Week 11 Lecture Notes: The Age of Reform - Women's Rights Movement

Rooted in the broader quest for equality influenced by the Declaration of Independence.
Declaration of Independence stated "All men are created equal" but was interpreted as favoring Caucasian men and excluding women and racial minorities.

Political Rights: - Women had zero political rights: no vote, no opportunity to hold office.
Economic Opportunities: - Dominant role as housewives and mothers (Housewife and mother). - Secondary job as domestic workers (cooks, waitresses, nannies). - Third job involved prostitution (considered undesirable). - Midwife as an available occupation, valuable in rural settings (though limited).
Educational Opportunities: - Limited schooling up to 5th or 6th grade to prepare women to educate their children.
Legal Status: - Women were regarded as property of their fathers and husbands with no legal rights (could not sue or testify in court).

Significant changes for women's rights began after the American Revolution.
Despite the changes, political rights largely remained stagnant until 1877; women still lacked the right to vote.

Continued primary role as housewives and mothers (still the most available job).
Secondary roles included waitressing and domestic work.
Emergence of factory work as new opportunities for women in this period.
Prostitution remained a concerning option.
Arrival of teaching roles for women, particularly in elementary education beginning circa 1860s.

By the 1860s and 1870s, gradual legal improvements were seen, such as: - Women allowed to sue and serve on juries in many states. - Educational advancements: some women began attending colleges (often female-only), but education focused on domestic roles instead of sciences or mathematics.

Abigail Adams's Advocacy: - In 1776, Abigail Adams writes letters advocating for women's rights to her husband John Adams during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. - Notable letter remarks on the need to consider women in new laws, warning that "all men would be tyrants if they could" and emphasizing the desire for representation since women had no voice under existing laws.
John Adams's Dismissive Response: - John dismisses her request with laughter, reinforcing gender stereotypes about women's nature (that women are impatient). - He argues against giving women more rights, indicating it would upset gender norms.

In response to women’s demands, men introduced republican motherhood, stating that women had an essential role as virtuous mothers who could raise morally upright citizens.
The argument posited that the health of the republic depended on women as educators of virtue, thus claiming that their influence at home was paramount.

Reaction from women included organizing for rights under the framework of their virtue.
Women collaborated in abolitionist movements, participating actively as volunteers and supporters.
Notable participation in the World Anti-Slavery Convention (1840) where women were largely disregarded despite contributions to the abolitionist movement. - Garrison, Mott, and Stanton represented the U.S.; women were denied participation, highlighting ongoing gender discrimination.

Organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to address women's rights.
Over 400 attendees including 300 women.
Issued the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, mirroring the Declaration of Independence while asserting that “all men and women are created equal.”
Documents highlighted the injustices faced by women, including exclusion from voting and jury service.

While the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments inspired reforms, fundamental political and economic changes were limited and slow. - Women didn’t gain the right to vote until the 19th Amendment in 1920. - Job opportunities expanded slightly, but educational and judicial opportunities remained constrained.