1. Antebellum Women’s History AP US History McIntyre

2. Big themes for this time period  Shift from a legal status that stressed obligations to family to one that stressed obligations to the state  Growing public presence of women & agitation for greater legal & social rights

3. Status of Colonial Women  Northeast – “Deputy husbands” as appropriate stand-ins for absent husbands “Deputy husbands” as appropriate stand-ins for absent husbands Puritans did have some laws protecting women from physical abuse and allowed for divorce Puritans did have some laws protecting women from physical abuse and allowed for divorce “Dower rights” women get 1/3 or husbands property upon his death “Dower rights” women get 1/3 or husbands property upon his death Love making in Puritan times. Corbis.com

4. Status of Colonial Women  South – Some greater freedoms in early South due to labor shortages Some greater freedoms in early South due to labor shortages As slave labor crystallizes so does women’s subordinate status As slave labor crystallizes so does women’s subordinate status Illustration of the Wives of the Settlers of Jamestown Original caption: Wives of the settlers at Jamestown.Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS

5. Status of Colonial Women  Legal – Coverture – British law that women’s rights were merged with that of her husband (‘covered’) Coverture – British law that women’s rights were merged with that of her husband (‘covered’) Only legal right was who to marry Only legal right was who to marry Without husband’s consent she could not: Without husband’s consent she could not: Sign legal documents, obtain an education, keep her wages, or even have liability for her actionsSign legal documents, obtain an education, keep her wages, or even have liability for her actions Portrait of Sir William Blackstone Original caption: Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780). British jusist. Painting attributed to Sir Joshua Reynolds.Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS – Coverture was legally written out in his Commentaries

6. Women in the Revolution  Helpers in Revolution Boycotts Boycotts Women are principle consumers for householdWomen are principle consumers for household “Spinning Bees” create homespun as symbol of patriotism“Spinning Bees” create homespun as symbol of patriotism Wartime help Wartime help Traditional role as “Deputy husbands” while husband at warTraditional role as “Deputy husbands” while husband at war Support roles in armed forcesSupport roles in armed forces Postcard After Betsy Ross Making the First United States Flag Photographed by Fred C. Lounsbury Image: © PoodlesRock/CORBIS Date Created: 1903

7. Women in the Revolution  Hope after the Revolution Prominent - Abigail Adams “Remember the Ladies” Prominent - Abigail Adams “Remember the Ladies” Little public agitation (evidence of some private) Little public agitation (evidence of some private) Portrait of Abigail Adams after a painting by Benjamin Blythe Original caption: Portrait of Abigail Adams (1744- 1818), wife of President John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams. After a painting by Benjamin Blythe.Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS Date Created: 18th century

8. Women in the Revolution  Legal status post- Revolution Positives: Positives: Voting - NJ only state to allow unmarried women to vote (not dependent)Voting - NJ only state to allow unmarried women to vote (not dependent) Divorce laws loosened - especially PA & New EnglandDivorce laws loosened - especially PA & New England Woodcut of Women Casting Votes in New Jersey Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS Date Created: ca. 1850-1899 Location Information: New Jersey, USA

9. Women in the Revolution  Legal status post- Revolution Negatives: Negatives: Dower laws erodedDower laws eroded Coverture intactCoverture intact Ex. Anna Gordon case Ex. Anna Gordon case

10. Women in the Revolution  Dominant idea of womanhood that emerges – “Republican Motherhood”: women’s function in society is to raise patriotic republican sons “Republican Motherhood”: women’s function in society is to raise patriotic republican sons Liberty and Washington, unknown artist, (1800-1810). New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown.

11. Cult of Domesticity  Cult of Domesticity: Women and men naturally suited to separate spheres (home vs work) Women and men naturally suited to separate spheres (home vs work) Creates ideas about female vs male “nature” Creates ideas about female vs male “nature” Women naturally more gentle, emotional, pure, pious, submissiveWomen naturally more gentle, emotional, pure, pious, submissive Men more aggressive, rationalMen more aggressive, rational Illustration of a Family Relaxing at Home by Marguerite Davis An illustration from the children's book Good Times with Beverly.Image: © Blue Lantern Studio/Corbis Date Created: ca. 1933

12. Cult of Domesticity  Why? Industrial revolution separate men & women’s work, disrupt families Industrial revolution separate men & women’s work, disrupt families It becomes women’s job to keep family “pure” and perfect It becomes women’s job to keep family “pure” and perfect Exceptions – working class women and slaves Exceptions – working class women and slaves Strike by Boris Mihajlovic Kustodiev Image: © The Gallery Collection/Corbis Creator Name: Boris Mihajlovic Kustodiev Date Created: 1900-1927

13. Cult of Domesticity  Consequences: Positive: Positive: Greater access to education for womenGreater access to education for women Founding of women’s schools Founding of women’s schools Ex. Mount Holyoke, Harford Female SeminaryEx. Mount Holyoke, Harford Female Seminary Mt. Holyoke College Postcard Image: © Lake County Museum/CORBIS Date Created: ca. 1900

