Reference no: EM133793374
Assignment:
In this module we'll be discussing women in the colonies and during the American Revolution. As the colonies became more established, women's roles within them became less flexible. Race, region, class, religion- all of these factors, along with myriad others, affected how women experienced these changes. For some, the colonial period was a time when they could take advantage of the necessities of "frontier" life and carve out new spaces for themselves. For others, the harsh nature of life in many facets of 17th and 18th century America was exacerbated by the limitations placed on women.
Part 1
For the first part of your discussion, draw from Through Women's Eyes Chapter 2 (including the primary sources). Answer one of the following questions. Be sure to use specific, cited evidence to support your points and explain in your own words.
- How did regional differences between New England and the Chesapeake/South shape women's lives and opportunities? Were the differences more significant than the similarities?
- How did different labor practices and gender ideologies shape English women's lives in comparison to Native American women's lives?
- Did European women in the American colonies have authority or autonomy within their communities? How was this shaped by ideas about gender? In what situations could women assert authority and why?
Part 2
How did a war for political and economic rights impact women who had very few of either? We'll be using letters from Abigail Adams and John Adams to look at the individual perspectives of some of the leaders of the revolution and to consider the role of gender, race, and class in revolutionary rhetoric and thought. Use Through Women's Eyes to provide historical context to your posts and responses.
Consider the following questions related to the Adams letters and answer one of them in your initial post. Be sure to use quotes from the letters and explain how they support your points.
We have certain ideas of how women behaved in the 18th century and how men and women related to one another. Do these letters reinforce the ideas you had before reading them or do they challenge your assumptions? Do you think John and Abigail Adams had a "typical" relationship? What evidence can you use to support your viewpoint? Explain how the evidence backs up your ideas.
What can Abigail Adams' letters to John and to Mercy Otis Warren tell us about the ways women related to their husbands versus how they related to one another?
Bringing in historical context from Through Women's Eyes, also answer one of the following questions. Consider how (or if) Abigail and John Adams' letters illustrate these points and keep in mind the longer context of colonial America. Be sure to use cited evidence from Through Women's Eyes:
- Why would women support the Revolution even if it meant no change to their own political rights or status?
- How did questions of loyalty and independence during the Revolutionary period differ for women based on race, class, and geographical location?
The American Revolution is held up as an example of freedom and equality versus tyranny. How did women experience this change? Is that an accurate characterization? Ultimately, as the revolution a radical change for American women or a continuation of the same circumstances under a different name?