The Middle Class (Republican Ideal) White Women ProjectBy Elizabeth Carreiro, Paul Estrada & Krzysztof Pelczar

Introduction

• In the 1800’s, there was a certain diversity group that helped impact America today with their views on American Identity, Economy and Politics. In the next few slides, we will elaborate on how these Middle Class White Women contributed and what were some of their roles that they kept during that time.

American IdentityMiddle Class Women contributed to the American Identity through the belief system of Republican

Motherhood

Introduction Of Republican Motherhood

• Republican Motherhood a very strong affect on the American Identity. Women were treated very differently after the conclusion of the Revolutionary war. Instead of being seen as seductive untrustworthy figures woman are starting to be seen as pure and righteous. (Moore) The reason for this took its form in many different ways, from the influence of gossip as a means to influence public opinion, to the creation of Homespun cloth during the pre-revolutionary war times to reduce reliance on Britain for goods.(Moore) Women had proven themselves, to the men of America, Now the Men of America will turn to the Middle Class Women of Republican ideal to pave the road for future Americans. By instilling them with the responsibility of raising children with republican virtues.

The Birth of Republican Motherhood

• After the Revolutionary War, the opinion of women and their role in society begins to change.(Moore)

• At First women were thought of having no more rights than slaves. (Haas, Boundless)

• Women are now seen as virtuous and righteous. (Moore)

Role Of Republican Mother

Before the Right of Education• Child Bearing(Moore)

• Taking Care of The Home(Moore)

• Assisting Neighbors(Moore)

• Attending Church (Moore)

After the Right of Education• Attending School to receive

education.(Haas, Boundless)

• Teaching what they learned to their children.(Haas, Boundless)

• As well as all other household responsibilities(Moore)

Influences Of The Republican Mother

• Women worked in separate social “spheres” than men did.(Moore)

• Men worked in the sphere of commercialism and industrialization of America.(Moore)

• Women worked in the sphere of the home. Taking care of the home and raising children.(Moore)

• This allowed for a direct influence on the American Identity because it as a direct influence on future generations of Americans through education.

Republican Motherhood and Government

• Children raised by Republican Mothers would be predominantly white middle class children. Children would grow up with the possibility of having influence within the American Government. The only citizens at the time that were allowed to vote were white land owning males. Though the influence of extending the right the vote to other groups of people were in the works, white males were predominantly the only people with the right to vote. If this right were to continue being held to this socio-economic class, children that were raised by Republican Mothers would be the most solidified and informed demographic group in the country, furthermore it would solidify republicanism as a form of government in the future by always guaranteeing that children with republican ideals will always be raised therefore ensuring continuing future support for Republican ideals

Importance Of the Right of Education

• The right of education started to be extended to women.(Haas, Boundless) Men believed that, since women took on this role of raising children with republican beliefs, women needed some form of education so they could properly educate the future generations of America.(Haas, Boundless) This contribution is interesting because it is a two fold influence or ripple affect so to speak. Since men were in control of the education system, and they approved of women attending school to help educate their children, the influence of men on women in education was large. So the influence of white male influenced education is passed on to the children ensuring the values that they wanted were carried on.

For The Good Of The Nation

Republican Motherhood• Solidified Women’s roles as

a contributor to the future of America.

• Also ensured that all middle class women and more importantly their children would be educated

For Womanhood

• No longer would the woman of the house merely exist, with no rights or privileges. She, like her husband, is righteous and true and she would instill these traits in the minds of their children.

• Though their responsibilities still lay mostly within the home. Earning the right for middle class women to earn an education created a precedence that would endure for centuries to come. One that would soon evolve into education for all women regardless of race, religion, or socio-economic status.

Closing Statements on the American Identity and the role of Republican Motherhood.

• Republican Motherhood had a profound influence on the American Identity. It securely cemented Republican ideals in the future generations of America. Furthermore; it did so in a way that positively reinforced the importance of solidarity as a people, but also positively reinforced the importance of education for women and children, two values that are still highly regarded within America and her people today. Therefore, proving that the effects of republican motherhood can still be felt almost 200 years later.

