Cover
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.

label levels:

By the second quarter of the nineteenth century, many Americans had migrated westward, leaving behind the social stability of close-knit families and communities. The economic collapse of 1837 further undermined Americans' sense of security, fueling many to partake in fervent religious revivals. Although customarily relegated to what was known as the "domestic sphere," meaning they were discouraged from acting in a public role, women became key players in the religious revivals of the antebellum period. The image shown here demonstrates one way women organized- by going door-to-door to talk to other women about their beliefs, and if necessary, try to reform unacceptable behavior.

top of page