Republican Motherhood Blog

Part 1:

 The Artist and His Family by James Peale (1795)

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

Since nearly all of the men had gone off to fight in the war, the traditional "head" of the family was absent, and so was not able to impress responsibilities and virtues upon the children. This role now fell to the mother in his stead. As their contribution to the war effort, women at this time were expected to raise "...good citizens, just, humane, and enlightened legislators" (document A). While they largely had the responsibility of raising and educating the children beforehand as well, the role of women as heads of the family did not surface until all the fathers were not able to fill that role.

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

As a result of their new and important role as the shapers of future society, young women began to receive formal educations more commonly, so as to impress that knowledge onto their children. As vocalized by Benyamin Rush, "...female education should be accommodated to the state of society, manners, and government..." (document B). They were expected to have knowledge of the English language, being able to read and write, as well as understand basic arithmetic and some geography and history as well.

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

This new vision of women not only being housewives, caring for the children and cleaning the domicile, but also being knowledgeable of the world and passing that knowledge on to further generations, was likely the first major step in the gender equality movement. Men and women alike, society even began to understand that women were not inferior to men, as many had believed previously, just that they were not offered the same opportunities as men. When they were offered some similar opportunities, they were able to impact society in a way no one previously thought possible. In the words of Jonathan F. Stearns, "On you, ladies, depends in most important degree, the destiny of our country" (document D).

Part 2:

 

Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons, Charles Willson Peale

 1. Describe the setting.

The setting is in the home, portraying the mother in her traditional role as caretaker, posing with the children and, note, without the husband. It appears to be a fairly upper class family, and was painted around 1789, when the mentality of women's role in the home was beginning to change.

2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why? How does the women look? How is she "republican" rather than aristocratic?

The mother, Mary Gibson Tilghman in this case, takes the central focal point in this painting. She is portrayed as not only proper and distinguished, but also seemingly happy to be with her children. In this way, she is more republican than more aristocratic women appeared in previous portraits; she is reacting positively to the greater recognition and importance of women in society.

3. What values do her sons exhibit?

The children in this portrait appear very prim and proper as well, not only in their dress and manner, but also due to the fact that they are sitting still and posing for a portrait, which many boys their age may have been hard-pressed to do. This likely reflects the responsible and virtuous characteristics their mother has impressed upon them.

4. In there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?

The mother's arm in this portrayal of familial life at the time is placed around her younger child, showing affection by embracing him, but also restraining him for the portrait. This shows that Republican mothers at the time needed to balance the warmth and tenderness of a maternal role with the strict and commanding demeanor of the paternal role they had to fill.