Republican Motherhood

The writing of the Declaration of Sentiments is
another important movement for Womans' rights
that was made possible by the start of
Republican Motherhood

What role did the revolution play in the transformation from housewivery to republican motherhood?
-The revolution had a big influence from the civics of enlightenment thinking, with a big focus on the importance of justice, liberty, patriotism, and republicanism. Since, the household was thought to be the best place for the youth to learn about these ideals, mothers became the ones who had to learn enough to educate their children about it. (Doc A)

What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
-Because of republican Motherhood, where women were thought to be responsible for the civic education of their children, they had to become educated first in those areas (Doc B). However, their responsibilities did not extend much further than this, and they did not gain any direct power to influence their country first hand, as their rightful domain was still thought to end at their front door (Doc A).

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

-    - Although women did not gain any direct power over their country, they had a great increase in responsibility and influence over what future generations would look like. By having the responsibility of educating their kids, they ended up changing the future of America (Doc C)

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• This portrait shows a mother and her two sons, who are notably wearing woman's clothes sitting n on her lap.
• The woman is the center of the portrait because she is the authority over her male children, and is presumably the one who dressed them. However, she is plain and not flashy, showing that she is a commoner and not an aristocrat.
• Her sons portray very feminine attributes, this is symbolic of the mothers new influence over her children. 
• The mothers arm is over her sons lap. This symbolically says that she is the one in control, and that she is restraining her sons from going onto the wrong path and hurting themselves, she is their voice of reason.