The essay is about the democrats and their ideals before the civil war.

"Reform movements in the united states sought to expand democratic ideals" Between the years of 1825 and 1860 several reform movements were taking place. These movements brought with them some extraordinary people with some rather revolutionary ideas. The major reform movements that broadened our democratic ideals were the slavery reforms, and women suffrage movements. Many people worked on abolishment of slavery and bringing about women's rights. They used numerous methods to do so. The likes of Harriet …

…practices. He was unyielding. His paper didn't make him any profit, he still continued with it just to keep the flame of antislavery burning bright. All these reformers were such that they could be easily identified out of the rest. They were their own person. And this is what encouraged people to identify themselves and not blindly ape traditions and believes without understanding them. Thus the reform movements in America sought to expand democratic ideals.