Republican Motherhood

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

After the Revolutionary War people began to believe that women should have a suitable education so that they could educate their sons in the principles of liberty and government (Doc B).  It was also believed that women should learn to write, simple math, and a knowledge of the English language (Doc B).

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

Republican Motherhood increased the respect and recognition of women and their role in society.  Because of their role in the home, women are responsible for the future of the country, as they are the ones who bring up the children and educate them on morals and society (Doc D).  Home also became the place many men thought they could do the most good, to ensure that their children are brought up correctly, as home is “’nursery of the future man and of the undying spirit’; and woman is the nurse and the educator” (Doc A).

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

Women were not expected to leave the house much, but they were supposed to make the home as welcome as possible and to send forth well educated and happy men from it.  While their actual physical presence was not meant to be felt in society, their influence was meant to be of upmost importance (Doc D).

This portrait is set in a house on a couch.  The mother, Mary Gibson Tilghman is in the center of the portrait, and she is well dressed and dressed conservatively, but not flamboyantly. 
She has a republican look in her homeliness without extravagance.  Her sons appear to be well dressed and they have good posture, implying that they may have good manners.  Her arms are positioned around the younger child, which shows her care and affection for her son.