Final answer:
The term 'antebellum' refers to the period in the United States before the start of the American Civil War, marked by significant social and moral reforms with a focus on temperance, education, abolitionism, and women's rights, as well as cultural movements like transcendentalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antebellum is a term meaning "before the war," and it is often used to describe the period in the United States before the start of the American Civil War in 1861. This era was marked by social and moral reform, with efforts towards promoting temperance, improving education, prison, and asylum conditions, ending slavery, and women's rights. The antebellum period was characterized by the rise of intellectualism and literature, notably influenced by the transcendentalist movement, and a wide array of volunteer, church-affiliated reform organizations focused on making societal changes. In the South, a complicated code of honor deeply influenced the actions and relationships between individuals, particularly among the privileged White southerners who adhered to strict societal norms and could resort to dueling to settle disputes and defend reputation.