Reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make a change in certain aspects of the society rather than fundamental changes. It is opposed to radical social movement such as revolutionary movement or reactionary movement.
United States Reform Movements of the 1840s
Art -- The Hudson River School of Art defined a distinctive American style of art, depicting romantic landscapes via the Transcendentalist perspective on nature
New Harmony (founder: Robert Owen), practiced economic communism, although it proved economically unviable
Oneida Commune (founder: John Noyes), practiced eugenics, complex marriage, and communal living. The commune was supported through the manufacture of silverware, and the corporation still exists today, producing spoons and forks for households of the world. The commune sold its assets when Noyes was jailed on numerous charges.
Shakers -- (founder: Mother Ann Lee) Stressed living and worship through dance, supported themselves through manufacture of furniture. The furniture is still popular today.
Public education reform -- (founder: Horace Mann), goals were a more relevant curriculum and more accessible education. Noah Webster's dictionary standardized English spelling and language; William McGuffey's hugely successful children's books taught reading in incremental stages.
Literature -- founding of the Transcendentalism, stresed high thinking and a spiritial connection to all things (see pantheism).
Prohibition Movement -- Anti-alcohol movement supported by Frances Willard's Women's Christian Temperance Union, which stressed education; the Anti-Saloon League, which Carrie Nation promoted a confrontational approach towards bars and saloons; and the Know-Nothing Party, an anti-catholic, anti-immigration, anti-drinking political party.
In his view, the task was to build support for socialist candidates, who in turn would use their influence in government to implement a series of socialreforms that would overcome capitalism’s contradictions.
Socialism, argued Marx and Engels--as well as Luxemburg--was the "self-emancipation of the working class." Therefore, class struggle--in the form of strikes, street protests and ultimately mass insurrection--was the key to transforming society.
Therefore, the idea of gradual reform is not a recipe for social change, but a recipe for adaptation to existing society.
Under the current Social Security formula, workers receiving a full benefit get 90% of the first $561 of their average monthly earnings adjusted for inflation, 32% of the earnings in between $561 and $3,202, and 15% of higher average monthly earnings up to the maximum earnings base ($6,700 monthly in 2001).
The reforms recognized that Social Security was a proven success and financially sound, and that half of American workers lacked a pension through their employer.
The reforms were premised on a bleak view of the future for the American economy, and the belief that individuals would be better off planning their own retirement than with social insurance that guaranteed all workers and their families a basic income.
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