The Utopian Experiments

"American reform movements between 1820 and 1860 reflected both optimistic and pessimistic views of human nature and society."

The Utopian experiments portrayed both optimistic and pessimistic views of human nature and society. The Utopian societies at that time were considered the "perfect" societies. Unlike in a traditional society, women worked just like the men did in a Utopian society. With the women now working, they felt that they had a right to be involved in politics just like their husbands could. The men, however did not like this. They felt as if they were losing control and power of their households. However, with the women working, the need for slaves was nonexistant. The optimistic views were that women were allowed to work, and there was no need for slavery. The pessimistic views are that the men were left feeling equal to women, which they just couldn't accept. The men were supposed to have the dominating role in the household. They were the ones supposed who were supposed to work and be involved in the politics. The Utopian experiments eventually failed because the people saw that their societies were no where near perfect.

Cotton, Slavery, and Old South

In the time period of 1840 to 1860, slavery was the dominating reality of all southern life. Socially, the wealthy plantation owners relied on slaves to plant the cash crop, and the demand for the crop increased the need for more slaves. Economically, the southerners gained profit from the slaves because of their labor which produced the cotton and was at the time, the leading export. One of the factoring decisions in social class depended on how many slaves someone owned. Planters that owned at least 50 slaves or more were considered part of the upper class. The south depended on slaves to keep the economy growing and strong; so therefore, slavery dominated the south's economy. Without the slave's labor, there would be none of the prized cotton that produced much of the south's wealth.