Women Flashcards
What were women like pre 1865?
They were active among the church community, promoted temperance (abstinence from alcohol), Campaigning for better working conditions, abolition of slavery, opposition to prostitution and the vote.
What social developments were made for women in 1865?
Suburban living improved for middle class women. Changes to family size, birth rates falling from 5.42 (5/6) 1850 - 3.56(3/4) 1900 Women prepared to campaign in areas of real concern (temperance) in hopes it would lead to suffrage. Women expected to extend nurturing role outside home into wider community.
What were the Comstock Laws?
of 1873, prevented the sale or distribution of contraceptives and/or items used in abortions. (3,600 persecuted under it) and upheld by Supreme Court until 60s.
When were the Comstock Laws?
1873
What economic developments were made for women in 1865?
Growth in op for unmarried women - 1870, 13% working outside home, 1900, 18% of total workforce. Domestic service replaced by better ops in textile and service industry from industrial expansion.
Development of tech (typewriter and telephone) many went into office work but no career pathway.
White women replaced in factories by immigrant women.
What was the impact of the Civil War on women?
Significant, women supported the war effort on both sides with charitable orgs and taking on greater economic responsibilities while the men were away. Women did not want to return to pre war domesticity. The ideas of womens responsibilities were conflicted at the time as conception women should be looking after the home. AAs proved exploited group could now vote so could women achieve the same?
What political participation did women have 1865?
Women’s suffrage began as result of abolitionist campaigning, political change needed to promote women’s campaigns. White middle class women focused on abolition and temperance, but not all middle class campaigners.
Lucretia Mott founded (AERA) American equal rights association 1866
Elizabeth Cady Stanton founds NWSA.
What does the NWSA stand for and when was it founded?
National Women Suffrage Association. Founded 1869.
What was the women’s crusade of 1873-74?
The Women’s Christian Temperance Movement (WCTU). 1874, to promote women’s suffrage and party to combat the evils of drinking excessively.
What does WCTU stand for and when was it founded?
Women’s Christian Temperance Movement 1874.
What was life like for women between 1865-1914?
More ops for middle class women in work. Immigrant women and working class women were exploited though. Middle class women able to pressure social reform. Home and family was the key concern for most, anything else was an exception.
What did the WCTU push for and why were they created?
They pushed for a ban on alcohol to save family life and they did this as to achieve a change there had to be a change in law, requiring clear organisation. This led to the creation of the WCTU.
Who did the WCTU appeal to?
Mainly appealed to Midwest protestant America.
What was prohibition and what did it do?
The ban on the creation, sale and consumption of alcohol that was introduced in 1919, the issues with alcohol that encouraged the temperance movement to push for prohibition introduced women to greater participation in public life.
What was the Populist Party?
US people’s party founded in 1891 and represented discontented Southern and Western farmers. Gained over 8% of vote in 1892 presidential elections and 10% of vote in subsequent congressional elections as part of protest vote against power and influence of big companies.
Why had farmers become more politically involved in 1870s+?
Greater food production (pop growth) 70’s meant falling prices and pressure on farms in rural America. Small and medium farms under competition and needed a political voice to represent their interests, Supported by Populist Party.
What two groups were involved in rural protests?
The Grange Movement and the Farmers’ Alliance. Women spoke at public meetings against the influence of the spread of the railways and need to protect farmers income.
Who was Elizabeth Lease?
Orator for Populist Party, she and female activists led protests despite bitter hospitality from business interests. Her outspoken views resulted in her splitting with it and withdrawing from political activities.
What work did women focus on in the cities?
Female public activity often centred around charities, continuing their work done during the civil war to help the poor.
What were the main orgs in the cities?
The Charity Organisation Society. (Became major outlet for many urban women’s energies.
What were the achievements of women in the cities, 1900s?
The experience of charity work led many cities and states to appoint women to administer public charities, giving them experience in local govt. Effective at persuading many states to pass pension legislation in 1900s, assistance to mothers, widows and wives whose husband were unable to work due to diability.
What does NWSA stand for?
National Woman Suffrage Association
When was the NWSA founded and by who?
1869 by Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton. They led the battle for women’s suffrage, and had lost support of abolitionists so they founded the NWSA. Only women.
What was set up to rival the NWSA and what did this do to the cause?
The American Women Suffrage Association, which did include men and weakened the cause as support was divided due to difference in methods.
What does the AWSA stand for and who was it founded by?
American Women Suffrage Association. Lucy stone and Julia Ward Howard.
What opposition was there to women’s rights early 1900s?
The National Association Opposed to Women’s Suffrage (established 1911), was larges opp groups as believed women’s rights would erode special place and respect for women. Thought it would diminish their status and stop men cherishing them.
Catholic immigrants saw it as weakening the family.
Southern democrats feared women suffrage would hurt labour laws in South or work against Jim Crow laws.
How much progress had been made by 1900?
Southern orgs unwilling to give AA women the vote
Not complete agreement about which types of women able to vote.
Progress had been made and groups organised but opposition had been built up and quite strong,
Movement distracted bu other causes - temperance
What achievements were made during WW1? (impact of it)
Broke down traditional fam structure so women working in armament industries. Women given vote over 30. 11,000 women served for first time in the US Navy as nurses, clerical workers and telephone ops. 1 mill women in industry. Women’s involvement strengthened suffrage campaign and increased social interaction and freedom for women.
However… war did not have a huge lasting effect on women;s jobs after the war, did not signify a shift in employment.
What was the 19th amendment?
Women gaining vote.
What can the 19th amendment be seen as?
Reward for war work, symbolic extension of US democracy and of the movements towards giving women political rights. Also major move towards using women’s particular interests and abilities on a national scale.
Why was the 19th amendment introduced?
Emerged as gratitude to women of their war efforts, and also result of campaigning by NAWSA. Not because of change of mind by American men, reform did not mean they got everything they wanted and they had to conform to male dominated society once in congress, voting in favour of their husbands.
