Republican Motherhood Blog

1.  What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?

After the war women were encouraged to be educated, this was so that she could teach her children the importance of liberty, fairness, and history (Document B). This was after the war because during it they were fighting for liberty and fairness which made the history important. Also, during the war women were expected to do all the needed things of housework, as well as, the other things like conveying the importance of being a good person.


2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?

Although the women were praised for their ability to make suitable homes and educating their children on the right things in life, that was all that the women were able to do. Women were expected to be in the home and that was all (Document B). Jonathan Stearns says that women's "Society is her empire, which she governs at will… It is her province to adorn social life". Though this may seem as though she has more leisure, it is insulting to women. Perhaps at this time in history women saw it as a new liberty, but it seems like Stearns is being sarcastic. 

3.What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women’s socialization?

Women found that they were able to shape the future of the world through their children. "On you, ladies, depends, in most important degree, the destiny of our country" (Document D). By being able to educate them it gave them a sense of purpose. In document c Mary Moris writes to a friend about her view on the importance of all women and how they should band together to "keep our country virtuous, (so that) you maintain its independence".

11.       Describe the setting. The setting is a women with her two children. They are sitting on what looks to be a pink couch and one child is on Mary's lap.

22.      Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she “republican” rather than aristocratic? The center of the portrait is the mother, I think this because my eyes go straight to her in the photo. Mary looks happy and proud, she represents a republican because though she has nice clothes it is apparent that she cares for her children more.

33.      What values do her sons exhibit? One of the children is holding a bird, which represents freedom and compassion. The other is reaching for his mother.

44.      Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilgham’s arm? Mrs. Tilgham's arm is draped over her younger child in front of her. I think that it signifies that she is letting the older child grow up and figure things out for himself while she still has to guide the younger child a little.