend of the 19th century way of thinking. The movement was based on the belief in the unity of everything with God.

Specifically, the movement in Christian church known as the Great Awakening or the Revival attracted a lot people who found in religion a new way to see things.

That idea helped abolitionist supporters like David Walker and others to support anti-slavery in southern states. The church had a key role in spreading the anti-slavery sentiment across the nation that led to the Civil War.

Women’s Rights also was an important agent of change in American Culture. In 1821, Emma Hart Willard had the idea of founding the “Troy Female Seminary” in New York. The relevance of this decision is that it created the first endowed school for girls.

After that, many others institutions appeared like Oberlin College, which became the first coeducational college in the U.S.(1841).

In 1837, in New York, the first National Female Anti-Slavery Society convention gathers for the first time, marking an important step in women’s rights that had direct influence in the first women's rights convention in 1848, in Seneca Falls. The participants signed the "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions" that includes statements for the women's rights movement.

Answer 2

During the early 19th century, there was a large movement in the Christian church known as the Great Awakening or the Revival.The revival in the Protestant sects of Christianity such as the Methodists and the Baptists attracted women, blacks, and native Americans. Being kind and doing good works fell in line with the abolitionist sentiment. Anti-slavery sentiment had actually spread throughout the southern United States through the church. However, these events would eventually set the stage for the civil war. One unique religious sect that emerged during this period was Mormonism which was led by Joseph Smith.