Did the antebellum reformers succeed in their efforts to better America between 1820 and 1860 - Essay Example

Reforming America: 1820-1860 The period of 1820-1860 during American history was the most contentious era as its citizens struggled with a new constitution and a new political philosophy. America was expanding geographically and demographically and was confronted with the issues of women's rights and slavery. Temperance, religion, class, and agriculture also became issues of fairness as the citizenry attempted to forge a new country with a myriad of ideas and attitudes. One may view these differing opinions as to leading to a civil war and an uncertain future of further oppression.

Yet, without the period of spirited public debate the reform movements may have been locked into silence. The reformers, while not being able to avert political problems, were able to bring reform into the public debate in the areas of race, gender, and class.It would appear that the antebellum reformers were a failure on race, but the results would come after this period. The Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850 (and its subsequent overturning), and the Fugitive Slave Act were the product of this period that showed no promise for the race equality that reformers called for.

Yet, the backlash against the movement and the hope that was contained in the reformers' message precipitated the Civil War and the end of slavery. According to Epps, the reform would go far beyond the mere releasing of slaves and would ".require far-reaching changes in the state-federal balance, the federal separation of powers, and the internal political systems of the individual Southern states" (180). This restructuring of the Union, though no yet realized in 1860, had gained momentum and was a successful reform movement.

The movement towards reform also affected women's rights and by 1860 had formed coalitions that were working for the rights of women and minorities. The American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, an all male organization, spawned the Liberty Party which held its first convention at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848 and was an advocate of the property rights of women (Hewitt). Although voting rights would not be afforded to women for several decades, the reformers of the antebellum period had laid the successful groundwork for women's rights.

The antebellum reformers also took on the issue of class during this period. Those most disaffected by society were brought into the reform movement. According to Hewitt, "During the 1820s and 1830s, the first unions of maritime workers, seamstresses, and factory operatives [. . .] questioned whether those with money and power could adequately address the needs of those without such resources". This era was the basis for equality in government without regards to economic standing. This support of unions and the working class would take decades to show results, but the antebellum era was instrumental in promoting this philosophy.

Though the antebellum period did not result in meaningful laws or legislation that benefited the groups they represented, they promoted the attitude of an America free of discrimination. The actions to resolve the issues would come years later in the post Civil War amendments to the constitution and the women's suffrage movement. Without the reformers of the antebellum period, the cry to eliminate slavery would have been delayed and the unions of the 20th century would not have had the support of the public.

Though the reformers of the period 1820-1860 were unable to enact any meaningful legislation, their work served to advocate for the spirit of reform and equality that America experiences today.Works CitedEpps, Garrett. "The Antebellum Political Background of the Fourteenth Amendment." Law and Contemporary Problems 67 (2004): 175-211. 5 Nov. 2007 .Hewitt, Nancy A. Reform and Reformers in the Antebellum Era. George Mason University. 5 Nov. 2007 .