Were the grassroots movement in the Age of Reform successful in achieving their goals?

Once again another religious revival became popular at the turn of the nineteenth century where everyone was once to go to church, and women looked upon as to stay at home and look after the children. Often women were apart of revivals which were just a fraction of the opportunities they received. Woman finally had to operate outside their strict roles as wives and mothers. During the antebellum period it was a period of individualistic and reliance on reason over faith. This period lead to a decline in church membership, what many thought decreased was the belief of religion, and passion for going. The antebellum period was not a wide spread through out America it did not reach the South considering it included many women, blacks, and individualism was being promoted. As an effect preachers did began to preach on the subject of “hellfire and brimstone” people were swept over by these sermons, and as a result became in an emotional states in which they repented and asked for salvation. The Second Great Awakening led to abolitionist who preached good works and deeds when individuals could not find salvation. The grassroots movements in the Age of Reform were successful in achieving their goals with women’s right women received more responsibilities, abolitionist included blacks to have a say in reforms, and public education where education was for everyone, men, woman, even blacks. Woman rights movement appeared as a result of those who were feeling discontent and who would no longer tolerate being in total subjection. The women’s right advocates met at Seneca Falls in New York. Where the woman would express in the “Declaration of Rights Sentiments” for their demands to be allowed, and enfranchised. The demands stop there the woman soon wanted to attain woman’s property rights. Through out the antebellum period woman were involved as activists in abolitionist movement. Woman did attain some of the rights that they wanted, there was the first the Cult of Domesticity where woman were glorified for house work. This was not evidently enough so another attempt was made to please the woman the Republican Motherhood where he mother had the opportunity to teach the child to be a good Republican citizen. The woman even got the chance to got to school and receive an education, become teachers, scientist, etc. Along with women’s rights public education was on the rise during the antebellum period. Tax supported public education through miserably lagging in Slavery in the South. Grimy-handed laborers demanded instruction for their children. Many advocates preached for public teaching yet Horace Mann was one of the most outspoken on education reform. His Massachusetts model was the basis of a tax-supported public school system. More schools went from one room, stove, teacher, and often eight grades- and became the beginning of American democracy. Educational advances were aided by improved text books, and a Yale educated Connecticut Yankee who was known as the School master of the Republic. The Abolitionist movement was all over different reasons, included Theodore Weld, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman John Brown and William Lloyd Garrison. These abolitionists were of all kind white, black, women, men, wealthy, even poor. There were latter’s newspapers, like The Liberator which was very influential in abolitionist circles. These people fought for almost every right that was not given to the poor, woman, or blacks, and was partially fulfilled with them. The grassroots movements in the Age of Reform were successful in achieving their goals due to woman’s right, abolitionists, and public education. Woman’s right was a success in the fact that many rights were granted to them. They received education rights, jobs, and the responsibility to raise a good Republican citizen. Education was a success in ways, new textbooks were granted, new teacher, and new schools. The abolitionist accomplished a lot by writing in the newspapers, books, protesting, and preaching aloud. Much was accomplished in during the grassroots movements in the Age of Reform.

Support or refute: In going too war against Mexico, President Polk was taking into account the best interests of the United States.

About twenty years before James K. Polk became president of the United States, Mexico had just gained there independence from Spain. Yearning to draw new settlers into the inhabited northern part, the Mexicans introduced a system of landownership which became extremely favorable to the United States. Not long after thousands of southerners began streaming into Texas and northerner Mexico, soon outnumbering Mexican inhabitants. The American continued to resettle in Mexico despite the new stipulations which required all the settlers to convert to Catholicism to abolish slavery. When most settlers disregarded the laws Mexico halted immigration. American settlers were unfazed by this action taken against them so they continuously poured in. The dispute became a huge controversy when General Antonio proclaimed himself as dictator of Mexico. Settlers declared independence created a government and selected a commander of the Texas military. There independence was guaranteed after the Battle of San Jacinto. In James K. Polk term as president he had numerous ideas for territorial expansion. In going to war against Mexico, president Polk was taking into account the best interest of the United States, he wanted to settle the Oregon border and to acquire California and the incorporation of Texas. The Mexican-American War was for territorial expansion.

During the presidential term of Polk he was an advocate for territorial expansion which was the objective of the U.S government from its inception. With the incorporation on of Texas to get into the Union it was not highly difficult considering most Texans supported U.S statehood. John Tyler also who had already paved the way for Texas statehood. The acquiring of Texas did not have all the support from people even though it was a plan for expanding of the U.S. While Polk was in his term a slave free-state was in operation and accepting Texas would set off a controversy between regions and their politicians. Despite the strong opposition from anti-slavery forces, Texas was admitted in the U.S. Even though he set a slave state his main interest was in the United States needs.

With the Oregon question, it was resolved around the same time relations with Mexico were unraveling. In the Webster-Ashburton Treaty the U.S and Britain settled the boundary disputes between Maine and Canada and then agreed to suppress slave trade. (Polk did want to end slavery) The disputes began again over the Oregon Territory’s northern border. Polk was determined to expand else where so he devised a alternative the forty ninth parallel as a divider line, once rejected by the British Americans were ready to fight. The Oregon Treaty was established stating the nation’s concurrence of extending the Oregon Territory-Canadian border along the forty-ninth parallel.

When U.S received Texas in 1845 the fragile relationship between them and Mexico was deteriorated. Polk still not satisfied with the enormous territory he wanted to acquire California (a New-Mexico region). He attempted to purchase California from Mexico and once denied, Polk resorted to a more aggressive and controversial posture. Troops were sent into the area near the Nueces River and Rio Grande. Untied States declared war on Mexico, and even with being supported by poorly trained and ill-disciplined troops U.S controlled of entire southwest.

Under the president James K. Polk the U.S achieved a massive amount of territory. In the Mexican-American War U.S had many victories they defeated Santa Anna’s force near Buena Vista, captured Vera Cruz, won Battle of Cerro Gordo, and captured the Mexican capitol. Santa Anna fled and the war was ended, which lead to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. This treaty included provision stating Mexico recognizing American claims to the area north of the Rio Grande, Mexico exchanged California and New Mexico in return for fifteen million dollars, and the U.S agreed to three million dollars debts Mexico owed to American citizens. Polk still unsatisfied felt U.S desired more since they defeated Mexico in the War, yet Polk had to settle with the one million square miles of territory.

In one term Polk acquired the sum of one million square miles in territory. Going to war against Mexico Polk was taking the best interest of the United States, due to the actuality that the war was to expand the U.S territory. Yes Polk did go against what some Americans wanted like re-open slave states but every one did want an expansion of territory and, Polk exceeded what any of the American could imagine.