Skylar Murrell

Period 3
AP US History
Womanhood CCOT DBQ
When the colonists settled in the New World in the 1600s everyones life was
transformed, especially the women they instantly took on a new role within their family that had
reformed their lifestyle completely. Their new role consisted of growing crops, raising the
children, and even becoming nurses and midwives. Women had little to no rights while their
husbands detained all the power of the household. Over the course of time little by little the
standards of women were raised as their education and role in the workplace became necessary.
While many women were still viewed as lesser than a man and having domestic roles over the
1770-1850 time period they gained new rights that changed their roles in society. Higher level of
education and new involvement in occupations transformed the common architypes placed upon
women. Therefore, the lives of women have drastically altered rather than remaining the same.
Women were in charge of the domestic roles such a being the caregiver of the family and
responsible for raising their children. As the roles of women began to change they went through
the Republican Motherhood era where the women were in charge of raising their sons morally
and to have civic virtue. Women gained knowledge and some education so they were able to
raise their sons more effectively. In Benjamin Rushs excerpt on Thoughts Upon Female
Education (Doc 2) he discusses to his fellow citizens that women should be able to have
education to a certain degree. His point of view is that womens education is important especially
when it comes to training their sons in liberty and government, which is unbiased because he is a
man speaking of women rights. Although this continues the idea that women should only have
education to a certain degree and that makes them unequal to a man, it still is a large

transformation for womens rights. Margaret Fullers speaks about how women should be
educated for women not for men, which opens her fellow feminists eyes to new ideas (Doc 5).
Her point of view may be biased because of her gender but her view on freedom for women
stands strong. The way she discusses how women being better educated for themselves shows
the significant change in ideals placed upon women. Putnams monthly magazine (Doc 7) shows
that individuals are beginning to realize that the epitomes of women are unequal to men and that
it is wrong. Putnams point of view of womens belittled nature in comparison to man is credible
for that time period because it comes from a well-known source. This document discusses how
women are known to be inferior to man intellect, which the author believes to be untrue. While
the ideals of womens educational role continues to neglected citizens are finally taking a stand.
Society begins to realize how it needs to be changed especially for the sake of their children,
leading them to the Republican Motherhood era.
Women gaining the right to be involved in occupations and the economy began a domino
effect on the sweeping change of views of motherhood. When normally a womans place was at
home with the kids, they began to go to work and leave home. Contribution to the economy was
a great change for women and it all started in the Lowell Mill era which was a starting point for
womens journey to equality. In document 3 it shows a chart of wages earned by women in 1837.
The views of womanhood changes because their role is theoretically to be at home with the
children but the trend shows women becoming more independent individuals, by being able to
contribute to the economy. In a letter from a factory worker (Doc 4) it discusses what Lowell
Factories really are and how she didnt like it at first but the longer she stays the more she likes
it. Her point of view is credible because she is first hand experiencing the factory. Her idea of the
mill only shows how independent the girls are becoming there being away from home. Although

many women are still at home, they all have the choice to go out and get a job which is a giant
leap and changes the common perception of women. Sarah Bagley, debates why they educate
women if they are going to enclose them within the walls of cotton mills (Doc 6). She is
speaking out against the system which is very uncommon and an immense change considering
women never had a voice. Women begin to strike for reforms which is unlike for the common
women to do. Bagleys point of view while speaking out to her associated activists is credible
because she is enduring the long hours within the cotton mill.
The common lifestyle for women have considerably changed throughout this time period
in comparison to its continuity. A similar situation has occurred in America when it comes to
inequality. As women struggled to make themselves equivalent to males, blacks had struggled to
make themselves equal to the white race. Race and gender share parallel struggles while trying to
gain equal rights in America. They both were faced with prejudice and both are still faced with it
today. Both blacks and women have significantly changed throughout the course of time by each
accomplishing equal rights!