Women - social, economic, political change and impact of Civil War Flashcards
(20 cards)
How did the Civil War impact the vote?
-women wanted the vote in order to protest against slavery but many men didn’t like the connection between women’s suffrage and abolition of slavery
How did the Civil War impact the war effort? (2)
-women supported the war effort on both sides via charitable organisations/fundraising campaigns
-women had to take on a greater economic role as the fighting disrupted food production
What was the impact of the Civil War on women’s role?
-women’s responsibilities were conflicted with the concept that women should be in the home
What was the impact of the Civil War on post war? (2)
-post-war, old ideas were challenged particularly in the South, in the North there was significant industrial expansion
-women did not want to return to pre-war domesticity
What was the impact of the Civil War on AA women?
-AAs proved that a disenfranchised group could now vote, sit in Congress and direct state legislature->women wanted to do the same
How did suburban living impact social change?
-suburban living improved life for middle class women, housing was still an issue for working class and immigrant women->Jane Addams, Hull House 1889 offered parenting classes
How did social change impact family sizes?
-changes to family size->birth rate for White Americans falling from 5.43 in 1850 to 3.56 by 1900->immigrant families were 6-8 per family
How did the Comstock Laws impact social change?
-Comstock Laws 1873 - prevent the sale or distribution of contraceptives and/or items used in abortion (3,600 prosecuted under it)->upheld by the Supreme Court until 1960s
How did campaigning impact social change?
-women were prepared to campaign in areas of real concern with the hope that it would lead to suffrage eg Temperance
How did women’s role impact social change?
-women were expected to extend their nurturing role outside of the home and into the wider community
How did the growth in opportunities for unmarried women impact economic developments?
-in 1870 13% working outside the home and 1900 17% of total workforce -> helped by better education ->by 1900 half of high school graduates were women
How did industrial expansion impact economic developments?
-domestic service replaced by opportunities in textile and service industry as a result of industrial expansion
How did the development of the typewriter and telephone impact developments?
-by 1890 many were heading into office work, helped by the development of the typewriter and telephone->no career pathway in this area though or in traditional male areas eg medicine and law
How did factory work impact economic developments?
70 hours to gain just $5 by 1900->National Consumers League (NCL) set up in 1899 to pressure government for better wages
How did agricultural work impact economic developments?
-agricultural work fading away especially for women
How did women’s suffrage impact women and politics?
-women’s suffrage began as a result of abolitionist campaigning -> political change was needed to promote women’s campaigns
How did the focus on white middle class impact women and politics?
-white, middle class women focused on abolition and temperance
How did AA campaigners impact women and politics?
-AA campaigner Sojourner Truth (ex slave) -> ?
Who were Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton? What was their impact on women and politics? (3)
-Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were prominent, white, middle class campaigners->known for being eloquent and good role models but status quo presented change
-Lucretia Mott founded American Equal Rights Association in 1866->wrote the Declaration of Sentiments
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton campaigned for reform of divorce and property laws ->found National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869
What was the American Equal Rights Association (AERA) and when was it? What impact did this have on women and politics? (2)
-1866
-founded in 1866 but Republicans secured rights for AAs in the 14th and 15th Amendments->more of a government focus on AAs and not a focus on women ->side lined
