DBQnumber4+TB

Before the Market Reform and the 2nd Great Awakening the right’s of women were strict and thrived inside the home, after time and effort the position of women changed and opportunities opened in the family, workplace, and society. In years prior to 1815 the job of the women in the family or anywhere was referred to as “Republican Motherhood” meaning any women whose main priority in life was staying at home and teaching the well-beings and manners to her children and family. It wasn’t until after the cult of domesticity that it became acceptable for the women to work before she was married as it says in document B. Because work and working in a certain place was unheard of in the life of woman they were known only to be found working in the house. They taught their children not only manners, but education as well. Other jobs that needed to be done around the house were also done by the wife, as they were expected. After the Market Reform and 2nd Great Awakening women now began working in factories. They used machines that were becoming more abundant, thanks to the industrial revolution and producing textiles or whatever needed to be produced. A letter from a Lowell mill girl in 1844 explains this type of industry work in document B. The biggest and most noticeable change to most all women, however, was their role in society. Before the time they had nearly no public role at all. They were just simple known as to the rest of the people as the “Republican Motherhood”. Once times started to change however they began important roles outside the house as well. They began working and organizing groups to help with the reform movements. Dorothea Dix announces to the Massachusetts legislature about insane asylums in document D. Insane asylums are only one example. In society women were also being noticed for their ideas in fashion. For example the “bloomers” which many women wore during this time. Eventually some women even took up some of the men’s habits such as smoking. Document E shows a magazine picture of women in bloomer costume and smoking. It was now being accepted in society that women and young women alike were beginning a light education, document C. Another major thing women were being recognized in society at this time was for their involvement in women’s suffrage, document F. The life for the American Woman was far from being equal to that of their men. But as time went on women were quickly gaining momentum and an desire to be able to own what they want, appear how like, participate equally, and most importantly letting their thoughts be heard. After the Reform Movement and the 2nd Great Awakening the ice broke and women were becoming known more than just “Republican Motherhood”.