1.Women had very varying experiences in the U.S.’s expansion to the Pacific Coast. For the most part Native Americans populated the areas into which the Americans sought to expand to. Many Native Americans were killed and banished from their homes and some of their women became “domestic servants to women settlers or prostitutes to men.”(208) The White women who undertook these journeys westward found themselves doing much of the same chores they did before, however, this time around they were doing it under the very stressful conditions of travel.
2.Historical developments like early industrialization and the Second Great Awakening played key roles in the push for reform activities by the American women during the antebellum years. Industrialization is known to have made life easier for society, and in this regard it gave people more time and hence opportunity to devote themselves to a larger cause. The Second Great Awakening brought on a chance for women to participate in the spread of the Protestant faith. Although most missionaries were male, it didn’t stop women from forming their own religious organizations.
1.Maria Angustias de la Guerra Ord’s decision to harbor a wanted kidnapper in Jose Antonio Chavez from the U.S. Army forced her to feel both afraid and curious as to what her actions may entail. Ord was upset with the Americans because of their mistreatment of her brothers, so she wanted to see if it was possible to hide a man from the U.S. Army. The source of Ord’s fear was the occupation of her house by the soldiers in search of Chavez, however, Ord didn’t show any signs of fear even when being held at gunpoint. She remained calm and was glad to have not lied to them.
2.Maria drew her strength from the words “love of God” spoken by the soldier who asked her to hide Chavez in her house. Additionally, the absence of her husband at the house gave her extra confidence and willpower to take the situation into her own hands. She felt like she was the one in command and had absolute control of the situation at hand. Due to her husband’s absence she was able to hide Chavez from the army and offer him a safe haven until his injuries healed.
2 comments:
Annie’s Response #1:
During the expansion toward the Pacific Coast women did find themselves working more. Men could have not traveled alone without women. Women had a great responsibility while on the Oregon Trail. Women were cooking, doing laundry, taking care of their kids; some were giving birth on these wagons. I like how you pointed out how the troubles of Native Americans. They were being killed and kidnapped from their homes. Native American women were becoming servants for the white people. Americans goal was to expand their land, but after gold was discovered it seems they forgot everything and their determination, at the time, was set on wealth.
Maria Angustias, was upset with Americans. In this story we see, Maria, due to her actions, as being a brave women. She was able to save some ones life. I agree when you said, “Additionally, the absence of her husband at the house gave her extra confidence and willpower to take the situation into her own hands.” She made a positive choice and in the end she saved some ones life. If you think about it, she was saving Chavez’s life by not mentioning to the Lieutenant that he was staying at her house, but at the same time she was risking the life of her own family and herself
-Annie
LIA R2:
Hi Annie, I concur with both you and George that Maria’s might and firmness in response to the soldier, and her decision to protect Chavez was highly influenced by the absence of her husband. Furthermore, Annie, you make a good point in stating that men could not travel without their wives. Realistically, they would be able to travel unaccompanied, unlike women which were far from the norm. However, in supporting themselves, married men would have a difficult task in doing so because they relied on their wives as heavily as they undertook most of the housekeeping and basic domestic tasks. Conversely, I believe women were limited in choice regarding moving if their husband suggested or was in favor of the idea. In most circumstances women were dependant upon their husbands to sustain a wage to support their family. If families were to become disjoint as a result of the move, there was a highly possibility it would become permanent, due to the great journey to California in distance and women would probably find it hard to support themselves without their husbands. Thus, both husband and wife had a relationship which was very much inter-dependant, thus often travelling as complete families units, in search of prospects for a better life, as a family.
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