Reform+Analysis

The Market Revolution changed America through reform, which **adjusted the thinking of the nation.** Many reform movements, as results of the revolution, set out to change the thoughts of American citizens during this. Nativism, which is the policy of favoring native in habitants over immigrants, is an example of a reform movement that grew during this revolution. Temperance ideals also surged during this time and effected the way Americans thought by convincing many to cease drinking. Abolitionism, another reform movement, which wanted to end slavery, also grew during this time period and altered the thinking of the people.

As the Market Revolution made the American economy increase very rapidly, and as factories began spreading across the nation, there was an increase in the demand for workers. This caused more and more immigrants to come into the country, looking for a new start and a stable job. There was a new tension between Americans and the immigrants, and Americans began seeing all these newcomers as threats. These ideals began a nativism movement, and there began to be many prejudices against the rush of immigrants entering and settling down in America. **Nativism** usually occurs during times when a country is under a lot of stress, like America was during the 1800’s because of the new national government and the rapidly growing economy. We can see that the nativism movement, in result of the Market Revolution, changed the views of many Americans and how they perceived those arriving from other countries.

During the Market Revolution, the production of alcohol increased, causing more people to start drinking more often. Because of this, the American **Temperance** Society was formed, after realizing that many Americans were becoming alcoholics. The most alcohol intake around that time period was in 1830, which was 7 gallons per person per year. That statistic shocked many, and they decided to make a change in their ideals. The American Temperance Society recommended renouncing liquor as speakers traveled across the country, changing the lives of some. The people responded well and many quit drinking for good after seeing how it was affecting their lives and families. Many people also formed groups that fought to end the production of liquor, and they also wanted to reform prisons, make conditions in factories better, and focus more on individualism. These reform movements, which were all in response to the Market Revolution, further show how this growing economy changed America and their views.

Another reform movement that changed the views of Americans due to the Market Revolution was **abolitionism****.** Abolitionism, which was the act of abolishing slavery, spread across the country during the early 1800’s after the rise of the cotton gin. Although it seems that the cotton gin, which helped harvest and produce cotton items faster, would decrease the need for slaves, it actually increased the need for them. People began writing articles, books, and forming societies in attempt to abolish slavery. An example of this is when David Walker called for blacks to being an abolition movement by writing //An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World// in 1829. Another example of this new spread of abolitionism is in 1833 when the American Anti-Slavery Society was formed, and also the World Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840, which greatly inspired even more reform movements. Americans responded to these works and an anti-slavery party, the Free Soil party, was even formed. We can see how abolitionism, because of this new revolution, changed the views of Americans.

As a result of these reform movements, we can see overall that **the ideals and beliefs of the American people changed greatly during because of the Market Revolution.**