Republican Motherhood Blog

1.       What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?

      The revolutionary war transformed women’s role as seen in Document B, by placing emphasis on women receiving an education. During the war people realized that they need strong educated leaders in the future and the people who educated their future were house wives. The more educated the wife was the more she will teach her son and the better he will be for the country. There more influence on the children the better the future will be.

2.      What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?

Even with this new recognition, the women’s sole purpose was to educate her son (document B). By having her main purpose to educate and raise her son, it constricted her to the house and only taking care of and teaching them in a way that is acceptable by society (Document D).

3.      What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women’s socialization?

They were the head of the house, they controlled everything. The future of society, they took care of the children that would one day become in charge. "But the influence of woman is not limited to the domestic circle.  Society is her empire, which she governs at will…” this quote shows how the women was in control of society and what would become of the future of it.

Part 2:

1.       Describe the setting.

 The setting to me looks like a nicer home for the time, with the print patterned couch in the back and the corner of the tapestry hanging on the wall in the back ground.

2.      Who serves at the center of the portrait and why?  How does the woman look?  How is she “republican” rather than aristocratic?

The center of this portrait is Cleary the Mother, because she is the one who is most important in the house hold, she takes care of and teaches the children (or "the future"). The future is literally being held in her hands. She looks clean and refined but not to the extent where she is flaunting her wealth, she looks engaged with her children. She looks "republican" in the sense that she is dressed plainly but nice, she is not wearing a Whig (popular at the time). She looks more comfortable with her children and aristocratic person would not be because, they tend to hand their kids of the be raised and do not get to know them as well.

3.      What values do her sons exhibit?

His main value would be his love for America, because he is wearing Red, white and blue. Also at first I did not think this was a boy, because he looks rather feminine. Which could possibly mean he is more accepting of women’s roles in society.

4. is there significance to the position of Mrs. Tilgham’s arm?

She is holding her children close, as in to show her influence will strike close to the children and also that her views will show through them.