Religion and Reform in the “Burned Over District” | Discovering New York Suffrage Stories

Examine why religion and reform were synonymous in 19th century Western New York. This bonus video features extended interview clips from Discovering New York Suffrage Stories and shows how reform efforts around anti-slavery and abolition served as a training ground for women’s rights activists. While religious groups fueled the movement, some suffragists fought to preserve the separation of church and state. Then, review the background reading and vocabulary to deepen students’ understanding.