Education Reform

Before the mid-1800's, there was no uniform education policy in the US. School conditions varied across regions, and Massachusetts and Vermont were the only states to pass a compulsory school attendance law before the Civil War. School was often held in a school house, and classes were not divided by grade. Few children continued school beyond the age of ten.

In 1834, Pennsylvania established a tax-supported public school system. Although it was optional, a huge wave of opposition came from the well-to-do taxpayers of the time. They saw no reason to support public schools, seeing as their kids went to private school. But within three years, 42% of the elementary-school-level children in Pennsylvania were attending public schools.