Historical Context: Needed Reform
1608-1783
American Women: Their Efforts Before the Calling of the Revolution
Gender Role's Impact On Society
The Order of Authority During the 18th Century |
Christianity, the main religion in society promoted that women were weaker and inferior, this was the common belief in society "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22) "If she had attended her household affairs, and such things as belong to women, and not gone out of her way and calling to meddle in such things as are proper to men, whose minds are stronger....she might have kept her wits." - Personal Diary of John Winthrop, Mayor of Massachusetts Limited Education Options for Women
No interest, few opportunities, or educators, many feared condemnation from the church, or their family "If any come to my house to be instructed in the ways of God what rule have I to put them away? Do you think it not lawful for me to teach women and why do you call me to teach the court?"-Anne Hutchinson, the first published female poet (under a pseudonym) in New England "Women of all descriptions, moreover, shared an ignorance of legal language and an unfamiliarity with the details of transactions concerning property.....Uppermost was feminine identity...females would marry, have children, and direct the work of households: these propositions were generally accepted they were usually left unstated." -Mary Beth Norton, Historian (Source: Liberty's Daughters |
Women Lived to Serve Their Husbands Women had no individual rights such as property ownership, or money "The happiness of your life depends now on the continuing to please a single person, to this all other objects must be secondary". -Thomas Jefferson, to his newly wed daughter (Source: Liberty's Daughters) "The law of nature has put (a wife) under the obedience of her husband" -Samuel Chase, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court "Wives must be faithful in all things, keepers of the home." -Benjamin Wadsworth, author of the "Well Ordered Family" |
Excerpt from interview with Mary Beth Norton, a leading historian:
(Topic: Previous Female Involvement In Politics) Q: Prior to the American Revolution, did females contribute anything significant to previous wars? A: "Only in the sense of "keeping the home fires burning" while men were away fighting. And since colonial men did not participate in wars for long periods (mostly they were militia who served on particular expeditions only), those responsibilities were not long term." Q: If women had not been involved in the Revolution, what would have been the next greatest event to spark women’s movements for liberties and independence? A: "Probably the Civil War, which also had a major impact on women." (Student Conducted) |
Mary Beth Norton |