Protestant Religion example essay topic

Americans are well renown for their utter dissatisfaction for the current social, political, and economic status of their nation. Of course, it comes as now surprise that Americans are so driven to produce changes. The feisty, perseverance has been with the American people since the Revolutionary War, even before then. However, no matter how much a certain aspect of life is altered, not everyone will be pleased. Even though reform was a trend all throughout America's history, the 1830's and 1840's seem to be a time where reform was a popular fad. The women's right movement was a very predominant reform during this time.

After years of servitude, many women were not longer going to be idle and quiet as their rights continually were denied to them. Many women felt as if they were being held captive or held prisoner by invisible bonds. For those women who did work out of the home, they finally were struck with a hard blow. Pay for a woman was the half the pay of a man. The Seneca Falls Manifesto was a revolutionary document for the women's document. Modeled after the Declaration of Independence, the authors proclaimed the atrocities committed by the men around them.

'He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men-both natives and foreigners... He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns. ' Despite their intelligence, perseverance, and peaceful way by which women conducted their movement, they still endured much criticism and mockery, but not only the press, but by Congress also. Feminists made an appearance around this time, the most famous being Lucy Stone. Stone and other feminists were particularly against the 'traditional marriage. ' Some feminists were lucky to attain support from men in their crusade for rights.

However, the majority of the male population felt women were to be docile, that 'Her proper sphere is home, and her proper function is the care of the household, to manage a family, to take care of children, and attend to their early training. ' Religion, always a popular item chosen to be changed. People can never make up their minds. They choose one faith, and realize it is not for them, so they switch to another. Attitudes similar to these were the cause of the Second Great Awakening. One major religion, the Mormon belief, made a spectacular debut into the American society, at the same time another religion, Protestant, drew in hoards of followers.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints, was regarded as a prophet by his followers. He spoke of his visions and mental breakthroughs by reading the Scriptures, especially James. This religion quenched the 'religious thirst' of those who were discontented with the current religions surrounding them. However, great conflicts arose between the Mormons and other religion, 'yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects -- all united to persecute me.

' The Protestants created quite a religious fervor amongst the American people, which resulted in an increasing number of followers. Deep in the heart of Kentucky, the Protestants set up a camp meeting in which 'exercises' were held. Many people, not even of the Protestant religion, flocked to the camp site to watch the gathering. As Archbishop Spalding described it 'There seems to have then existed in Kentucky a kind of mental and moral epidemic -- a sort of contagious frenzy -- which spread rapidly from one another. ' Utopias, a goal set by many, and yet achieved by none. They, too, made an appearance in the 1840's.

Despite the fact that Emerson was publicly against reformers, both he and Thoreau are frequently linked with the Utopian movement. This is due to their lack of confidence and want of a government. Also they each supported spirituality wholeheartedly. Brook Farm was the most well known of the utopias back in the 1840's.

It, like all utopias, failed to survive, this was a result of the poor soil, and, therefore, lack of food. 'Of the life of Brook Farm I do not intend to say much... It was a delightful gathering of men and women of superior cultivation... laboring in its fields and philandering in it pleasant woods... and the young men and maidens were rather unduly addicted to moonlight wandering in the pine groove. ' Not only were women calling out to be treated more humanely, but another group was having their lack of humanity brought to the nation's attention. Dorthea Dix was a quiet women, who was a pioneer in her struggle for better treatment of the mentally insane.

She fought alone, for the most part, and yet she began a great upheaval. She often preached about the heinous conditions under which the mentally ill were forced to live 'I proceed, gentlemen, briefly to call your attention to the present state of insane persons confined within this Commonwealth, in cages, closets, cellars, stalls, pens! Chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience!' The Humanitarian Reform was begun by Dorthea Dix, however, many people, often relating religion to their actions, keep this movement going. For once in their lifetimes, the Indians were finally being seen as human beings, not barbarous creatures. Alexis de Tocqueville was a major campaigner in the better treatment of Indians.

Tocqueville and another reformer, George Caitlin felt some land should be given back to the Native Americans, so their customs and ways of life might not fade away. 'These are great evils, and it must be added that they appear to me to be irremediable. I believe that the Indian nations of North America are doomed to perish... The Indians had only the alternative of war or civilization... the must either destroy the Europeans or become their equals... ' A pattern seemed to have formed within the reforming of the 1830's and 1840's. All of a sudden, Americans wanted better treatment for everyone, well almost all Americans.

Finally injustices were being recognized. They oppressed would endure bondage no longer. Revolutions started all over America, revolutions which paved the way for the present day America.