1. Domesticity
The idea of domesticity took root during the antebellum period of the 19th century. It sought to define the role of women in the society. Popularly referenced as the cult of domesticity, it refers to a culture in which gender roles and more specifically those of women are defined as purely being a homemaker. The belief was widely held by the white upper and middle-class citizens.
Gender roles were divided into two spheres - a public one and a private one. The public sphere involved the realms of business, politics and the overall society and these roles were expressly reserved for men. The private sphere, which had been exclusively reserved for women, entailed creating a conducive environment at home for the husband and children. Also referred to as the cult of true womanhood, it was made up of four fundamental principles: purity, submissiveness, piety, and domesticity (Keister and Southgate 131).
The importance of domesticity was brought about by the changes that were taking place at the time. In the 19th century, there were subtle adjustments in the society caused by the civil war and the industrialization, which was ushering in a new era of modernity in the American society. Therefore, there was a fear of the society losing its traditional values hence the need to divide roles based on the two spheres, a public and a private sphere
Image showing the contrast between the private and public spheres, Source: Fiske
The private sphere was to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining the traditional values and women were better suited for this role owing to their maternal instincts. They, therefore, had to offer moral and spiritual guidance to the family by creating a positive environment at home. On the other hand, men's role fell into the public sphere owing to their aggressive nature.
The cult of domesticity served to subjugate women as they were treated as inferior to men both in the roles played and in intellect. It was further popularized by mass media such as magazines especially the use of prominent figures such as Queen Victoria from Britain. It is, however, the same media that served to bring out the positive influence of domesticity on women. It was especially the case for women who wrote about such issues as they became an important mouthpiece on issues affecting women. A good example is Catherine and Harriet Beecher, whose sisters taught in a girls' school and engaged in writing, which brought to the fore the issues affecting women (Mackenath).
2. William Jennings Bryan
Born in 1860, William Jennings Bryan was an American politician and orator. He was born in Illinois and later moved to Nebraska. He was a democrat and at some point he represented Nebraska in Congress. He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S presidency thrice in 1896, 1900 and 1908. He later served as the secretary of state during the era of President Woodrow Wilson.
A theatrical illustration of William Jennings as a populist, Source: Alamy.com
Regarded as a populist, he strongly advocated for issues affecting the ordinary people and believed that all efforts should be made to ensure that as many resources and freedoms as possible be availed to the masses. For his populist stunts, he was branded "The Great Commoner" (Taylor b72). His fiery speeches often gave a reflection on the political, economic and societal situations that America was in at the time. He openly opposed the monopolizing power of big corporations and imperialism, sentiments that resonated with the common Americans at the time. One of his most famous speeches "The Cross of Gold" advocated for free silver believing it would disentangle the people from the evil power of money especially after the events of the 1893 economic depression. He became a pioneer of speaking tours during presidential campaigns, which he begun after a faction of Democrats failed to support in the maiden presidential race (Taylor 113).
Brought up as a strict Presbyterian, it influenced his firm attitude against gambling and alcohol that had taken root in the late 1800s. Having served in the Nebraska Regiment during the Spanish-American war, he had strong views on imperialism and condemned William Mckinley's policy in the Philippines. It is such stands that endeared him to the people since he acted as their mouthpiece though to his fellow politicians he was a black sheep whose only aim was to upset the establishment. He was also outspoken on issues affecting women especially after his resignation from the position of Secretary of State. However, because he was a fiery critic of big businesses, business people owning monopolies teamed up and raised money for his opponent during the 1896 Presidential elections. They also spread rumors that the country’s economy would collapse, and workers would be fired if he won the election. Because of these issues, Bryan was not elected. However, his rise to fame and his articulation of issues affecting the citizens continue to inspiration many people even to date.
Works Cited
Alamy.com. "William Jennings Stock Photos & William Jennings Stock Images - Alamy". N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Fiske, David. "The New York History Blog | Historical News And Views From The Empire State". Newyorkhistoryblog.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Keister, Lisa A, and Darby Southgate. Inequality: A Contemporary Approach to Race, Class, and Gender. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.
Mackenath, Lucinda . "The Cult of Domesticity." Americainclass.org. 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2016. <http://americainclass.org/the-cult-of-domesticity/>.
Taylor, Jeff. Where Did the Party Go?: William Jennings Bryan, Hubert Humphrey, and the Jeffersonian Legacy. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2006. Print.
