1. Issues related to women from the Revolution to the Civil War
Antebellum Women
Issues related to women from the Revolution to the Civil War

2. 2006 AP Exam DBQ
Discuss the changing ideals of American womanhood between the American Revolution (1770s) and the outbreak of the Civil War. What factors fostered the emergence of “republican motherhood” and the “cult of domesticity”? Assess the extent to which these ideals influenced the lives of women during this period. In your answer be sure to consider issues of race and class.

3. Revolution Daughters of Liberty
Initially upper class Patriot women
Organized boycotts, esp. for tea
Spinning bees to make homespun
Women would sacrifice for the colonial cause
During the Revolution, women were involved through the female counterpart of the Sons of Liberty, named the Daughters of Liberty. Initially, these women were upper class patriots, such as George Washington’s wife Martha. These women were significant in supporting the war effort through protests, and boycotts. Women urged their husbands to boycott British textiles, and women began sewing and weaving in their homes. Women sacrificed just as much as men did for the Revolution, and were involved on the frontlines of the independence movement. One of these women was Lucky Knox, who joined her husband, Henry Knox an officer in the American military. Lucy Knox remained encamped with her husband and tended to the wounds of many soldiers, while also providing food and hospitality.

4. Revolution Mary Hays McCauly (a.k.a. Molly Pitcher)
Brought pitchers of water to soldiers during battle
Tended to the wounded
Became cannon “rammer” when her husband fell at Battle of Monmouth
One of the most well known women who aided the American independence movement was Molly Pitcher. She gained this nickname because she would run pitchers out to soldiers who were tired, and often times wounded. She was essentially a medic, and helped maintain a strong morale with troops. When he husband fell wounded in battle, Molly didn’t stay on the sidelines but manned the cannons and fought alongside men. Again, her presence was known to boost morale, if a woman could sacrifice so much, couldn’t men do the same thing?

5. Republican Motherhood
Abigail Adams
“remember the ladies”
Women were to teach the values of republicanism to their children
Rule of law
Widespread citizen participation
Civic virtue
Opposition to corruption
Influenced reform movements
Abigail Adams fought for the ladies, and even penned a letter to her husband, the future President John Adams. In her letter she reminded her husbands that women deserved respect, and representation as much as men. She knew women had the role of “republican motherhood”, or teaching the virtues of the United States to their children, but she also believed women were capable of more. She even threatened a possible rebellion by women if they were not treated properly in the new nation. Through republican motherhood, women had a new role and purpose in promoting the ideas that the United States was founded upon, especially since mothers were seen as the moral compass of the family. The new notion of women disseminating knowledge led to an increased influence upon reform movements, which would lead to more freedoms, albeit later on down the road.

6. Industrial Revolution
Lowell & Waltham Mills
Low wage jobs for single ladies
Chance for independence
Restrictions to promote “moral” behavior
Due to the increasing influence of the Industrial Revolution, many women were beginning to seek work outside of the home. In fact, some farming families sent their daughters to the city for a factory job to supplement their incomes. These job were low skill based, and usually were based on textiles, or sewing work. Women were shocked by this new chance for freedom, and remember working outside of the home was something entirely new for society, so women saw this an an opportunity for independence. Most factories were similar to boarding school, and put women up with housing arrangements with the other female employees. These factory owners were seen almost as father figures because they were responsible for promoting moral behavior among their employees.

7. Cult of Domesticity Idea of “Separate Spheres”
Response to so many women “working” outside of the home
Maintain the home, train the children, set moral example
Due to the major increase of women working outside of the home, a new ideological movement was spreading called the ”cult of domesticity”. This idea essentially meant women were best suited to working inside the home and maintaining housework and chores, as well as being a moral guide for children through training, and republican motherhood. If a woman worked at this time, it was seen as a symbol of poverty, and not having a man in their life to take care of them.

8. Seneca Falls Convention
Women’s rights rally, Seneca Falls, NY, 1848
Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Lucretia Mott
With the increasing role of women after colonial times, women began organizing for a suffrage movement. Just on the eve of Civil War women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott met at Seneca Falls, New York to discuss women’s rights, and suffrage (although most men did not support this and few women did either. The Civil War will push back any talk of women’s suffrage until World War I. Seneca Falls was one of the first organized meetings for women in American to discuss their status. At the convention, Stanton’s controversial Declaration of Sentiments was signed which took the wording of the Declaration of Independence, and modified it as if women were seeking independence from the tyranny of the male-dominated United States. This convention was seen as radical, and crazy by many, but will be a rallying cry for future suffragettes.

9. African-American Women
Sojourner Truth
Born into slavery in New York, freed in 1827
African American women were beginning to speak out for rights as well. The leading voice for black women at this time was Sojourner Truth, who was freed during the Age of Jackson. She gave a speech in 1851 entitled “Ain’t I A Woman”, in which she demands that her identity as a woman, and a person of color be respected. She is one of the early women of color to speak out against the unfavorable advantages enjoyed by white men, and will use this speech to continue speaking out against these injustices.

10. Reform Movements Abolition Temperance Public School reform
Penitentiaries and Asylums
Women were at the head of many of the movement of the late 19th century, including abolition, temperance, school reforms, and mental health reforms. Women were just as involved as men in the anti-slavery movement, which was tested through the Civil War. Temperance will be a huge effort by women, who were the victims of domestic abuse of drunken husbands or fathers. Women were directly responsible for the 18th amendment, prohibition. Public school reform will be implemented to centralize education, and begin providing education to boys and girls. Lastly, women will begin seek prison reform, and better conditions for the mentally insane. Most of the movements headed by women will lead into a period of cultural and societal change, that will be known later as the Progressive Movement.