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Madison Silkowski

Professor Lark

March 19. 2017

History 151

Republican Motherhood

Back in the 1790s, women could not own land, vote, or come up with a lawsuit without

their father or husband until they earned some rights. John Adams wife, Abigail Adams along

with many other women, became advocates for womens rights and started something called the

Republican Motherhood. It opened up many new opportunities for women.

The Republican Motherhood had the concept that the womans role in the family was to

support her husband and his work but also guide her children in the home. They were the

primary caretakers. Women of the family were seen as homemakers instead of working in the

public like their men. If there was any work needed to be done outside, the husband were to do it,

although the women were allowed to work in the farms or out in the yard to help. The husbands

would go to work and pay bills while the wives were mostly in charge of cooking, cleaning, and

taking care of their children. The wives wanted to be a great role model to their children,

especially their daughters. Christianity played a big role and helped the concept of Republican

Motherhood because it passed down religious values to the children.The Republican Motherhood

wanted equality between the husbands and wives.

In the 1790s, things started to change. Many books were being published towards

women. This helped expand the knowledge of education and literacy for women. Women started

trying to voice their opinions more by going on strikes and marches. They tried whatever they

could to make a point. Womens rights began to make improvements and women were able to get
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a job and help support themselves without needing a man. Women were allowed to marry for

love. They also could get an education(finally.) Being a wife brought more responsibility than

the men, causing the wives to deal being looked at as a bearer of the children.

Over the years, women have had a tough time with showing who they really want to be

other than just a housewife. Finally women are able to do much more than clean the house and

cook for their family. They are much more than that. Women finally get their independence and

can make a living all by themselves. Thomas Jefferson once said We hold these truths to be self-

evident; that all men and women are created equal(Declaration of Sentiments and

Resolutions)

Works Cited

Boundless. "Republican Motherhood - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. Boundless,

04 Sept. 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

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Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Seneca Falls: Stanton and Anthony Papers

Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.

Kerber, Linda. "The Republican Mother: Women and the Enlightenment-An American

Perspective." The Republican Mother: Women and the Enlightenment-An American Perspective

Author(s): Linda Kerber Source: American Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 2, Special Issue: An American

Enlightenment (2009): n. pag.Http://www.shsu.edu/~jll004/163_spring09/Kerber_-

_The_Republican_Mother.pdf. Web.

Lorton, Kim. "Republican Motherhood: Coverture and Virtue in Early National America."

(n.d.): n. pag. Http://www.eiu.edu/historia/Lorton2013.pdf. Web.

""Republican Motherhood"." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 19

Mar. 2017.