01. 1865-1915 - Women and work Flashcards
Had women gained the vote by the First World War?
No
Which women campaigned for the vote during this period (1865-1914)?
Middle class women (mostly)
By 1907, how many states had abolished child labour, largely as a result of women’s campaigning?
30
Who tended to work more during this period (1865-1914): married on unmarried women?
Unmarried women – women were generally expected to give up their work when they married, although working class women would often still seek work if the family was close to poverty
What opportunity did the Homestead Act (1862) provide?
It encouraged Westward migration by offering 160 acres of land for free providing settlers remained there for 5 years. Unmarried women were eligible and about 100,000 took land.
Why were some women angry at the Fifteenth Amendment?
It meant African Americans could (in theory) vote – but it made no mention of women
During the late 19th c., why did working class women gain more job opportunities?
Due to the expansion of the manufacturing industry
What % of unmarried working class women worked outside the home in 1870?
13%
By 1900, what % of the work force did women workers comprise?
17%
Between 1870 and 1900, what happened to the number of women working?
It tripled
How did the invention of the typewriter change work in the 1890s?
It made office work (clerical work) more open to women
How much could women earn in clerical roles in the 1890s?
$7 a week
By 1900, how many women (in total) were working as teachers, secretaries, librarians and telephone operators?
949,000
By 1920, how many women (in total) were working as teachers, secretaries, librarians and telephone operators?
3.4m
What limits were placed on women’s career prospects in this period (1865-1914)?
Men remained the managers (and there remained an expectations women would stop working when they married)
As white women left the factory floor in the late 19th c., who replaced them?
Immigrants women - and some African American women
In 1900, how long did an immigrant worker have to work to earn $5?
70 hours
Around 1900, did immigrant women only work in factories?
No – they also often worked in domestic service, laundries or bakeries
Did immigrant women give up work when they married in this period (1865-1914)?
Generally not - they were forced y extreme poverty to carry on working
Why did the number of women working in farming fall during this period (1865-1914)?
- New technology was unsuitable for women to operate 2. New technology reduced overall numbers of agricultural workers (men and women)
How did the agricultural labour force change during this period (1865-1914)?
It fell from about a half to about a third of the total working population.
How well were women protected by the law during this period (1865-1914)?
Not at all – state and federal governments adopted a laissez-faire approach (i.e. leave businessmen to run their business how they see fit)
Where did urban immigrant families tend to live during this period (1865-1914)?
In overcrowded, unhealthy and unsanitary ghettos in cities
Where did male white collar workers increasingly live during this period (1865-1914) and how did this affect women?
They moved to the suburbs to houses with indoor plumbing, central heating etc. - and thus better off married women tended to have to endure less of a daily grind.
During this period (1865-1914), how many children did immigrant/farming families tend to have?
06-Aug
During this period (1865-1914), how many the birth rate among white Americans change?
It declined sharply, from 5.42 (1850) to 3.56 (1900)
What impact did the decline in birth rate in the period 1865-1914 have for middle class mothers?
It meant they could invest more time/energy in their child’s education
How many high school graduates were women by 1900?
Half
Why did increased education by c. 1900 affect women?
Around half of women graduates looked to delay marriage and look for career opportunities. (Many, however, saw a good education as a necessary step on the road to marriage.)
How did the divorce rate change at the end of the 19th century?
It increased from 1 in 20 in 1880 to 1 in 12 by 1900.