EconomyThe role that women played in order to survive.

American Economy Introduction

• Everyone is taught of Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and others when going over the founding of our nation, its values and its economy. These men and others were responsible for the system we have and the culture of the United States. However many don't think to look to the groups behind them, such as the women by their sides during the events that took place. I'm not giving them all the credit but their contributions cannot be ignored or brushed aside as they are much of the time. Women of the United States had few roles in the economy for the most part early on but still made an impact on later on in American history. With movements for women’s rights and education becoming popular not too long after the nation had formed it was only a matter of time before they started to be an active player in the workings of the nation and its economy.

Women’s early education, higher education and their impact on its reform during the early years of the nation and for a long period before its creation, women did not

have the same access to education as men.

• Even when women were taught, it was not the same education as men. “Rather than emphasize ornamental aspects of women’s roles, this new model encouraged women to engage in more substantive education, delving into the arts and sciences to further develop reasoning skills.”(Boundless, chp1, sec1: women and education)That quote refers to how elite women of Philadelphia were educated in 1740.

• Eventually even universities and schools of higher learning for women would emerge as well as existing men exclusive universities accepting female students. More educated women marrying and raising children leads to stability at home, children raised wiser and greater support for their husbands who during certain eras were part of the revolution, of the nation and industry.

• “And there is the birth of something called Republican Motherhood. And this is the belief that women are so moral and so virtuous that they should be responsible for raising up new citizens of the republic.”(Lecture on the role of women in early America 21:35, Crystal Moore) In that quote we are told how the nation began to think of women and their education. To properly raise the next generation of leaders the ones raising them must also be educated.

Women in Industry

• At the start of the industrial revolution factories and textile mills were filled with women and children working to supplement their family income. Wage labor greatly did away with skilled workers and gave women an opportunity to work and have an income of their own.

• The Industrial Revolution in America was a monumental event in its progression to becoming a world power later on. Women had a huge role in its success and even reform later on. “Lowell's factory employed young female workers, some as young as ten years old.”(Boundless, chp5, sec2), women were a large part of the workforce that drove the industrial revolution through wage labor.

• They weren't paid very much and conditions were quite awful. Factories were crowded and extremely loud with poor air quality and little to no ventilation. “Employees worked from 5:00 am until 7:00 pm, for as many as 80 hours per week.”(Boundless, chp5, sec2), by working through these terrible conditions, women not only helped support their families but also fueled the nation’s economy.

• As the nation began growing and consuming more products the industrial revolution took off with a new concept of wage labor. Most of these laborers were women as trades were not often taught to women in English tradition which had the largest influence on American culture. So with the industrial revolution and wage labor women got their first chance at having work outside of their tasks at home. The pay was terrible however they took what they got and eventually reformed the entire concept

Women and Labor Reform

• As women were a large part of the work force for the industrial revolution it would make sense that they would be the ones to reform it. In the beginning the conditions were almost unbearable and the pay wasn't worth the work by a long shot. However over time women in the textile mills and factories began to protest and call for reform.

• Women, tired of the low wages, protested when textile mills attempted to lower wages. They formed labor organizations and handed out petitions for labor reform. “Female textile workers in Lowell, Massachusetts - actively participated in early labor reform in the 1830s and 1840s. They distributed legislative petitions, formed labor organizations, contributed essays and articles to pro-labor newspapers and protested through turn-outs or strikes.”(boundless,chp5,sec2)

• Early labor reforms would lead to the formations of unions later in the century. Women helped start an economic movement and helped reform it. Being under paid mill workers was only the start of women’s path to equality.

• “One of its first actions was to send petitions signed by thousands of textile workers to the Massachusetts general court demanding a ten-hour work day.”, that last quote was referring to the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association and their pushing of legislation for labor reform. Women of Lowell mills were responsible for the better conditions of labor that eventually came to employees.

Women in the second great awakening and the effect on the economy.

