About the issues
Abolition Movement
When you abolish something, you get rid of that thing. The abolition movement grew during the 1800’s and was at its height in the 1850’s, just before the American Civil War broke out. In the United States the abolitionists wanted to abolish, or get ride of, slavery.
Slavery, and the issues around the practice of slavery had been an issue since America became a country. Slaves were taken against their will, usually from African nations, and brought to America. These people were sold and made to work in horrible conditions with no freedom. Slavery was big on southern plantations that were very big farms. The plantation owners used many slaves to do the work of the farm.
Officially international slave trade became illegal in 1808, but the awful practice of slavery was still in place, and many wanted to end slavery. There are many people who worked to end slavery. Harriet Tubman, who you learned about in grade 3, and Sojourner Truth are just a few.
Sojourner Truth was also born as a slave. She was freed in 1827 when New York freed all the slaves living within the state. She worked to end slavery. She toured and talked about slavery to help people become aware of the issues and conditions. She worked both to abolish slavery and to promote women’s rights. By teaching people about slavery she helped to inspire people to end slavery.
Care for the Mentally Ill
In the early 1800’s people who were different in any way were often not well treated. One group of people who were poorly treated was the mentally ill. When someone is mentally ill his or her brains do not work in a typical way. It is an illness just as other physical illnesses. Because people did not understand the mentally ill, these people were often locked away in jails or prisons. What mentally ill people needed were safe places and good doctors, just like someone who is physically sick.
Dorethea Dix was a teacher and was asked to teach in a prison. It was here she saw how awful the conditions were and how these people, who needed help, were being neglected. She went to the government officials in Massachusetts and asked to be able to open a special hospital that would support and care for people who were mentally ill. After starting this hospital in one state she traveled to other states and tried to support states each making their own special hospitals with trained doctors and nurses.
Education for All
In America and in many countries education is seen as something that is important for each person, and for the society as a whole. In America now every child is required to go to school through a certain age. The age is different in each state. However there was a time in America when schools were only for a few people, especially those people with money.
In Massachusetts, a man by the name of Horace Mann led the efforts to have schools be open to more people, and be paid for by tax dollars. Horace Mann was working in the 1830’s, 40’s and 50’s. In addition to wanting children to go school he wanted teachers to be better trained and paid. Most importantly though Horace Mann wanted education to be a way for all people to get ahead, and promoted the value of learning.
Women's Rights
During the early 1800’s many women were fighting to have more rights. Traditionally only men had roles in government and in running the country. Women were interested in sharing more work.
Amelia Bloomer is one woman who fought hard for women’s rights. She published a newspaper, and it might be the first newspaper published by a woman. She also is well known for wearing pants. At the time women always wore skirts, and so her pants became a fashion statement and a political statement about women’s equality. These pants became known as ‘Bloomers’.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott are two others who wanted women to be able to vote. They were fighting for suffrage, or the right to vote. During the 1800’s women were not allowed to vote for politicians. An important meeting, The Seneca Falls Convention was held to show support for women’s voting rights. Stanton and Mott organized this meeting. Women did win the right to vote with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, but it was not until 1920 that this happened.
When you abolish something, you get rid of that thing. The abolition movement grew during the 1800’s and was at its height in the 1850’s, just before the American Civil War broke out. In the United States the abolitionists wanted to abolish, or get ride of, slavery.
Slavery, and the issues around the practice of slavery had been an issue since America became a country. Slaves were taken against their will, usually from African nations, and brought to America. These people were sold and made to work in horrible conditions with no freedom. Slavery was big on southern plantations that were very big farms. The plantation owners used many slaves to do the work of the farm.
Officially international slave trade became illegal in 1808, but the awful practice of slavery was still in place, and many wanted to end slavery. There are many people who worked to end slavery. Harriet Tubman, who you learned about in grade 3, and Sojourner Truth are just a few.
Sojourner Truth was also born as a slave. She was freed in 1827 when New York freed all the slaves living within the state. She worked to end slavery. She toured and talked about slavery to help people become aware of the issues and conditions. She worked both to abolish slavery and to promote women’s rights. By teaching people about slavery she helped to inspire people to end slavery.
Care for the Mentally Ill
In the early 1800’s people who were different in any way were often not well treated. One group of people who were poorly treated was the mentally ill. When someone is mentally ill his or her brains do not work in a typical way. It is an illness just as other physical illnesses. Because people did not understand the mentally ill, these people were often locked away in jails or prisons. What mentally ill people needed were safe places and good doctors, just like someone who is physically sick.
Dorethea Dix was a teacher and was asked to teach in a prison. It was here she saw how awful the conditions were and how these people, who needed help, were being neglected. She went to the government officials in Massachusetts and asked to be able to open a special hospital that would support and care for people who were mentally ill. After starting this hospital in one state she traveled to other states and tried to support states each making their own special hospitals with trained doctors and nurses.
Education for All
In America and in many countries education is seen as something that is important for each person, and for the society as a whole. In America now every child is required to go to school through a certain age. The age is different in each state. However there was a time in America when schools were only for a few people, especially those people with money.
In Massachusetts, a man by the name of Horace Mann led the efforts to have schools be open to more people, and be paid for by tax dollars. Horace Mann was working in the 1830’s, 40’s and 50’s. In addition to wanting children to go school he wanted teachers to be better trained and paid. Most importantly though Horace Mann wanted education to be a way for all people to get ahead, and promoted the value of learning.
Women's Rights
During the early 1800’s many women were fighting to have more rights. Traditionally only men had roles in government and in running the country. Women were interested in sharing more work.
Amelia Bloomer is one woman who fought hard for women’s rights. She published a newspaper, and it might be the first newspaper published by a woman. She also is well known for wearing pants. At the time women always wore skirts, and so her pants became a fashion statement and a political statement about women’s equality. These pants became known as ‘Bloomers’.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott are two others who wanted women to be able to vote. They were fighting for suffrage, or the right to vote. During the 1800’s women were not allowed to vote for politicians. An important meeting, The Seneca Falls Convention was held to show support for women’s voting rights. Stanton and Mott organized this meeting. Women did win the right to vote with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, but it was not until 1920 that this happened.