Reform movements including religion, temperance, abolition, and women's rights sought to expand democratic ideals in the years

1825 to 1850. However, certain movements, such as nativism and utopias, failed to show the American emphasis on a democratic society. The reform movements were spurred by the Second Great Awakening, which began in New England, and would eventually spread throughout the country. The Second Great Awakening differed from the First in that people were now believed to be able to choose whether or not to believe in God. Through the Second Great Awakening many churches believed they had the ability to change human behavior and society through religion. At this time the common man was seen as sinful and lacking in morals, so many religious leaders felt that change was necessary. The Second Great Awakening helped expand democratic ideals by bettering the moral standards of the common man. The religious reforms also expanded democratic ideal with their emphasis on free will, salvation, and equality. The Temperance movement is also an example of the increase of democratic principles. The Temperance Movement sought to expand democratic ideals in that it protected the common man from himself. It improved the common man's productivity as well as his well-being by discouraging him from the evils of alcohol. During this movement it the goal was to abstain from drinking alcohol, because the effects were counterproductive to societys goals. So, as a result men who drank alcohol were seen as lesser men, but not only because they were likely to beat their wives and children, because their drunkenness affected their work ethic and morals. This lead to the belief that drinking was a threat to social order, and the lack of social order was a threat to the nation and democracy as a whole.

The abolition and womens suffrage reform movement were also involved with the expansion of democratic ideals. A major reform movement, abolitionism sought to end slavery and free millions of black people held as slaves. By seeking to gain freedom for slaves, the abolition movement was spreading democratic ideals, because it sought equal treatment for black slaves. Although most reformations did seek to expand democratic ideals, there were a few that did not. Nativism, for example, was also an important reform movement of this time period. Nativism was the belief that only white American citizens should be allowed suffrage and other rights, excluding new emigrants People believed this because they did not want foreign immigrants competing with them for jobs. The Naturalization Law made it impossible for any foreigner who comes into the country to ever be able to vote. This movement obviously did not seek to expand democratic ideals. Another example of non-democratic ideals is utopias. A utopia is a perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects. Utopians describe a perfect nation, where justice is applied, children are secure, industry is successful, and everyone provides physical support for each other. This represents a socialist type of government, not democratic.