Why Did Revolutionary America See Both Improvements And Limitations

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1. How did revolutionary America see both improvements and limitations in women’s roles and rights? Revolutionary America saw improvements and limitations in women's roles and rights through various methods. One of the common limitations in women's rights is the topic of gender versus power. In most cases, the husband had legal authority over their wives, ultimately considering the women to be unfit for citizenship. Another limitation is the lack in political participation given to women, and their inability to have suffrage, though, this was overruled in the 19th Amendment. Women, such as Esther Reed and Sarah Franklin Bache contributed to the struggle for independence by creating the ‘Ladies’ Association,’ which was an organization that …show more content…

Republican Motherhood was a terminology used to describe the role that women had in regard to education. Mothers, or the general woman, had the position to educate the future citizens, therefore being enlightened with partial political wisdom themselves. Women received various educational opportunities, so they could instruct their sons in the principles of liberty and government, though being denied direct involvement. This idea encouraged a notion of “companionate” marriage, which was system of marriage that relied on affection and mutual dependency rather than male authority. Though male dominance was a significant setback in the roles and rights of women, they were able to find their way around it and gain freedom of knowledge and independence in marriage. 2. How did the Revolution diminish the freedoms of both Loyalists and Native …show more content…

Due to the declaration of the nations independence there was an increase in slaves being brought and born in America, resulting in about one-fifth of the population to be slaves. Several revolutionaries believed that slavery for blacks, in part, would mean freedom for whites. Due to this widespread in slavery, self-government became an evident need. In 1802 the slave trade became the focus of public debate, and was technically outlawed, but that did not stop slave trade from continuing. The start of ‘freedom petitions,’ as a symbol for liberty, were presented in courts and legislatures. Though, by referring to the ideas of liberty and freedom by the Revolution, blacks were able to redefine American freedom as having the liberty to demand their rights, and by defining freedom as