Antebellum Reform Movements

Reformers believed improved public education was important because

• it would help slaves become better workers.

• children needed to learn skilled trades.

• educated people make better citizens.

• the federal government wanted religion to be a larger priority.

Horace Mann is known as the “father of public education” because he

• opened the first school in America.

• created education policies in Massachusetts that spread to the rest of the nation.

• opened schools for Catholics in New England.

• allowed girls to study “boys’ subjects” at his school.

Which of these statements was NOT one of Horace Mann’s goals for public education?

• He wanted to establish schools that would train teachers.

•  He wanted the states to use taxes to fund schools.

• He wanted poor people to have access to the “great equalizer.”

• He wanted religion to play a major role in the education of children.

Which of these reasons was NOT a roadblock to creating public education in early America?

• Some people insisted religion be part of their children’s education. 

• People continued to migrate west and did not settle in one spot.

• In order to survive, families needed children to work on farms or in factories.

• Thomas Jefferson had set a precedent insisting children should only be educated in their homes.

How did the Land Ordinance of 1785 help Horace Mann’s quest for free public education?

• It set aside land in each township for the establishment of schools

• It legalized education for freed blacks in the South.

• It created libraries throughout the Northwest Territory.

• It required all factories to provide free education for any workers under 12 years of age.

Even in the mid-1800s, states were in charge of providing education for their own citizens.  This is an example of:

• separation of powers.

• popular sovereignty.

• federalism.

• checks and balances.

In early schools, women typically studied subjects such as etiquette and the arts.  Which of these was NOT a reason why this occurred?

• Women were supposed to focus on their family and home.

• Women refused to take more difficult classes until they were seen as equal to men.

• It was believed that women did not have the ability to master math and science.

• Women did not need an education in order to work on farms.

Some northern workers were opposed to abolitionist goals because the workers thought that

• freed slaves might take their jobs.

• southern states might stop buying northern goods.

•  more factories would open in the South.

• abolitionists caused violence.

Which of these was NOT used by abolitionists to argue against slavery?

• Slavery violated ideas found in the Declaration of Independence.

• Slavery went against basic ideas of the Second Great Awakening.

• Slavery was costing the South too much money.

• Slavery had already been outlawed in the North.

The American Colonization Movement failed in part because

• most black Americans did not want to move to Africa.

• it did not promise full rights to settlers in Liberia.

• free blacks could not afford to move to Africa.

• President Monroe opposed setting up a colony in Africa.