DBQ+4...NS

From 1815 to 1860 the role of women in American society changed drastically. Women went from being raised by her father and mother and going strait into a relationship, arranged by her parents, to working in a factory until she found love. Women were yanked out of their sheltered lives and introduced into a place where they had so many more opportunities than they would ever imagine. Beginning in the early 1800's women were expected to be taken care of and were married off at a young age by their fathers. A woman's place was in her home caring for her children and for her husband. They were seen as the homemakers, and they never worked outside of the home. A mother would do her motherly duties at home and that was her work. She was supported financially by her husband and there was need for her to work outside the home. Starting in the mid 1800's women began to speak out against things they didn't approve of. Though most of these protests had nothing to do with Women's Rights, the impact came from the fact that a woman was the one speaking out. In 1843, Dorothea Dix wrote a letter to the Massachusetts Legislature claiming that people in Insane Asylums were being unfairly treated. This sparked the minds of women and when the problems in Insane Asylums were fixed, women began to realize that they could make a difference too. Soon after, in 1844, a letter was written by a Lowell mill girl. In this letter, the hours of a working girl were explained. It showed that the women didn't just work four or five hours, they had a long 12 hour day, then had the nights to themselves. This was a huge change from when women could only work in the home, although when a woman got married she was expected to leave the working life and take her place in the home. As time went on women became more forceful with their demands, and the focus of their issues left everyday problems, and started to focus more on Women's Rights alone. Women wondered why they couldn't be treated as fairly as men. Finally in 1853, a petition was sent to the Massachusetts legislature demanding that the constitution be amended, and a section be put in that women were equal to men, and that their rights be recognized as well. Women went a long way in a short period of time, and would continue to advance as history advances.