Question

Analyze the impact of Republican Motherhood and the Cult of Domesticity on American women in the context of the Early National Period and Industrialization, 1750-1860

Answer 1

• Lower and working class women were expected to inculcate societal norms into their children so they
  might be productive members of society, but there was no expectation that these women would produce future leaders (political or economic).
• This ideal positioned the home and private life as the proper sphere of women, but it also encouraged some political knowledge and education among women.It created the widespread belief that women were guardians of morality, an idea utilized by the early women’s movement to justify an increasing public role for women (helping to create a more moral society)..It were these women who become the political/activist base of the women’s movement.
• Republican Motherhood was a victor for women because it allowed them to infiltrate the political scene and gain an education. At this time female Universities were founded an women became more vocal in state matters.
• Altough the Cult of Domesticity glorified wome and labeled them as delicate creatures, it also made a great diservice by restricting the female mind and passion to the household.
• During the industralization period,men were engaged in business and politics, two concepts regarded as evil, and it was the duty of women to remain at home and take care of everything else except for the family income.
• During early national period most women from poor class left their homes to work whereas middlec class women were asked to stay at home and had fewer career options like teaching in public schools and most african-american women faced racism and segregation. The industralization period encouraged women workforce to become labourers,working textile mills where their work was mechanized.