• The Second Great Awakening was not only a religious movement but one that would change how many people acted towards their fellow man, or woman. Many of it's leaders and followers believed that it was one thing to repent their own sins but they had to go out and help remove sins from the world. “Women made up a large part of these voluntary societies. The Female Missionary Society and the Maternal Association, both active in Utica, NY, were highly organized and financially sophisticated women's organizations responsible for many of the evangelical converts of the New York frontier.”(Boundless, chp5, sec3), in the previous quote you can read clearly that women were a large part of the conversion of people to the new movement.

• Not only was this a religious movement but one of culture too. “There were also societies that broadened their focus from traditional religious concerns to larger societal ones. These organizations were primarily sponsored by affluent women”, It is evident that women had a large part in changing the way Americans thought on many subjects.

• With The Second Great Awakening came a change in culture and with that came a change in the economy with many people thinking more progressively on subjects such as industry and its wage laborers, slavery not only morally but economically.

Women and Business• In the English colonies women were not permitted to own or run property of their own until

the late 19th century after long fought battles for reform. However that was not the case with all the colonies, such as the colony of New Amsterdam.

• Under what was called Roman law, women in New Amsterdam has more rights than the women of English colonies. “Under the Dutch, women could inherit property and they could conduct business for themselves.”(YouTube lecture on women’s role in early America 51:20), In Dutch colonies women were an active part of trade and the economy.

• With New Amsterdam being a large trade port women had opportunities there to make a substantial amount of revenue for themselves and help promote a better economy by doing so.

• To traders and travelers from other colonies the status of women in the Netherlands and New Amsterdam seemed odd. “It was also common for women is the Netherlands to work outside of the home and to travel while their men stayed at home.”(YouTube lecture on women’s role in early America 52:23), to English men I would assume this would be quite shocking to see.

Women's role in church and its overall effect on society and the economy

• As I previously stated during the Second Great Awakening, not only were women a leading force but also were seen in a new light. Many believed that women were pure and should be the ones to raise children to be the next leaders of the nation.

• A part of this belief was their involvement with the church during this period, “a way to shape identities and form a community in a time of economic and personal insecurity”(boundless,chp5,sec1). In that quote we are told why women may have attended church more than men. I believe that women were and are a large part of why communities are tight knit and that helped the colonial towns stick through tough times.

• “Despite a lack of formal leadership roles, women became very important in conversion and religious upbringing of their children informally through family structure and through their maternal roles.”, as I said before, women may not have had large leadership roles but their support form the background was crucial to the next generation of leaders.

Women and influencing from the background

• During the formative years of the nation men were in charge. There is no arguing against that, women gradually gained respect and rights over the years but it would be a long while before they had any formal leadership roles in the public spotlight.

• However their support from the home front was absolutely crucial as their husbands were then men who fought in the revolutionary war and the workers in many factories of the industrial revolution.

• “Dutch women had a very strong role in business as they might own a business themselves or act as a deputy husband.”(Moore), in the previous quote we are told that women can act as a deputy husband. A deputy husband is when a woman fills in for the man when he is not available. This is important because during this era men were often not available in the home or at the business because of the revolution. So women were put into a place where they had a greater say in the on goings of the home and the economy.

Elite women against slavery

• One of the largest issues in American history, morally, culturally and economically, was the issue of slavery. Many were for it, many were against it. Some people were against it for moral reasons such as people of faith, and others were against it because they believed slave labor was damaging to the economy. Many activists against it were women who were leaders in religious movements

• Harriet Beacher Stowe was a upper class white female from a religious family that and was an abolitionist in the years before the civil war. Her writings included Uncle Tom's Cabin among others (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe). She and other religious women were very important in portraying the lives of slaves as grim and hopeless. “Most abolitionists tried to raise public support by citing the unlawfulness of slavery. Some abolitionists claimed that slavery was not only criminal, but also a sin.”(Boundless, chp5, sec4)

• The same people who believed in Republican Motherhood also believed that slave labor was inferior to free labor. By free labor they mean workers being able to choose to work and get paid. “The Republican Party wanted to achieve the gradual extinction of slavery by market forces, based on the belief that free labor was superior to slave labor.”

