Republican Motherhood Blog

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?
The Revolutionary War transformed housewifery to Republican Motherhood because during the Revolution women were expected to be not only good wives, mothers and homemakers, but also convey to their children the importance of being good citizens and "train up good citizens, just, humane, and enlightened legislators" (Document A). Benjamin Rush also states that women should be educated to instruct their sons in the principles of liberty and government. Without the Revolutionary War there wouldn't have been all this talk about liberty and being good citizens, so the Revolutionary War really had a great influence over this transformation.

2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
The consequences of Republican Motherhood on women was that although women were given educations for the purpose of educating their children (Document B), they were still restrained to the home (Document A). In Document B, Benjamin Rush supports the education of women in order for them to teach their sons. Also Jonathan F. Stearns believes that the destiny of the United States is on the women. This statement contains high expectations for womenkind, which could have inspired women to make sure they were teaching as best they could. However, In Document A Mrs. A.J. Graves states that home is a woman's appropriate sphere, and that her domestic duties are superior to all other duties. Although the women did get education and a somewhat higher status, they were still looked upon as homemakers and were under lots of pressure to teach republican ideas.

3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of woman's socialization?
The significance of Republican Motherhood on the process of woman's socialization was that women were expected to teach their children republican ideas, and this gave them a role in society other than being a housewife. Republican Motherhood inspired many women to think that "the reformation of a world is in your power" (Document C). This movement brought women together and gave them an identity and purpose.

1. Describe the setting.

This portrait is of Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons, done by Charles Wilson Peale in 1789. The setting of this picture is in America after the American revolution. A mother holds her two young boys on her lap, and it looks as though the family is relatively upper class based on the fact they could afford to have a portrait done and the class of all their clothes.

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

Mary Gibson Tilghman is sitting in the middle of the portrait, as the focal point. She looks like a figure of authority, not just a weak woman. She is dressed nicely, but not in the overdone, showy way the aristocracy did. She is "republican" rather than aristocratic because she isn't showing off her wealth and stature, but instead demands attention because of how plain yet graceful she looks.

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

Her sons are both sitting for a portrait, which says a lot because it takes a lot of sitting still to get a portrait done, and is extremely difficult for small children to do so. Both of the children are also dressed well; not underdressed and shabby, but not overdressed and gaudy. 

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

There is a significance because her arm is placed on the lap of her child, somewhat restraining him from reaching out to his brother. She is a mother that demands that her children obey her, and does not let them misbehave. This shows that she has a role as a Republican Mother and is teaching her children how to act in society.