Unthreatened Wealthy

The reform movements of the early to mid 18th century encouraged a change in the way people thought and a reconstruction of traditional society. This era of reform opened the door of opportunity for millions of Americans; granting them an opportunity to chase after wealth and power. There were numerous reform movements, all of which in on a small scale or large scale affected the treatment of the underprivileged classes. This period did not blatantly threaten the privileged "well-to-do" classes of America but was successful only in closing the gap between the middle and lower classes and their aristocratic counterparts. Never is a class of wealth and power replaced or destroyed it is only weakened by means of balancing the means of achieving power. In this case, reform movements in the treatment of the mentally incompetent, public education, and a national movement for temperance, support the idea of privileged class' unthreatened position.
The temperance movement was based on the bel...