The Various Reform Communities That Sprang Up Throughout America During

question 70

Essay

The various reform communities that sprang up throughout America during the first part of the nineteenth century typically understood the meaning of freedom differently from mainstream Americans. Analyze the various meanings these groups gave to the word "freedom," and compare those meanings with the ones given by mainstream America. Your essay ought to give the reader a sense of what these communities were rejecting about mainstream society.

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Definitions:

Developmental Task

An achievement or milestone typical for a specific age or stage in development, considered essential for healthy growth.

Autonomy

The right or condition of self-government, or in a more general sense, the capacity of an individual to make an informed, uncoerced decision.

Ritualism

The excessive or inappropriate repetition of rituals, typically seen in religious or cultural practices but can also reflect certain psychiatric conditions.