Reforms Benjamin Rush

1 reforms

1.1 anti-slavery
1.2 anti capital punishment
1.3 status of women

reforms
anti-slavery

in 1766, when rush set out studies in edinburgh, outraged sight of 100 slave ships in liverpool harbor. prominent presbyterian doctor , professor of chemistry in philadelphia, provided bold , respected voice against slave trade.

he warmly praised ministry of black harry hosier, freedman circuit rider accompanied bishop john asbury during establishment of methodist church in america, highlight of involvement pamphlet wrote in 1773 entitled address inhabitants of british settlements in america, upon slave-keeping. in first of many attacks on social evils of day, assailed slave trade entire institution of slavery. rush argued scientifically negroes not nature intellectually or morally inferior. apparent evidence contrary perverted expression of slavery, foreign human mind, moral faculties, of understanding debased, , rendered torpid it.

in 1792, rush read paper before american philosophical society argued color , figure of blacks derived form of leprosy. argued proper treatment, blacks cured , become white.

despite public condemnations of slavery, rush purchased slave named william grubber in 1776. consternation of many, rush still owned grubber when joined pennsylvania abolition society in 1784.

anti capital punishment

rush deemed public punishments such putting person on display in stocks, common @ time, counterproductive. instead, proposed private confinement, labor, solitude, religious instruction criminals, , opposed death penalty. outspoken opposition capital punishment pushed pennsylvania legislature abolish death penalty crimes other first-degree murder. authored 1792 treatise on punishing murder death in made 3 principle arguments:

i. every man possesses absolute power on own liberty , property, not on own life...ii. punishment of murder death, contrary reason, , order , happiness of society...iii. punishment of murder death, contrary divine revelation.

rush led state of pennsylvania establish first state penitentiary, walnut street prison, in 1790. rush campaigned long-term imprisonment, denial of liberty, both humane severe punishment.

this 1792 treatise preceded comments on efficacy of death penalty self-references , which, evidently, appeared in second volume of american museum.

status of women

after revolution, rush proposed new model of education elite women included english language, vocal music, dancing, sciences, bookkeeping, history, , moral philosophy. instrumental founding of young ladies academy of philadelphia, first chartered women s institution of higher education in philadelphia. rush saw little need training women in metaphysics, logic, mathematics, or advanced science; rather wanted emphasis on guiding women toward moral essays, poetry, history, , religious writings. type of education elite women grew dramatically during post-revolutionary period, women claimed role in creating republic. , so, ideal of republican motherhood emerged, lauding women s responsibility of instructing young in obligations of patriotism, blessings of liberty , true meaning of republicanism. opposed coeducational classrooms , insisted on need instruct youth in christian religion.