Republican Motherhood Analysis

The United States of America was founded on the principles of freedom, liberty, and democracy. With the achievement of the right to these principles through the American Revolution came the need for a redefinition of women’s duties, standards and rights. The role of white, American women in economics expanded from the four walls of their houses and edges of their families land, to positions in factories and public workplaces. Their presence in education shifted with the achievement of freedom through the values of “republican motherhood,” in which mothers were tasked with bringing up bright, educated and patriotic offspring (mainly their sons) that would determine and hold the future of the country. Socially, women carried the burden of maintaining …show more content…
This idea was supported by key political and public figures, such as Benjamin Rush: “ [...] ladies should be qualified to a certain degree by a peculiar and suitable education, to concur in instructing their sons in the principles of liberty and government ” (Document B). Mr. Rush saw the necessity for the young men of their nation to be well educated, as they held the future in their hands. Ergo, the caretakers of these young minds must have the means to positively influence them. These educational requirements were ultimately made possible by the victory in winning their freedom from Britain. It brought about a necessity for bright young men that would carry on the future of the nation. For women, this meant access to knowledge and education, as opposed to the prior norm of no necessity or access to educational opportunities. Coincidentally, the new leeway in economics and education proved problematic for some women. As “republican mothers”, women were held responsible for the overall outcome of the American intelligence, seeing as it was their duty to influence and nurture the minds of their sons. Dually, lower class women were expected to generate income by working long hours in mills and factories. This made it a trying burden for women to balance their domestic duties in their households and their …show more content…
Margaret Fuller, a notable, fiery feminist and motivational speaker, called for equal opportunities for the purpose of personal growth, and not to solely benefit their male relationships (Document E). This touched on the cult of domesticity and the idea that women were the domestic balance in the home. Their role was to compliment the men in their lives, as their inferiors and servants (Document G). Men were believed to be superior in intellect, passion and strength, and women were to “casket his privacy, [be] the shield oh his true individuality, [and] the guardian of his essential humanity” (Document G). Margaret Fuller, as women subject to these social norms, publicly announced that in her opinion, that women should be given the ability to develop their minds and bodies, free of male expectations and limitations. While white women struggled with these ideals, slave women endured far worse injustices and offenses. Slave women were often sexually abused and raped; the matter was against their will and out of their hands (Document H). They had no source of protection they could rely on, and no stability to combat the repercussions of their defiling and demeaning. Angered by their husband’s infidelity, the wives of the slave owners often released their anger on the violated slave in compensation for the lack of a way to punish their husbands.