Many of the reform movements in the Unites States between 1825 and 1850, aimed at restoring or building upon democratic ideals as expressed by the "Founding Fathers" in the late 1700's, are clearly demonstrated in the following seven sources-the Fourth Annual Report for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the City of New York (1829), Charles G. Finney (1834), Imminent Dangers to the Free Institutions of the United States by Samuel F.B. Morse (1835), William H. McGuffey (1836), the Constitution of the Brook Farm Association (1841), the Address of Orestes A. Brownson (1844), and the Seneca Falls Declaration (1848).

             The first source mentions that the city of New York "was the first to adopt the penitentiary system of prison discipline. . . to prevent the commission of crimes" related to young offenders who deserve "religious and moral instruction. . . useful knowledge. . . and industrious and orderly habits" in order to help them to become "valuable members of society" instead of being placed in prison to learn "the ways of the wicked" (Fourth Annual Report, 1829). Thus, the author of this source clearly understood that young people could be rehabilitated so that they could be good members of society and contribute to the growth of democratic ideals within America. The author is also expressing the fundamental truths of the US Constitution related to the pursuit of happiness and liberty which all American deserve despite the errors of their youth.

             In the second source, Charles G. Finney, one of the greatest American religious revivalists of the early 1800's, writes that "When the churches are. . . awakened and reformed, the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow" via the "stages of conviction, repentance and reformation" (1834). Finney is obviously quite aware of many democratic ideals, for he is stating that "sinners" should be brought into the fold of the church in order to enlighten them with democratic principles which will enable them to contribute to the good of society, much like the young offenders mentioned in the previous source.