1. The introduction to this chapter suggests that the “traditional” family was far more common in the mid-nineteenth century than nowadays. What were its strengths and limitations?
2. Many institutions were created during the years from 1820 to 1850; many remain a part of contemporary life. Prisons are an obvious example. What other institutions were established during this period that exist today? Does their persistence prove their value to society or the difficulty of eliminating outmoded institutions?
3. How did the changing attitudes toward marriage and children influence the rise of reform movements during the first half of the nineteenth century? How did the Great Awakening contribute to the social reforms of the era?
4. The campaign for women’s rights and woman suffrage gained momentum during this period. Did these new ideas of women’s roles in society stimulate the structural transformation of the family (fewer children, for example), or did the smaller families free women to undertake new initiatives such as reform and woman’s suffrage?
5. Why did the great writers of the age—Emerson, Thoreau, Melville, Hawthorne, Whitman—fail to find large audiences?
Myhiswylab Connections ~
Reinforce what you learned in this chapter by studying the many documents, images, maps, review tools, and videos available at Www. myhistorylab. com.
World History
