19th Century American Social Reform Movements and Ellen G. White's Social Reform Activities

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study of Ellen G. White’s social reform activities in the 19th century in America. At this time, the social reform movement was a core agenda in America. The social reforms were developed before and after the Civil War divided. Before the Civil War, the social reforms were vigorously proceeded to focus on emancipation movement. Changing of healthy lifestyle and transforming of social structure are the main issues of social reform. In addition, the moral self-reform, which was influenced from Transcendentalism, was one of the reform issues. Ellen G. White, who grew up in this contemporary situation, was known as a social reformer in the areas of the health reform. Of course she took part in the emancipation movement and the women’s liberation movement. Her reform movement was based on the perspective of the great controversy. So, she focused on the self-reform of morality rather than the reform of social structure. The feature of her social reform movement was to build the Kingdom of God.