Bree+H.+-+RFC+-+SP10

Objective:

I, Dorothea Dix want to should everyone that what is going on in jails and almshouses is horrible and should be improved. Everyone right now believes that the insane and the disabled (blind,deaf,mute) are all incurable and unable to be helped in any way. I want to created better living condtions for these people and have them treated like regular human beings. Some of these mentally insane are stuck in sells with felons. I knew as soon as i saw what kind of situation these people were dealing with, id have to help it some way. The first time i saw these kinds of conditions was when i was helping to teach at a Jail in East Cambridge (1841). The sight I saw encouraged me to find out if other almshouses and Jails were set up in this horrible way. I started going to jails everywhere, in all different kinds of states. More hospitals and facilities were needed for this disabled to go to instead of just jail. Something needed to be done, so I started collecting data at each jail or almshouse i went to. I read tons of books on the mentally ill and learned by listening to educated doctors and reformists like William Tuke and Benjamin Rush.

-Dix wanted to show everyone that not all were incurable, she mde the living conditions for the women inmates better, which helped to some degree -She showed people that the mentally ill could be treated in some cases -Dix needed more money and more people willing to fight for her cause. -proposed federal land grant of 12,500,000 acres set aside as public endowment, wth the income from that being used for the beneift of the blind, deaf and insane

Accomplishments:

After collecting all my data and observations from Jails and almshoues all over the US, I started to purpose to each states legislature about creating new places for the disabled to be held. I knew from previous situations that i the mentally ill at least recieved better living conditions, many of thier problems could be helped a little. I believe a theraputic environment and comfortable atmosphere for these patients would be greatly benifical. I want in the long run to have a place for the mentally ill to go, even when im not around. I purposed a land grant of 12,500,000 acres to be put aside as public endowment, and with the income the land makes, use the money to benefit the blind,deaf,mute and insane in the future. My purposal was shot down by President Pierce but I still now continue to help the insane and disabled in 14 different other countries.

- Traveled to different jails around the us to treat these insane inmates -Founded 32 mental hospitals and 15 schools for the insane -During the civil war she was the superintendant of the union army of nurses -Published books on childrens questions for parent, "conversations on common things" -1821 opended a privae school for young girls -1854 Traveled to 14 dfferent countries, trying to improve things for the menatally ill -the pope comapred her to a saint for all her hard work -1841 entered east cambridge jail

References: Philipe Pinel: Pinel was found in many of my books that I wrote. I aquianted myself with this man so that I could learn more from him. This is one way I expanded my knowledge and learned more about the mentally ill. Millard Fillmore: The president before Pierce was this man and he was all for my plan to benefit the blind,mute,deaf and mentally ill. He was ready to grant me the land-grant of 12,500,000 acres. This was to set up a new facility for the people who were sick or with a disability who came from the poor side of town.

-Many of the people in charge of the almshouses or jails would discourage Dix from seeing the worst patients but she always ended up seeing them .-Women hardly ever traveld alone during this time period but Dix usully did, traveling from hospital to hopital or to Jails. -Everyone at the time looked at the insane as incurable. - Put the meantally ill in the same sells as felons -1841 entered east cambridge jail - Traveled to different jails around the us to treat these insane inmates -Founded 32 mental hospitals and 15 schools for the insane -1848asked govenerment to set aside 5 million acres for the mentally ill -During the civil war she was the superintendant of the union army of nurses -Good friends with the Governor of Mass. at the time -proposed federal land grant of 12,500,000 acres set aside as public endowment, wth the income from that being used for the beneift of the blind, deaf and insane -Published books on childrens questions for parent, "conversations on common things" -1821 opended a privae school for young girls -was a teacher -Lobbied for this from 1848 to 1854 but was shot down by by president Franklin Pierce -Went to England and did the same thing there that she had been doing in the US -1854 Traveled to 14 dfferent countries, trying to improve things for the menatally ill -the pope comapred her to a saint for all her hard work

Sources: Bumb, Jenn. "Dorothea Dix." //Webster University//. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .

Viney, Wayne. "Dorothea Dix." //UUA Server for Other Organizations' Web Sites//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. [].