Transcript Republican MOTHERHOOD

Republican MOTHERHOOD
Key Concept 3.3.III.c
Enlightenment ideas and women’s experiences in the
movement for independence promoted an ideal of
“republican motherhood,” which called on
white women to maintain and teach the republican
values within the family and granted women a new
importance in American political culture.
Enlightenment
"[T]he first society was between man and
wife, which gave beginning to that between
parents and children... conjugal society is
made by a voluntary compact between man
and woman.“ In other words, contrary to the traditional sexual
hierarchy promoted by …others, Locke believed that
men & women had more equal roles in a marriage.
Abigail Adams to John Adams
March 31st, 1776
"I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws
which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would
remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than
your ancestors.
Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember,
all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and
attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold
ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.
That your sex are naturally tyrannical is a truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute; but such of you
as wish to be happy willingly give up -- the harsh tide of master for the more tender and endearing one of friend.
Why, then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with
impunity?
Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the (servants) of your sex; regard us then as
being placed by Providence under your protection, and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power
only for our happiness."
John Adams back to Abigail Adams
April 14th, 1776
"As to your extraordinary code of laws, I cannot but laugh.
"We have been told that our struggle has loosened the bonds of government everywhere; that
children and apprentices were disobedient; that schools and colleges were grown turbulent; that
Indians slighted their guardians, and negroes grew insolent to their masters.
"But your letter was the first intimation that another tribe, more numerous and
powerful than all the rest, were grown discontented.
"This is rather too coarse a compliment, but
you are so saucy, I won't blot it out.
"Depend upon it, we know better than to repeal our masculine systems. Although they are in full
force, you know they are little more than theory. We dare not exert our power in its full
latitude. We are obliged to go fair and softly, and, in practice, you know we are the subjects.
"We have only the name of masters, and rather than give up this, which would completely subject
us to the despotism of the petticoat, I hope General Washington and all our brave heroes would
fight."
Abigail Adams replies to the reply
May 7th, 1776
"I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies;
for, whilst you are proclaiming peace and good-will to men,
emancipating all nations,
you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives.
"But you must remember that arbitrary power is like most other
things which are very hard, very liable to be broken; and,
notwithstanding all your wise laws and maxims, we have it in our
power, not only to free ourselves, but to subdue our masters, and
without violence, throw both your natural and legal authority at
our feet."
Puritan beliefs
Moral superiority
of men
60% pregnant at marriage
Be good neighbors
Be good Christians
Run the household
Surrogates when husband away
Women remain in the home BUT
Slave Women
Often worked harder then the male
slaves—field work, etc
Female slaves were not considered
feminine
Native American Women
 Very little contact between N.A. women and
white women
 Captured white women often refused to return
home
 Native American women had more power:
 Children belonged to them
 Controlled supplies (in farming, not hunting, tribes)
Wikipedia Def:
Republican Motherhood
o 1654-1920 (IE: THIS IS A THEME ACROSS PERIODS)
o Before + after Rev. War
o CIVIC DUTY
o Still separate from “men's work” but—
o Allowed education and
o Awarded a dignity and respect
1837—Mary Lyon founds:
Abolitionist movement / Suffrage
Seneca Falls, 1848
1. Read The Declaration of Sentiments
2. What is the format similar to? Was that
on purpose? Why?
3. What complaints did you read?
4. Are women equal today? Turn and talk
 http://www.ushistory.org/us/historians/berkin.asp
 http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=puritan+massachusetts&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id
=29C3AB7D6B96129A87177173309D9F13AEEF43C3&selectedIndex=9
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_motherhood
 https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8pX56_9TTjAAwqWJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDM
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 http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-republican-motherhood.htm