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01 The position of Women in 1865 - Coggle Diagram
01 The position of Women in 1865
despite America becoming more democratic, the right to vote had not been extended to women
women were playing a larger role in public affairs
they were active in church societies, Sunday schools and religious meetings
many women were part of the campaign to end slavery, being ardent abolitionists
women took an active role in the temperance movement and the campaign for prohibition
there was the development of a movement for women's suffrage
there was a link between social concerns and the wider political issue of suffrage - to promote change women needed the right to vote
women were heavily involved in charitable work - helping the poor, sharing knowledge on childcare and motherhood, campaigns for better working conditions etc
women were central to the movement for moral reform
only white, middle & upper class women had the time and position to support charitable work and campaigning
social attitudes were very conservative - many people believe in 'separate spheres' - the idea that men occupied the 'public sphere' and women the 'private' or 'domestic sphere'
women of standing were expected to be chaperoned in public
1837 - the first female Anti-Slavery Convention was held
first women's suffrage convention held in Seneca Falls, NY in 1848
individuals such as Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Candy Stanton promoted women's rights
new technology brought easier communication, greater literacy and better education for women
new interest in domesticity and the redefining of a women's role being in the home
greater prosperity meant more middle-class women had the time to commit to 'causes'
the majority of women were working class and struggled with the day-to-day realities of low-paid work and providing for the family
this focus on the family was extended into wider social issues - though still the 'caring profession' and bringing womenly values to those in need
many male abolitionists were uncomfortable with the association with the suffrage movement - they worried it would label them as 'feminists' and lose them support
During the Civil War there were 400 documented instances of women disguising themselves as men in order to fight
during the Civil War women experienced greater independence and financial freedom eg by running family businesses, through charity work
women experienced the full horrors of war, particularly in the south where huge areas were devastated - this was at odds with the image of genteel domestic activity
many women saw the granting of political rights to AAs and demanded the same for themselves - yet many men (and some women) were opposed
limited birth control meant families were large, which limited opportunities
the most common jobs were domestic service and in low paid manufacturing
women mainly worked in domestic service or low-skilled manufacturing, often experiencing low pay and poor conditions -