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Reform
Historical
Overview
During the first half of the 19th century, the Declaration of Independence, the Enlightenment faith in reason, and liberal and evangelical religion inspired unprecedented efforts at reform. Educational reformers created the nation’s first system of free public schools; prison reformers created institutions to rehabilitate criminals; temperance reformers sought to end the drinking of liquor; abolitionists sought to overthrow slavery; women’s rights advocates fought for the vote, expanded educational opportunities, and married women’s property rights; and utopian socialists established ideal communities to serve as blueprints for a better world.
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This
site was updated on 09-Feb-10.
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