Republican Motherhood

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
The role instituted following the Revolutionary War for a woman, although exempifying some transformations, was one derived from previous statures of the male mind. Woman, although now guaranteed some educational opportunities as seen in Document B, were more so being prepared for a lifetime servitude to their family. For, "next to the obligations which woman owes directly to her God, are those arising from her relation to the family institution" (Document A). In this, women were now guaranteed a "higher" duty in society, although their influence did not often spread beyond the confinements of a traditional home as it is made to sound in Document D. Rather, women were now supposed to be aptly equipped to rase their children, sons or daughters, into a Republican individual living for God.

2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
Consequences of Republican Motherhood, ranging in both positive and negative aspects, gradually shifted the roles of women in society. Firstly, women were not able to find work outside of domestic work in a traditional family setting because this is what was expected of them. Although unfair, the role of a Republican Mother was often romanticised during this era, being made up to be training as a proper citizen in America, is witnessed in Document A. Too, women were now guaranteed some education such as knowledge of the English language, basic hjand-writing techniques and skills, an acquaintance with geography and chronolgy, and knowledge of bookeeping (Document B).

3. What is the significance of the idealogy of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women's socialization?
This newfound idealogy, forged through an increased reliance on the family following an era of destruction through armed conflict, gave women a rejuvenated hope for social improvement. Women were now seen as being "born for liberty, disdaining to bear the irons of a tyrannic Government... forged by tyrants in times of ignorance and barbarity" (Document C). Women, experiencing difficult times, bound together in a Republican faction in order to pursuit this ever present dream of social equality. Now, with a sovereign nation beneath their feet, they could instill these same values into their children, ones of piety, religious morality, and knowledge of all aspects of life, in order to ensure for the continuance of this Republican movement. In this, at least for now, "the influence of woman is not limited to the domestic circle. Society is her empire, which she governs at will" (Document D).



1. The setting of this photo appears to be that of an ordinary home during this time period, with the background illustrating a common place such as a sofa in a living room for traditional family interactions.

2. The center of this portrait, centered about the mother figure in the painting, exemplifies the growing emphasis on females within American society following the Revolutionary War. The woman, looking well made up but not of an aristocratic stature, rather exemplifying a woman favoring the way she looks while still maintaining some modesty, exemplifies her Republican nature. Her reliance on her children illustrates her favoring nature towards her children, including them fully into the portrait.

3. In the portrait, her sons exhibit that of a common love for their mother, exemplifying a child's reliance on their mother during this era. This truth sums up the Republican Motherhood era; children idolize their mother, thus learning all from the ever important family figure.

4. Mrs. Tilgham's arm, rather than wrapping around both of her sons in the portrait instead only encompassing one of the children, exemplifies societies emphasis on caring for the younger children within a family as to develop their mind into that which favors Republican ideals.