First published 1967
David Brion Davis explores the social and political reform movements that transformed American society in the decades before the Civil War. He examines how abolitionists, temperance advocates, women's rights activists, and educational reformers challenged established institutions and social norms. Davis traces the connections between these various movements and analyzes their shared religious and philosophical foundations. He shows how reformers used new communication methods and organizational strategies to build support for their causes. The book reveals how these reform efforts both reflected and accelerated the social tensions that would eventually lead to national crisis. Davis offers readers a comprehensive understanding of how ordinary Americans worked to reshape their society during this pivotal period in the nation's history.
Genres: history, non-fiction, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: historical, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-nonfiction, social-justice
Setting: America
Period: Pre-Civil-War
Unknown Binding · HARPER & ROW