• The Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women was a convention held in 1837 where women gathered to speak on womens rights and matters of anti-slavery. “This gathering represented the first time that women from such a broad geographic area met with the common purpose of promoting the anti-slavery cause among women. Mary S. Parker was the President of the gathering. Other prominent women went on to be vocal members of the Women's Suffrage Movement, including Lucretia Mott, the Grimke sisters, and Lydia Marie Child. The attendees included women of color, the wives and daughters of slaveholders, and women of low economic status.”(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Slavery_Convention_of_American_Women)

•

Closing Statements on Women and the Economy

• After long periods of time and hard fought battles women in the United States of America had finally gained something closer to equality. Women even though not in a position of power still had an impact on the American economy. Whether they were women being mothers at home, raising children ad supporting their husbands and maintaining things while he was gone. Or if they were women who were activists for religious movements and abolitionist movements, white women of the United States contributed to the economy in small and large ways. In other colonies such as New Amsterdam, women had a larger impact than women from English colonies as they could own businesses and work out of home. All in all the role women played is often overlooked in most history books. Which shouldn't be because it's a part of  the history of out nation.

PoliticsWomen’s rights convention was created in this era of 1850. The purpose of this convention was to bring certain women together, that have been working towards women’s rights. (Boundless, Chapter 5, Section 1) In the next

few slides there will be information about certain women who were very active when it came to politics.

Lucy Stone• She was an advocate that helped

organize the women’s convention in 1850. (Boundless)

• She was the first woman who retained her own name after marriage.

• An important figure for women’s rights movement of the 19th century.

• The purpose of this convention was to bring in other women, who had been working by themselves fighting for Women’s rights. They talked about some of challenges they faced in the meetings.

Matilda Joslyn Gage

• An eventual leader at the women’s rights convention. (Boundless)

• A soft-spoken woman who’s first speech could not be heard well at the 1852 meeting.

• Became one of the founders for the National Woman Suffrage Association. She also worked in New York & Virginia to also establish a suffrage association.

• Followed fellow activists Elizabeth Stanton & Susan B. Anthony.

• Wrote several articles and pamphlets to educate women on their right to vote.

• Published the NWSA’s newsletter in the late 1870’s & 1880’s

• Matilda produced the multivolume work “ History of Women Suffrage”.

Abby Kelley Foster

• Abby has been advocating for 14 years on women’s rights on a daily basis. (Boundless)

• She attended a regional meeting in Akron, Ohio in 1851 where they were addressing the challenge of equality for only white educated men and women.

• Abby rose to address the crowd at that meeting and gave an oration “Aint’ I a Woman”. She made everyone in attendance very happy when she gave that speech.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

• Elizabeth was an American social activist, abolitionist and the leading figure when it came to the early women’s movement. (Boundless)

• She was not one to attend too many convention meetings.

• She did not have much support from husband and father when it came to the women’s rights work.

• Most of her time was spent taking care of her children and domestic concerns.

• Elizabeth was able to advocate a lot through her letters to the editors and published articles by using a pen name called “Sunflower”

Susan B. Anthony

• Susan was a gifted organizer and sharp thinker ( Boundless)

• A civil rights activist and a women’s right activist

• She was involved in the temperance movement which limits or stops the production of alcohol.

• She was the leader of the women of the women’s rights movement and formed a partnership along the way with Elizabeth Cady Stanton

• Susan also is one of the faces that is on our dollar coin today.

Frances Wright & Ernestine Rose

• Frances was a Scottish woman who promoted a series of lectures regarding women’s suffrage.

• Ernestine promoted the same things as Frances and was able to get a hearing before the NY legislature with only five signatures on her petition.

• These women were very active in the movement for women’s rights

Lucretia Mott

• Civil rights activist

• Quaker minister

• Opposed slavery and did not support products of slave labor

• Jointed Elizabeth Cady Stanton in the Seneca Falls Convention

• Dedicated to women’s rights and published the “Discourse on Woman” in 1850.

