Blog #5: Republican Motherhood

1.  What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
The Revolutionary War made it so that women became more accomplished and confident in their role in society, with the majority of men out on the battle fronts.  Women became the glue that held the colonies together while the war was going on, and therefore were more supported than ever before (Document C).  With less and less men involved in politics and society, it was up to women to step up into that abandoned role (Document D).

2.  What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
One consequence of Republican Motherhood on women was that they were once again put into a sort of "appropriate and appointed sphere," which designated their place and role in society.  Granted, their role changed for the better, but they women were still being told what they could and could not do (Document A).

3.  What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women's socialization?
Women were given more of a political role in society, which held them up to a higher standard; because of this, women were becoming more significant and respected in societies (Document A).  Also, women were given more equal rights to men.  For example, it became required for women to have a certain level of education, including reading, writing, and a basic understanding of mathematics and geography (Document B).  Additionally, more and more people were coming to the realization that women were not solely useful around the household.  Women were becoming more accepted in society and in politics, and even were looked to as the future of the nation.

Mary Gibson Tilghman and Her Sons, by Charles Willson Peale (1789)

1.  Describe the setting.
A woman is sitting on a couch and looking directly at the viewer, with two of her children.  One child is on her lap, looking away from the viewer, while the other child is at her side and looking straight at the viewer.  All three appear to be smiling.

2.  Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she "republican" instead of aristocratic?
The woman is at the center of the portrait because she is the focal point of the piece of art.  She is wearing a delicate looking, simple shirt.  The majority of her hair is pulled back from her face, but not in a fancy updo.  The woman is more "republican" than aristocratic because her outfit is fairly plan and simple, instead of elegant and extravagant.  

3.  What values do her sons' exhibit?
Her sons exhibit values of obedience and intelligence.  Both are sitting calmly and straightly, and are dressed fairly moderately.  They seem to be very well behaved and, like their mother, have a respectful and reserved factor to them.

4.  Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?
 Mrs. Tilghman's arm is placed in front of the child on her lap, keeping him from squirming or sliding off her lap.  Her arm is loose around the boy, keeping him in place but not hurting him.  The significance of this is that it represents how women were stepping up to be more of a civil role model for their children.

Women's suffrage movements were similar to the Republican Motherhood in that they both dealt with women gaining new freedoms and respect. With the Republican Motherhood, women were given more educational rights and a higher position in society while their husbands were off fighting in the Revolutionary War.  Likewise, women's suffrage movements and protests ultimately led to the 19th amendment (1920), which gave women the right to vote.  Since men already had the right to vote by that time, this new right gave women more equality and a higher status in society.