Republican Motherhood

Republican Motherhood

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

• women refused to be under the tyrannical government of Britain
• wanted to keep memory of why they fought the revolution in the first place
• wanted to teach their children about government
• (DOC C)

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

• pressure
• had more jobs
• could be blamed for the downfall of American society
• (DOC D)

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

• women became important outside of their homes
• had to make social life more elegant by being charming
• (DOC D)
• led to development of women being greater contributors to our society

1. Describe the setting

• on a couch
• art on wall
• mother and two children

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 is at the center
• she is responsible for the children
• the mother has a greater influence on her children's lives because of republican motherhood
• she is not dressed as much, because that would look more aristocratic

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

• one son is dressed plainly, while the other one is dressed like an aristocrat
• the son who looks more republican-like is pointing at the aristocratic son, which might show superiority or accusation

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

• Her arms seem to be caring for the republican-like son rather than the aristocratic one
• this might show that she is protecting her son from the other one

Blog #4- "Rethinking the Revolution"

"Rethinking the Revolution"-5 things I learned

1. Washington revised or left out certain parts of his role in the French and Indian War that he didn't want people to know about.

2. even though The paintings of the American Revolution have wartime feelings and themes, none have actually depicted a battle scene.

3. There was also internal fighting within the groups- the Loyalists, Tories, Whigs, and others often fought between each other (especially in the South).

4. When comparing the population and number deaths of Americans during the Revolution and the Civil War, a higher percentage of people actually dies during the Revolutionary War.

5. Within a decade of the American Revolution, almost every member of its generation had died. This explains how the next generation saw each war in different lights, both are technically fought for Democracy.

LAD #3: Declaration of Independence

Summarize the Declaration of Independence in 3 parts: 1. Democratic principles, 2. List a handful of grievances, and 3. The conclusion.

1. Democratic principles

• life
• liberty
• the pursuit of happiness
• the right to overthrow a corrupt government

 2. Grievances

• King George III repeatedly put down many representative houses for opposing his policies
• he also forcefully quartered soldiers upon the colonists
• he also cut off trade

3. Conclusions

• denounced English government
• declared that colonists are allowed to declare war, negotiate peace, trade, etc
• declared that they were free colonists

LAD # 2: The Zenger Trial

1. Who was John Peter Zenger?

• German, moved to New York in 1710 to apprentice for William Bradford
• began to publish a newspaper to voice opposition to colonial governor William Cosby

 2. What was the controversy over his charges?

• when he was charged with seditious libel for writing many defamatory things about the governor, he was put on trial
• during the trial, the prosecution said that the reason why he should be convicted was because he decided to publish those defamatory stories
• this challenges the freedom of speech, which is why it's controversial
• Zenger's lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, said that because the stories were true, it was not libel
• "Hamilton established the precedent that a statement, even if defamatory, is not libelous if it can be proved, thus affirming freedom of the press in America." (http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/zenger/)

3. What influence did his case have on American governmental tradition?

• affirmed freedom of the press
• " set a precedent against judicial tyranny in libel suits." (http://historybuff.com/library/refzenger.html)

4. What is the lasting significance of his trial? Explain.

set many precedents

let people speak/publish without fear of being prosecuted

changed the colonies by letting people publish their opinions

LAD #1

LAD #1: Mayflower Compact & Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

1) What concepts are included in the Mayflower Compact?

• the people who signed it agreed to work together and to follow the laws/regualtions set by the government
• beginnings of a democratic government in the colonies
• government would conserve the "good" of the colonies
• government gets it's power from the consent of the people

2) How does the Mayflower Compact reflect an attachment to both the "Old" and "New" worlds?

• Old World
• loyal to Sovereign King James of Great Britain
• highly respected England
• some government ideals based on 'Old World' British laws
• New World
• separate-bodied society
• wanted fair government, laws determined by people (democratic)
• wanted to create a new society (but still loyal to the British people)

3) How did the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut differ from the Mayflower Compact?

• Fundamental Orders were more specific
• permanent form of government
• set up structure and distribution of power
• 'Official' document to set up an 'official' government
• didn't mention the British crown

4) What prompted the colonists of Connecticut to take this approach to government, i.e.: use of a written Constitution?

• need of stronger government
• want of permanent and unified government
• word of god, wanted to create an orderly government under god

5) In what significant way(s) does the Fundamental Orders reflect a fear of and safeguard against the usurping of power by one person or a chosen few?

• laws showed that governmental positions were based on popular sovereignty
• yearly votes, limited Magistrates to one year
• set up on a democratic basis
• not allowed for one person or a small group of people to seize power

Mayflower Compact Signing

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

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