Republican Motherhood

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

 

     Women gained in the fields of roles and preparation. Women were now seen to shape young people into good Americans.  This giving them the change from mothers to patriotic members of society. Another change that was brought upon women was education. Women should be educated in writing and reading. Women are supposed to be educated so that they can prepare the young American boys for the real world.

 

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

 

One consequence for women is that they made little progress of getting out of the house. Women were still seen as inferior to men and that men dominated society but it was really women that played an influence on the young people of America.

 

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

 The significance is that the women did gain ground in their role. Women should now be educated. Education meant that women could make a platform for ultimately gaining their equality. Also the ideology of change is a positive move for women. The fact that society is becoming a place where women play a bigger role is a good building block for socialization.

1. Describe the setting 

The setting is on a couch. But the deeper meaning is that the couch is inside the home. Home is the issue that is addressed by the Republican Motherhood. The setting shows that the family has enough money but is not super wealthy.

 

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

The mother or women is at the center of the portrait. She is the center because the women's role is the focal point of the portrait. The women looks rather modest and in control of the situation. She is republican rather than aristocratic because she is modestly dressed with cheeky smile on her face and not some extravagant pose and dress. 

 

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

Her sons portray the up and coming faces of America. The son on her lap is well composed and very obedient and the son on her left is dressed in an outfit similar to the continental army's dress uniforms. Patriotism is the underlying theme of this picture. 

 

 4. Is there a significance to the placement of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?

The significance is one of guidance. She is keeping the young child on the right track which in this case is on her lap and being obedient and cooperative. This behavior is an allegory for the real world where the mother will guide the boy to a positive role in American society. 

 

This was a cartoon that was popularized during World War II for women that were working in factories. This represents another big step towards women's equality.