14. Cult of Domesticity  Consequences: Positive: Positive: Publications – Catherine Beecher’s Treatise on Domestic EconomyPublications – Catherine Beecher’s Treatise on Domestic Economy Women’s magazines – Godey’s Ladies BookWomen’s magazines – Godey’s Ladies Book "Godey's Fashions for January 1868" Catalog Illustration with Bridal Dresses from Godey's Lady's Book Image: © Cynthia Hart Designer/CORBIS Photographer: Cynthia Hart Date Photographed: 2001 Date Created: 1868

15. Cult of Domesticity  Consequences: Positive: Positive: Work – Teaching – women enter workforce in “common schools”Work – Teaching – women enter workforce in “common schools” “Mill Girls” – textile mills“Mill Girls” – textile mills Exterior of Boott Cotton Mill Original caption: Exterior view of the Boott Cotton Mills at Lowell, Massachusetts. Undated engraving.Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS Location Information: Lowell, Masschusetts

16. Cult of Domesticity  Consequences: Negative: Negative: Limited access to professions (law, medicine) as against women’s delicate “nature”Limited access to professions (law, medicine) as against women’s delicate “nature” Segregation of public lifeSegregation of public life Ex. 4 th of July celebrations Ex. 4 th of July celebrations People Watching Fireworks from Lahaina Harbor Image: © Jon Hicks/Corbis Photographer: Jon Hicks Date Photographed: July 5, 2007 Location Information: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, USA

17. Thinking Slide:  Was the “Cult of Domesticity” a positive or negative development for women?

18. Women & Reform  Reform movements as springboard for women’s rights Women move from being moral forces in homes to moral forces in society Women move from being moral forces in homes to moral forces in society Teaches women public speaking, leadership, organizing, fundraising Teaches women public speaking, leadership, organizing, fundraising Utopians (ex. Ann Lee)Utopians (ex. Ann Lee) Garrisonian AbolitionistsGarrisonian Abolitionists Ex. Grimke Sisters, Lydia Maria Childs, Harriet Beecher Stowe Ex. Grimke Sisters, Lydia Maria Childs, Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe The American author Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-96). She became famous for her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) and her most popular books deal with New England life.Image: © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS Photographer: Notman Date Photographed: ca.1850-60 Location Information: United States

19. Women & Reform  Reform movements as springboard for women’s rights But not in the South But not in the South These same beliefs not extended in South towards Southern women or slavesThese same beliefs not extended in South towards Southern women or slaves Butterfly McQueen and Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind Original caption: Butterfly McQueen is shown here as "Prissy" in David Selznick's production of Gone With The Winds, an MGM 1939 movie. At left is Vivien Leigh, as Scarlett O'Hara.Image: © Underwood & Underwood/CORBIS Date Photographed: 1939

20. Women’s rights Movement  Emerges out of abolitionism & growing level of female education Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Lucretia Mott Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Lucretia Mott Seneca Falls Convention Seneca Falls Convention Declaration of Sentiments Declaration of Sentiments Eizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Original caption: Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), founders of The National Woman Suffrage Association, are shown seated together at small table. Sarony photograph circa 1881.Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS Photographer: Napoleon Sarony Date Photographed: ca. 1881

21. Civil War & Women’s Rights  Changing expectations during wartime: General jobs - Nurses, spies, taking care of home General jobs - Nurses, spies, taking care of home Ex. Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, Mary Ann Bickerdyke, Rose O’NealEx. Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, Mary Ann Bickerdyke, Rose O’Neal Civil War Volunteer Clara Barton Sitting by Clock Clara Barton, under President Abraham Lincoln's charge for sending supplies to civil war soldiers, holds a pair of gloves next to a table and clock.Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS Photographer: Brady-Handy Studio Date Photographed: ca. 1860s

22. Civil War & Women’s Rights  Changing expectations during wartime: South South Growing politicization of womenGrowing politicization of women Less excited over time due to fears of slave revolt & having to do “unladylike” choresLess excited over time due to fears of slave revolt & having to do “unladylike” chores Some government jobs, nursing opportunitiesSome government jobs, nursing opportunities Civil War Nurse An unidentified nurse writes a letter for a wounded soldier during the American Civil War.Image: © CORBIS Photographer: Unknown Date Photographed: ca. 1861- 1865

23. Civil War & Women’s Rights  Changing expectations during wartime: North North Organizations like Sanitary Commission, Red CrossOrganizations like Sanitary Commission, Red Cross Women’s movement put on hold after war – it was African American men’s turnWomen’s movement put on hold after war – it was African American men’s turn Ex. 15 th Amendment Ex. 15 th Amendment Headquarters of the USSC in 1864 (Brady) ; http://www.forttejon.org/ussc/ussc.html

24. Civil War & Women’s Rights  Changing expectations after the war: Freed slaves Freed slaves Women often wanted “cult of domesticity” but whites resisted loss of black women’s laborWomen often wanted “cult of domesticity” but whites resisted loss of black women’s labor Freed Slave and Wife A freed slave and his wife living in a run-down plantation house in Greene County, Georgia. July 1937.Image: © CORBIS Photographer: Dorothea Lange Date Photographed: July 1937

25. Video Clip  Ken Burns Civil War “She Ranks Me” (5 minutes) “She Ranks Me” (5 minutes)

26. Thinking slide:  How significant is the South’s resistance to expanded rights for women? What can we as historians learn from this?