APUSH Chapter 15 Flashcards

Study Notes

Religious Movements

Deism: Promoted by Thomas Paine, emphasizing reliance on science over the Bible; rejected the divinity of Christ while believing in a supreme being who instills morality in humans.
Unitarianism: Emerged from Deism; posits that God exists as a singular entity and appeals to intellectual communities.
Second Great Awakening: Began in 1800, extensively involved women, highlighted class and regional divides, with limited impact on the wealthy.

Key Figures in Religion

Joseph Smith: Founded the LDS Church in 1830 after interpreting golden plates from an angel; led Mormons to Illinois.
Brigham Young: Succeeded Joseph Smith in 1844; guided Mormons to Utah.

Education and Reform

Public Education: Evolved between 1825-1850; driven by the belief in educating children for the future, but faced financial constraints in establishing schools.
Horace Mann: Central figure advocating for improved educational systems.
Early Universities: The first state-supported universities appeared in the South starting in 1785.

Notable Educational Institutions

University of Virginia: Established by Thomas Jefferson.
Emma Willard: Pioneered secondary education for women beginning in the 1820s.

Legal and Penal Reform

Debtors Prisons: Gradually eliminated due to public advocacy for reform.
Criminal Codes: Many states began to soften penalties.
Capital Offenses: Reduction in the number of crimes punishable by death.
Prison Reform: Growing belief in rehabilitating prisoners.

Advocacy for the Mentally Ill

Dorothy Dix: Advocated for better mental health care by documenting the conditions of asylums across the country; her efforts led to improved treatment for the mentally ill.

Temperance Movement

American Peace Society: Founded in 1828, led by William Ladd, promoting peace initiatives.
American Temperance Society: Established in 1826, it worked to persuade individuals to stop drinking, citing its destructive impact on family life.
Neal S. Dow: Known as the "Father of Prohibition," he championed the idea of excluding alcohol from legislation and supported the Maine Law of 1851, which banned liquor sales.

The Role of Women

Depicted as homemakers subservient to husbands; denied voting rights and property ownership after marriage.
Seneca Falls: Site of the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention aiming to include women in the Declaration of Independence.

Utopian Movements

Robert Owen: Founded a communal society in 1825 aimed at improving society; noted that all utopian experiments ultimately failed.

Technological and Medical Advances

Practical Gadgets: Americans focused on practical inventions rather than pure scientific pursuits, leading to adaptations of European innovations.
Medicine: Early 1840s medicine was primitive, though scientists began utilizing anesthetics like laughing gas and ether.

Cultural Developments

Greek Revival: Architectural movement in America from 1820 to 1850 that borrowed heavily from European styles.
Influence of Literature: Post-Revolutionary War, American literature surged through nationalism, though much was derived from European sources.
Key Literary Figures:
- Washington Irving: The first American author to gain international acclaim.
- James Fenimore Cooper: Recognized as America's first novelist of global note.

Transcendentalism

Transcendentalist Movement: Stemmed from a liberal interpretation of Puritan theology; focused on the belief that knowledge goes beyond sensory experience.
Ralph Waldo Emerson: Poet and philosopher who encouraged American writers to express American ideals instead of European influences.
Henry David Thoreau: Advocated for simplicity, aiming to allocate more time for truth-seeking through introspection.

Notable Poets

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: A prominent poet who appealed to both cultured and less cultured audiences.
Edgar Allan Poe: Known for his pessimistic writing style, which contrasted with contemporary literature.
Herman Melville: Author of "Moby Dick," reflecting complex themes and human struggles.

Description

Study key concepts from APUSH Chapter 15 with these flashcards. Focus on important terms and definitions such as Deism, Unitarianism, and the Second Great Awakening. Perfect for quick review and exam preparation.