1. Women’s Rights 1800 – 1850 Early movement for gender equality
Antebellum Period
1800 – 1850
Time Period 4

2. Republican Motherhood - women helped “birth” the nation. 1776 - 1800

3. Republican Motherhood
Elevated status of women as keepers of Republican virtue.

4. Republican Motherhood
Women are the primary moral and intellectual educators of future responsible citizens.
Led to opportunities in …..
education
leadership
economic opportunity
social status

5. Despite this, women lacked many legal rights during this time; they lack property rights, voting rights, the right to serve on juries, etc.
The early Women’s Move. sought expanded rights in the law and the workplace.

6. Cult of Domesticity
Status of women (and rights) began to shrink after the Revolutionary Period had passed.
The sphere of womanhood shrank to that of her husband’s house.
Why? What changes were occurring in America around that time?

7. Lowell factories
A rare opportunity for young women was in the Lowell factories of Waltham, Mass.

8. The Second Great Awakening
“Spiritual Reform From Within” [Religious Revivalism]
Social Reforms & Redefining the Ideal of Equality
Temperance
Education
Abolitionism
Asylum & Penal Reform
Women’s Rights

9. Cult of Domesticity = Slavery
The 2nd Great Awakening inspired women to improve society.
Lucy Stone
Angelina Grimké
Sarah Grimké
American Women’s Suffrage Assoc.
edited Woman’s Journal
Southern Abolitionists
R2-9

10. Early 19c Women Legal status of a child.
a. Unable to vote/hold office.
b. No control over property or
children.
c. Could not initiate divorce.
d. Couldn‘t make wills, sign a
contract, or bring suit in court
without her husband’s permission.

11. “Separate Spheres” Concept
Republican Motherhood evolved into the “Cult of Domesticity”
A woman’s “sphere” was in the
home. (Home was a refuge from the
cruel world outside).
Her role was to “civilize” her
husband and children. (Keep
the house.)

12. Picture/Anthony & Stanton
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
1830’s to 1850’s
Closely tied to Abolition and
Temperance.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Susan B. Anthony
Women’s rights issues
citizenship
right to vote
education
Picture/Anthony & Stanton

13. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Women’s Rights
> split in the abolitionist movement over women’s role in it.
London --> World Anti-Slavery Convention
Lucretia Mott
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
> Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments

14. Women’s Rights Movement
1848: Feminist reform led to Seneca Falls Convention (upstate NY)
Significance: launched modern women’s rights movement
Established the arguments and the program for the women’s rights
movement for the
remainder of the century.

15. SENECA FALLS
The first Woman’s rights movement was in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848……
Educational and professional opportunities
Property rights
Legal equality
Suffrage rights
Child custody rights.

16. SENECA FALLS
The following is an excerpt from the Seneca Falls Declaration written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

17. SENECA FALLS
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed……

18. SENECA FALLS
The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world….
He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.
He has taken from all right in property, even to the wages she earns.

19. SENECA FALLS
He has made her, morally, an irresponsible being, as she can commit many crimes with impunity, provided they be done in the presence of her husband.
In the covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master; the law giving him power to deprive her of her liberty, and to administer chastisement.

20. Sojourner Truth Abolitionist & women’s rights activist.
Born a slave (Isabelle Baumfree 1797 in
upstate NY).
Ran away. Sued master for son. (first
time black woman sued white man & won)
1843 – ordained as Methodist pastor (2nd.
Great Awakening) & changed name.

21. Sojourner Truth
Activist for abolition & women’s rights. “Ain’t I a Woman” speech at women’s rights convention in OH 1851.

22. Harriet Beecher Stowe
Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin – the most popular book for the next decade.

23. Early Women’s Rights Movement ending
1853 Suffragists held meeting at World’s Fair in NYC.
“The Mob Convention” due to clash of pro and anti- women’s rights groups.

24. Women’s Rights
The early rights movement will end in the 1850’s over ….
Abolitionism
Sectional strife and coming of war.