The abolitionists movement in the U.S. Was an effort to end slavery in a nation that valued personal freedom and believed "all men are created equal." This movement also formed the basis for a persevering anti-slavery movement. The movement continued to gain strength, largely due to the determination of such leaders as William Floyd Garrison, Fredrick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojorner Truth.
Women's Rights Movement
The women's rights movement was the fight for the idea that women should have equal rights with men. Over history, this has taken the form of the gaining property rights, the women's suffrages, and the right to work for equal pay.
Prison Reform
The prisoners that were thrown in jail were treated unfairly. The ones that were mentally ill were judged as "insane" and beaten for their bahavior. Reformers, such as Dorothea Dix, didn't agree with the way prisons punished inmates, so they worked for better conditions and rehabilitation of the inmates.
Public Education
The public education movement happened because very few children could attend school because of the cost. Horace Mann served as head of the state board of education in efforts to change the price of education. Citizens of Massachusetts voted to pay taxes to have a better education system.
Temperance Movement
The temperance movement was an effort to reduce the consumption of alchohol. Many people saw alchohol as a source of social problems including violence, crime, and poverty. The damage done to families by alchohol drinking was one of the main arguments used by leaders in the temperance movement.