Seneca Falls Convention

• This was held in July of 1848 (Boundless)

• There was 68 women and 32 men who signed a Declaration of Sentiments. This particular document outlined grievances and set the agenda for women’s rights.

• A total of 12 resolutions was adopted which consisted of a calling for equal treatment among women & men under the law. This also gave women voting rights as well.

Women’s Property Act

• This act first came out in 1839

• This act changed the law regarding property rights pertaining to women.

• Later on in 1860, New York passed a revised version of this act.

• This act gave women shared ownership of children, say in children’s wills, wages and granting them rights to inherit property.

Changes to Women’s Rights

• In 1860 the women’s rights were heading in a new direction.

• Divorces were not being granted although it depended where a person lived and where their legal representation was.

• In Indiana, divorces could be granted only for the following such as: adultery, desertion, drunkenness and cruelty.

• Some states did not even allow regardless of any ground including violence.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, middle class women of republican ideal began to transform America as a whole with lasting results. Whether it was through earning and fostering the rights of education for women and children, fueling the American economy by their work in industry and labor reform, or through their work as civil rights activists and abolitionists, women in the early 18th and 19th century ensured a lasting place in American History by being a direct influence on American Culture, Economy and Politics.

Work Cited

• ...Biography.com. "Lucretia Mott." June 2015.Web. <http://www.biography.com/people/lucretia-mott-9416590>.

---. "Matilda Joslyn Gage." June 2015.Web. <http://www.biography.com/people/matilda-joslyn-gage-212143>.

---. "Susan B. Anthony." June 2015.Web. <http://www.biography.com/people/susan-b-anthony-194905>.

Works Cited

• Haas, Jarred. "Factories, Working Women and Wage Labor." June 1st 2015.Web. <https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-fb4da977-c737-49f0-a6b4-6898e1c23111/gender-religion-race-and-ethnicity-in-the-1800s-556/labor-factory-women-and-wage-earners-561/factories-working-women-and-wage-labor-351-9452/>.

• ---. "Women and Church Governance." June 1st 2015.Web. <https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-fb4da977-c737-49f0-a6b4-6898e1c23111/gender-religion-race-and-ethnicity-in-the-1800s-556/women-in-the-early-republic-70/women-and-church-governance-373-1723/>.

• ---. "Women and Education." June 1st 2015.Web. <https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-fb4da977-c737-49f0-a6b4-6898e1c23111/gender-religion-race-and-ethnicity-in-the-1800s-556/women-in-the-early-republic-70/women-and-education-374-8550/>.

• ---. "Women and the Law." June 1st 2015.Web. <https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-fb4da977-c737-49f0-a6b4-6898e1c23111/gender-religion-race-and-ethnicity-in-the-1800s-556/women-in-the-early-republic-70/women-and-the-law-372-1771/>.

Works Cited

• ---. "Women in the Early republic." June 1st 2015.Web. <https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-fb4da977-c737-49f0-a6b4-6898e1c23111/gender-religion-race-and-ethnicity-in-the-1800s-556/women-in-the-early-republic-70/women-in-the-early-republic-371-7921/>.

• ---. "Women, Minorities and Democracy." June 1st 2015.Web. <https://www.boundless.com/users/282574/textbooks/us-history-to-1877-fb4da977-c737-49f0-a6b4-6898e1c23111/gender-religion-race-and-ethnicity-in-the-1800s-556/women-minorities-and-democracy-562/women-and-minorities-and-democracy-389-8574/>.

• Moore, Crystal. "The Lecture on the Role of Women in Early America." December 8th 2014.Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo6l30Dmh5w&feature=youtu.be>.

Works Cited

• Wikipedia. ""The Lowell Mill Girls"." June 2nd 2015.Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Mill_Girls>.

• ---. "Anti-Slavery Convention Of American Women." April 15th 2015.Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Slavery_Convention_of_American_Women>.

• Wkipedia. "Harriet Beecher Stowe." June 2nd 2015.Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe>.

• Photo Credits: Google Images