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Reform movements are the engine of American political and social change—and the AP exam knows it. You'll be tested on how these movements connect to broader themes like democracy and citizenship, economic systems, social structures, and the role of government. The College Board loves asking you to trace how one movement influenced another, how reformers used similar tactics across eras, or how the same tensions (individual rights vs. collective good, federal power vs. states' rights) resurface again and again.
Don't just memorize names and dates. For each movement, know what problem it addressed, what tactics reformers used, and how it connected to constitutional principles or sparked legislative change. When you can explain why the temperance movement and women's suffrage overlapped, or how Populist demands resurfaced in Progressive reforms, you're thinking like the exam wants you to think.
The Second Great Awakening (1790s–1840s) ignited a wave of reform by convincing Americans that social problems were moral problems—and that individuals had a duty to perfect society. This religious revivalism fueled the belief that human effort could eliminate sin and create a more just nation.
Compare: Abolitionism vs. Temperance—both emerged from religious revivalism and used moral arguments, but abolitionism targeted a regional institution while temperance addressed a national behavior. FRQ tip: if asked about antebellum reform tactics, contrast Garrison's "moral suasion" with the WCTU's later political organizing.
American democracy has never been static—it's been repeatedly expanded through organized pressure. Each suffrage movement built on the rhetoric and tactics of previous ones, creating a cumulative tradition of rights-based activism.
Compare: Women's Suffrage vs. Civil Rights Movement—both sought to fulfill promises of the Declaration of Independence, both used constitutional amendments as goals, and both faced internal debates over tactics (gradual vs. radical, legal vs. direct action). If an FRQ asks about continuity in reform movements, this comparison is gold.
Industrialization created enormous wealth—and enormous inequality. Reform movements in this category responded to the economic dislocations caused by capitalism, demanding that government regulate markets and protect vulnerable groups.
Compare: Populism vs. Labor Movement—both challenged corporate power, but Populists represented rural producers (farmers) while labor organized urban wage workers. The exam often asks how these groups sometimes allied (as in 1896) and sometimes clashed over priorities.
Progressivism (1890s–1920s) represented a new faith that expert-driven government intervention could solve social problems. Unlike earlier moral reformers, Progressives emphasized efficiency, scientific management, and institutional change.
Compare: Progressive Era vs. Second-Wave Feminism—both believed government action could advance equality, but Progressives focused on economic regulation while second-wave feminists targeted gender discrimination in law and culture. Both expanded definitions of what government should protect.
Environmental movements challenged the assumption that natural resources existed solely for human exploitation. This reform tradition raised questions about long-term sustainability and the government's role in protecting shared resources.
Compare: Environmental Movement vs. Progressive Era conservation—Theodore Roosevelt's conservation focused on efficient resource use (preserving forests for future logging), while 1960s–70s environmentalism emphasized ecological protection (preventing pollution, saving species). This distinction appears frequently on AP exams.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Religious motivation for reform | Abolitionism, Temperance Movement |
| Constitutional amendments achieved | Abolitionism (13th), Women's Suffrage (19th), Temperance (18th) |
| Nonviolent direct action tactics | Civil Rights Movement, LGBTQ+ Rights Movement |
| Economic justice / anti-corporate | Populist Movement, Labor Movement, Progressive Era |
| Expanded role of federal government | Progressive Era, Civil Rights Movement, Environmental Movement |
| Women's leadership and gender issues | Temperance, Women's Suffrage, Second-Wave Feminism |
| Court cases as reform strategy | Civil Rights Movement, LGBTQ+ Rights Movement, Second-Wave Feminism |
| Response to industrialization | Populism, Labor Movement, Progressive Era, Environmental Movement |
Which two movements emerged directly from Second Great Awakening religious revivalism, and how did their tactics differ?
Trace the connection between Populist demands of the 1890s and Progressive legislation of the 1900s–1910s. Which specific reforms appeared in both agendas?
Compare and contrast the strategies used by the women's suffrage movement and the Civil Rights Movement. What role did constitutional amendments play in each?
An FRQ asks you to explain how reform movements expanded the role of the federal government between 1900 and 1975. Which three movements provide the strongest evidence, and what specific legislation would you cite?
How did the environmental movement of the 1960s–70s differ from Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Era conservation efforts? What shift in values does this difference reveal?