Modern Reform- Pro Life Movement

In the Pro-Life Movement, there are aspects that are similar to the reforms of the mid 19th century, though there are also many differences. Present in both the Pro-Life Movement and the reforms of the 1800s, such as abolition, is the fact that in each reform movement, there were critical activists that played large roles. In the abolition movement, there were speakers such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. In the modern Pro-Life Movement, there is a huge amount of activists, from religious leaders to celebrities. Also, conferences and protests were held to promote movements such as feminism and abolition, such as the Seneca Falls convention. Today, there is the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., where people from all walks of life come to share their belief that abortion is wrong, such as mentioned the article "Annual 'March for Life' Set for a Bitter Cold Monday in Washington" by Matt Cover found at www.cnsnews.com, on January 21, 2011. There are, however, some differences between the pro-life movement and mid-19th century reforms. First of all, the reform movements were attempting to bring a new right or aspect, such as abolition, into society which it had previously been lacking. The Pro-Life movement is instead trying to reverse an action which should never have been made in the first place. Also, the Pro-Life movement has more support than did the early reform movements. I think that Americans are more aware today of how their voice can make a difference. We feel more comfortable challenging the status quo than did early Americans who viewed slavery as normal or even natural.