The American Revolution was a political uprising that occurred between 1765 and 1783 during which the colonists in the 13 American colonies rejected British governance, and overthrew the Great Britain authority thus founding the United States of America. During this period, women stepped up their roles in assuming responsibilities, some of which were deemed as masculine in nature. Those women that chose to become involved in politics via boycotts became known as the Daughters of Liberty. Some women became camp followers, not wanting to be separated from their husbands, fathers and other loved ones. Those that were closest to the action became involved in actual fighting, and others became political spies, engaging in spying, gathering intelligence, and delivering messages for the Patriots or the Loyalists.
The Political Role of Women during the Revolution
The American Revolution changed the conventional understanding of the role of women’s political status and their rights leading to a debate about whether or not they were supposed to engage actively in the USA political culture. The revolution presented opportunities and rhetoric for these women, and their efforts during the war were recognized and rewarded by men (Zagarri). The Americans drew on a rhetoric God-given right to fight British dominance, the consequences of which were far-fetched, including property ownership for women and their right to vote. Women became political analysts, writers and commentators, often opening up the debate on their rights and political roles. Some women created patronage by becoming intermediaries between their husbands and the constituents while others became political advisors, often referred to as ‘female politicians’ (Zagarri).
Why Men Supported These Actions
Men supported these activities because saving the household was of utmost significance during the revolution. The idea of women who could earn some extra money to support the children and other family members while men were out fighting was widely welcomed to prevent the society from falling into ruin. From political action to education, it was important to empower women to achieve an essential balance in the household and enable the home to support itself in case the husband perished.
How Did Women’s Actions during the Revolutionary Period Help Create the Concept of Republican Motherhood?
During the revolutionary period, women that ran households while men were out fighting started to become more assertive. An example is Abigail Adams, the wife of John, who wrote a letter to her husband asking him to ‘remember the ladies’ and to be ‘more generous to the ladies than your ancestors’ (ushistory.org). She inspired the notion that all the power should not be put in the hands of men when drawing up a new government. Pre-revolutionary ministers also preached that men were morally superlative, but enlightened thinkers contrasted this by arguing that a nation could only be successful if the citizens were virtuous and learned. If women were the primary caregivers in society, then they had to be schooled in virtue so that they could teach their children. This idea helped create the educated woman in what was termed as the ‘republican motherhood’ (ushistory.org).
How Did This Concept Impact Rush and Murray’s Ideas about Women’s Education?
This concept inspired the ideas of Judith Sargent Murray, who held that women’s education was of crucial importance and that their typical chores did not offer intellectual stimulations. The belief that they were intellectually inferior was due to the way they were raised because they were neglected while boys were encouraged to learn. Benjamin Rush believed that education would help rescue the republic, and encouraged girls and women to attend the school he advocated. Using the concept of ‘republican motherhood’, Rush wrote a book Thoughts Upon Female Education in 1787 and embraced the idea that women had a duty to raise their sons to be virtuous citizens. Their education would also save the American nation from the same decay that had faced the British society (Campbell).
How Do You Explain the Difference between Rush and Murray’s Ideas?
Murray and Rush were exceptional in advocating for women’s education in the revolutionary period. However, Murray supported a decisive role of women outside the conventional supportive wives and housemaids. She felt that the women’s place was outside the typical household chores and that their intellect would fall into ill uses if not properly utilized. Rush, on the other hand, maintained a chauvinistic view that stipulated that even though women were to be educated, their continued subordination was integral. Their education was not supposed to interfere with their gender roles at home and in society (Campbell).
Work cited
Campbell, Jodi. "Benjamin Rush And Women's Education". Chronicles.dickinson.edu. N.p., 2000. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
ushistory.org,. ""Republican Motherhood"". U.S. History Online Textbook. N.p., 2016. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.
Zagarri, Rosemarie. Revolutionary Backlash. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007. Print.
