Women Flashcards
What was the position of women >1865?
Women played an active role in the Church community, - for example running Sunday schools and religious meetings.
Played a part in abolishing slavery, some (such as Harriet Tubman) even rescued slaves.
The women’s movement focused around temperance and discouraging drinking alcohol. Women were also focused on moral reform and opposed prostitution. All of this they hoped to achieve by voting - so they focused on getting the vote.
They also campaigned for better working conditions and relief for the poor (this was expected of rich women).
What social developments before 1900 affected women?
Suburban living improved for middle class and immigrant women. Jane Addams set up parenting classes at Hull House in 1889. There were changes in family sizes - birth rate for white Americans fell from 5.42% in 1850 to 3.56 by 1900. Women were campaigning in areas of real importance (i.e temperance) in order to gain suffrage. Women were expected to extend their nurturing from outside the home and into the wider community. The Comstock laws also affected women as it made contraception unavailable.
How did economic developments before 1900 effect women?
Increased economic opportunities for women - by 1900 they represented 17% of the workforce. They were also helped by better education, by 1900 50% of high school graduates were women.
Industrial expansion meant that the domestic service industry was being replaced by jobs in the textile and service industry.
The development of the typewriter and telephone meant that women started heading into office work - but there was no career pathway.
White women were also replaced in factory work by immigrants - who had worse conditions and lower wages (70 hours for just $5). National Consumer League set up in 1899 to pressure govt. for better conditions.
Agricultural work was also fading away for women.
How did the civil war impact women?
The idea of feminism was tainted from the outside (especially in the south) as women wanted the vote in order to protest against slavery.
As the men were away fighting women were forced to take on a greater economic role - conflicting with the traditional role of women in the home.
Did not fight, but supported through fundraising and charitable actions.
Postwar there was a challenging of old ideas - especially in the south. Women did not want to return to domesticity (a common theme).
AA’s proved that civil rights could work (at this point they could vote, and worked in congress) could women achieve the same?
How were women impacted by political developments before 1900?
Women's suffrage movement was started by abolitionist campaigning. Political change was needed to promote these campaigns. White, middle class women focused on abolition and temperance.
Who were Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton ?
Most prominent white middle class campaigners, known for being eloquent and good role models
LM - Founded American Equal Rights Association in 1866 and wrote the Declaration of Sentiments.
ECS - Campaigned for reform of divorce and property laws. Founds National Women’s Suffrage Association in 1869.
Also founded Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1874 with Susan B. Anthony to promote sufferage and combat the evils of drinking. Had 700 branches by 1900.
