By Armita Rohani
In the middle of an age of reformation in the United States, reformers in Mrs. Kantz’s AP U.S. History class debated on various reforms to introduce to the American people. From abolition and women’s rights to graham crackers and prostitution, a fiery debate was imminent. Tables were flipped, bread was thrown, and tensions rose in President Jackson’s White House.
After the War of 1812, American nationalism and a new American identity rose among the populous. However, ideas of Romanticism–which influenced individualism and caused people to rethink their rights and interpretation of those rights–caused division in the union. Many new reform groups emerged because of this, each advocating for their own values and ideals to instill among Americans. Abolitionists argued for the abolition of slavery, feminist groups rose after the Seneca Falls Conference, advocating for women’s equality and the right to vote, temperance rose as the abolishment of alcohol became greatly desired, reforms in education, prisons and diet emerged as well.
In order to gain an understanding for what these reformers wanted from the Jacksonian government, President Jackson–also known as the fabulous Ms. Kantz–hosted a reformation debate at East’s very own room 308, featuring reformers such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglas, Joseph Smith, John Humphrey Noyes, Father Theobald Mathew, Lyman Beecher, Dr. Sylvester Graham, and many others. Reformers sat around a circle of desks, each equipped with their own name plaque, resume, and research. They argued about the importance and significance of their reformations, debating on which to address first.
Heated conversations and chaos ensued. In first period, Dr. Graham called everyone prostitutes for eating spices, in period three everyone was at each other’s throats, and in period six a table was flipped by Father Matthew, before he screamed at the reformers regarding the severeness of their actions and their dumbfound ignorance. Bread was thrown, insulting slurs were tossed around, and an “anti-masturbation” graham cracker was passed around, all while President Jackson watched in horror and amusement.
The experience was as much fun as it was chaotic, and far from forgettable. Although some key details were left out for appropriation, the debate itself was thrilling and heated.
