Final answer:
The reform period of 1800-1860 was influenced by the Second Great Awakening, which inspired individuals to participate in various reform movements, including temperance, prison and asylum improvement, and educational advancement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors Affecting Reform in 1800-1860
The period from 1800 to 1860 was marked by significant reform movements in America, as the nation grappled with various social and moral issues. The Second Great Awakening was a pivotal influence, with its emphasis on personal salvation and responsibility towards the improvement of society. This religious revival spurred individuals into action, leading to the temperance movement and efforts to enhance public institutions like prisons, asylums, and schools.
Advancements in transportation and communication, such as the steamboat and the telegraph, and the reduction of publication costs due to new printing technologies, facilitated the exchange of ideas among reformers both domestically and internationally, particularly with their European counterparts. This shared exchange fostered a unified front in reform efforts across the Atlantic.
Two major areas of reform during this era were the anti-slavery movement and the women's rights movement. Leaders like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass became prominent figures in the abolitionist campaign, while the women's rights movement partially grew from these abolitionist roots. While neither movement achieved its ultimate goals within this timeframe, it saw significant strides towards freedom and equality.