Reform Movements Day 1 Women’s Rights American History I SRMHS Mr. Hensley

American Reform Movements More wealth, more income means more leisure Americans focus on religion Abolition, Suffrage and Temperance movements lead to women’s rights movement Reformers look to change education, prison and mental health systems

Two Different Ways MATRIARCHY PATRIARCHY Emphasis on community Upon marriage, man joins his wife’s household Kinship runs through mother Women have clear, well-defined rights Women have a role outside of marriage Emphasis on property Upon marriage, wife joins her husband’s household Kinship runs through father Women have limited or no rights Women’s roles are defined by her connection to a man (father, husband etc.)

European Patriarchy Pater familias Women were not allowed to inherit property Women had no rights Women were either wives or widows, virgins or crones – defined through their connection to a man Roman architecture – designed to keep women invisible

Native Matriarchy Most Native Americans figured descent through the mother Women had inherent rights independent of men Some Native women could divorce and keep husband’s property Some tribes had the women pick (male) chiefs

American Matriarchal Traditions Mexican-American family names demonstrate recognition of the mother’s family (Ex: Gabriel Garcia Marquez) Most African cultures have extended families instead of nuclear ones

Women in the United States Cannot vote Could not hold office No emphasis on education (60% could not read) Cannot hold property or sign contracts without a man’s permission Some states forbade them to speak in public!

Cult of Domesticity An ideal for women, who needed four virtues Piety: religion is the only proper intellectual pursuit Purity: virginity before marriage, monogamy after Submission to men (“as if a little child”) Domesticity: the woman’s place is in the home

Technology Challenges the Patriarchy Starting in the 1820’s, the North begins to industrialize Women are the preferred factory employees (lower wages) Women earn their own money; form their own networks of friends 1830’s: some women have unionized and struck for higher wages, better working conditions

Origins of the Movement Many upper class women are involved in the abolition movement They begin to see parallels between slavery and the rights of women Abolitionists spilt over whether or not women should be allowed to speak (1840)

Disagreement Over Goals A small minority of women want full equality with men Most want to see improvements: property rights, custody rights Two early leaders emerge: Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (both started with abolition)

Seneca Falls Convention In 1848, Mott and Stanton organize the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, NY (“The Seneca Falls Convention”) Delegates produce a “Declaration of Sentiments” modeled on Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Sentiments “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men AND women are created equal” Concerned with voting (suffrage), property rights and access to education Sadly, ridiculed and ignored by most American politicians Suffrage barely made it in

New York Leads the Way Also in 1848, New York passes “Married Women’s Property Act” Illegal for husband to use wife’s property or wages without her permission Women can own patents and copyrights Other states follow NY’s lead and pass similar laws

The Grimke Sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimke were the daughters of a wealthy Charleston judge As adults (1830’s), they became abolitionists Abolition also led them to advocate for women’s rights Made popular speaking tours in the North

Sojourner Truth Born in New York State Gets her freedom in 1828 Her son Peter was taken from her, sold into slavery – she went to court to get him back Began speaking out for women’s rights in the 1840’s Speech: “Aint I a Woman?”

Lucy Stone Advocated for equal rights and equal pay for women Attended Oberlin College in Ohio (1843) – first college to admit women Refused to take her husband’s name upon marriage Very controversial!

Review: Women’s Rights BIG QUESTIONS: What rights did women in America have in the early 1800’s and how did they fight to increase those rights? Europeans come from a patriarchal tradition, where women are defined through their relationship with a man. Native, Mexican and African Americans had a more matriarchal society in which women had inherent rights as individuals. As more women began working, calls for women’s rights increased. The big event was the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 and the resultant Declaration of Sentiments.

Mary Ellen Pleasant Her experience represents the challenges faced by women and people of color in 19th Century America Watch the video Answer the questions