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Utopian communities were a response to the major changes in America at this time, and were primarily built on the ideas of transcendentalism. They attempted to separate themselves from society by creating 'perfect' communities, inspired by the Old Puritan view of 'perfectionism'. Some were religious communities, such as the Latter Day Saints or the Mormons, created by John Smith, based off of the Book of Mormon. Mormonism encouraged polygamy, a very unpopular idea among many. Furthermore, mormons were persecuted all the way to Utah where they dwelled and prospered in the wilderness, and in fact, still exist today. Another example, was the secular experiment, Brook Farm. It combined spiritual and intellectual time with a manual  labor lifestyle, living out the self-reliance ideas of transcendentalism. Collectively, hundreds of these communities developed, reflecting many ideas of social quality, religious ideas, questioning America's industrial growth, and striving to create a 'perfect' society. Below is a picture of the Brook Farm Experiment:

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The Second Great Awakening was the overarching event that led to social and moral reform movements across the U.S. in the 19th Century. As the economy shifted to focus on industrialization and Americans became more and more materialistic, many people became less focused on church and therefore the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival, attempted to bring people back to church. It was a reaction to new liberal ideas that challenged religion, as well as a response to nationalism, and changes in society due to the market revolution. It stressed salvation for all and a personal relationship with Jesus, through emotional, passionate sermons in scenes, such as the one pictured below, called "camp meetings". These revivals were utmost successful, spreading and sprouting ideas of equality to all, that led to the formation of abolitionism and the Women's Rights movement, and also led to people wanting to separate themselves from society to create a 'utopian community'.

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Transcendentalism was a literary and philosophical movement, built around the essence of perfectionism and romanticism. It questioned established institutions, businesses and churches, and focused on feelings, intuition, and the study of nature. It stressed individualistic ideals and artistic expression, attracted many intellectuals as well. One of these intellectuals was Ralph Waldo Emerson, pictured down below, who advocated rationalism and optimism in his writings. The ideas of transcendentalism directly lead to the creation of numerous utopian communities. Transcendentalists also supported other reform movements such as abolitionism and impacted American literature in a profound way. They criticized the government, laws, and religion, and focused on self-reliance and individualism.

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Arguably the most predominant, the most important, most pressing issue and reform movement of the 19th century, leading to sectionalism between the North and South, and ultimately culminating in the breakout of the Civil War, was--slavery. The religious ideas promoted by the Second Great Awakening viewed slavery as a sin, leading to a conflicting religious aspect regarding slavery. The ideas of the Market Revolution, and equality of all groups of people also led many to question the morals and ethics of slavery. Also leading to abolitionism was the exponential growth of the cotton industry, generating the importation of millions of slaves, as well as political tensions that were temporarily alleviated by the 'gag rule' in Congress and the Missouri Compromise. All of these ideas, coupled with the rising tensions between Southerner's proponents of slavery, and anti-slavery sentiments and radical abolitionist, led to the abolitionist movement. Major figures in the movement, compromised of Frederick Douglass, who was a former slave and wrote horrific accounts of his life as a slave. He also was very eloquent and intelligent speaker and writer, further strengthening his argument against slavery. Sarah and Angelica Grimke were forceful advocates against slavery as well, who took leading roles in the movement which in turn also intensified their own fight for women's rights. In addition, William Lloyd Garrison, a radical abolitionist, founded the American Anti-Slavery Society, advocating for the immediate release of all slaves. He, along with his radical followers, provoked the wrath of Southerners by demanding immediate abolition of slavery versus a gradual approach, leading to a split in the movement. There were the radical abolitionists, and then there were the mores moderate, practical abolitionists. In addition, Nat Turner, inspired by racial ideas, led a slave revolt killing 55 whites. After the revolt, Southerners feared future uprisings and the anti-slavery talk in the South abruptly ceased. Ultimately, the abolitionist movement intensified the tensions between the free states in the North, and the slave states in the South. The ideas and tensions caused by the abolitionist movement during this time period ultimately led to the Civil War. Even after the Civil War and the passing of the 13th and 14th Amendments (which abolished slavery and gave blacks the right to vote, respectively), African-Americans still had a long journey ahead to eradicating racism in American society.
Below is one religious appeal to Abolitionism:

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During the early 19th century, the roles of women in the family changed, with the invention of machinery and the growth of factories and textile mills, women no longer produced goods, or went to work alongside their husbands at the farm. Instead, women were seen the moral leaders and conscience of the household. The idea of the cult of domesticity emerged, dictating that a women's role was in the home, raising children, cooking, cleaning, and being a lovely, honorable, good wife for their husbands to come home too. Additionally, many women joined and rallied support for other popular reform movements, such as abolitionism and the temperance movement, taking on major leading roles in these movements and a greater presence in the public sphere. However, when they were barred from anti-slavery conventions and not allowed to give lectures, they began to see their own oppression and their secondary roles to men--fabricating the birth of the Women's Rights Movement. The movement primarily focused on gaining women's suffrage, among other essential rights. Many influential and prominent women who lead the movement, included Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was a strong abolitionist, and fought specifically for legal rights for women. She also wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence to bring more attention to the issue. Susan B. Anthony also led many campaigns for women's rights, lectured, traveled, delivered speeches, and was a strong abolitionist as well. Lucretia Mott, was an important figure as well. After her and Stanton were banned from speaking at the World's Anti-Slavery Convention, they organized the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Additionally, the Women's Rights Movement was a global movement, that eventually led to changed attitudes regarding women and gradual improvements in women's rights. However, many people, particularly churches, the press, and most men, were highly against the movement, causing it have to have large resistance, opposition, and many challenges. In addition, it became overshadowed by the more pressing and more eminent issue of slavery. It would be nearly 100 years before the 19th Amendment was passed giving women the right to vote. Below is a copy of the Declaration of Sentiments as well as one picture from the Women's Rights Movement at the Seneca Falls Convention:

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The temperance movement was an attempt to limit and in some cases, prohibit alcohol use. Alcoholism was a major problem during this time period, causing high domestic abuse, low labor efficiency, and an 'imperfect' social order in the eyes of many. In order to combat these problems, the temperance movement emerged, appealing to Protestant ideals and moral values. The movement created societies such as the American Temperance Society to reduce drinking and urge people not to drink. It was a very popular movement, as many blamed the evils and ills of society on alcohol. Businessman and corporations supported the movement, but it was controversial among many German and Irish immigrants. Many women also joined this movement ultimately leading to the Women's Rights movement. This movement led to in some states such as Maine, the passing of prohibition laws. It also resulted in reduced drinking around women, and the Panic of 1837 which lowered the demand for alcohol. Subsequently, it led to a changing nature of society, a new definition of freedom, and the goal of a 'perfect' social order. Below is one of many political cartoons made to address the detrimental consequences and evils of drinking alcohol.