The American people from 1820 to 1860 found themselves living in an era of transition and instability. The society they lived in was changing and traditional views and values were being challenged. The response to this period of uncertainty was a movement towards reform and an ever increasing desire for order and control amongst the people. The largest driving force for reform was the nation's commitment to progress and development and other vehicles of reform included burgeoning religious sects and philosophies. Reform movements in education, an influx of immigrants, as well as a rapid increase in technology and population nurtured the growth of industry and urban life throughout America.
Under the age of reform, all aspects of society and the way people thought began to slowly shift. This shift was encouraged primarily by religion and the establishment of several sects and organizations. Groups such as the Transcendentalists and Unitarians believed in the essential goodness of humanity, a God of love, and emphasized the emotions and feelings over rationality and common thinking. Through these philosophies the American people began to view themselves as innately good beings with room for improving themselves and the society in which they lived. It is under the umbrella of religion that reform was brought about for it established the mind of thought necessary to cultivate change and bring about reform.
During this era, public schooling and higher institutions of learning became more readily available to Americans. This movement was inspired by people who saw the need for educated people in an increasingly commercial society, where more and more occupations required the ability to read and write. It was their aim to provide an opportunity for all children to learn the skills for self-fulfillment and success in a republic. By means of education general diffusion of property ownership and a closing of gaps between social classes could be achieved.