Question

AP US History question:

Discuss the changing ideals of American womanhood between the American Revolution and the outbreak of the Civil War. What factors fostered the emergence of “republican motherhood” and the “cult of domesticity”? Assess the extent to which these ideals influenced the lives of women during this period. In your answer be sure to consider issues of race and class.

Answer 1

The role of women (specifically white women) changed dramatically during this time in the United States because production moved largely out of the house and into factories, meaning women stopped being producers and became consumers. Socially, this meant that women gained slightly more independence.