Blog #3

1. The chapter’s introduction ends with the statement, “Although traditional expectations about women’s roles were challenged, they were rarely overturned.” In what ways were these expectations challenged during the revolutionary era? What were the limits to these challenges?

The expectations of women were first challenged during the boycotts of British goods. Women began to make cloth in their households, instead of relying on imports. This solidified a woman’s role as a producer in the economy, however, at first this events’ impact was diminished by the commendations given to men for having the cloth spun at their houses. Later women’s efforts were recognized and credibility was given where it was due. In later years, when the war had finally started women were left with no choice but to take on the duties of a man due to the man’s absence during wartime.

2. The Introduction to Through Women’s Eyes emphasizes that the study of women’s history has transformed the definition of “political” history. In what ways might women’s activity in the revolutionary era be considered “political”? What were the most significant differences among European women colonists?

It is important to remember that slave, Native American, poor, and elite women all had different choices to make. Slaves made the choice to escape slavery, Native American women participated in their councils attempts’ to decide on alliances, and white women made decisions to either take the side of the loyalists or patriots. The European women colonists were divided into the elite and the poor. The elite were able to use their status to encourage Congress on different issues, organize other women to support troops, and even vote by owning property. The poor women may not have had much influence or power, but that did not stop them from contributing. Many of them followed the armies and helped the troops by either cooking, washing, or tending to the sick on the battlefield and off of it.

3. How would you summarize the revolution’s legacies to women?

For some women, the revolution had brought on poverty while to others it brought opportunity. For the Native American women, life had not changed much. Although they were now farmers’ wives and not hunters’ wives, their roles in farming work, livestock tending, and cloth weaving remained as they were earlier. Some African American women were able to escape slavery by fleeing to the British side, while others remained slaves as they were. White women also had a mixed fate as the African Americans did. Many of them now had no husbands which brought about terrible hardships. While some of the more privileged women were now left to manage farms and businesses.

4. What do Rush and Murray see as the benefits of female education? How does the proper education of females differ from that of males?

They believe that female education was an integral part of a family accumulating wealth and bettering the family overall. A woman was to have a more general education and be somewhat knowledgeable of many subjects. A man on the other hand was to be educated in a specific field to become a specialist of the given field. Another benefit to the female education would be to also teach their sons of liberty and government before they carry on with their traditional education.

5. How do Rush’s and Murray’s ideas accord with the ideas associated with Republican Motherhood?

They both agree that education of females will potentially improve society as well as the individual families. With Murray being a woman, however, it is not surprising to see her argue for women to have a deeper education than just the basic as discussed by Rush. Murray’s idea holds a lot of legitimacy, since a woman would be able to take a great workload off a man’s shoulders. For example if a woman was a financial expert she would be able to care of the finances at home in greater depth so the man could focus on his profession.