Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit To Change Something Essay -- essays res

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... ...n 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.