In an essay of at least 400 words, make an argument linking the rise of individualism and individualistic thinking in any two of the economic, political, religious, or social (reform) realms that we have considered in this unit. For example, you might argue that changes in the economy, including the rise in mobility and westward movement, helped drive changes in political thinking and the end of property requirements. Or you might argue that changes in the economy helped drive the Second Great Awakening – a movement of individual religious conviction. Or you might argue that a shift in religious ideas drove a change in the thinking of a reform movement towards a more individual conception of a social problem. Whichever two examples you choose, each should be from a different “realm” (economic, political, religious, or social).

Your essay should include:

• A thesis that briefly describes the two changes you will be linking in your essay. A quality thesis will include brief but specific detail.

• One paragraph describing the first of the two changes you are considering. Make sure that your description includes a discussion of the shift towards individualism.

• A second paragraph describing a shift towards political, spiritual, or social (reform) ideas of individualism. This description should link the political, spiritual, or social (reform) changes you described in the previous paragraph.