Presentation Transcript

1. The Women’s Movement

   8.4
2. Objectives Identify the limits faced by American women in the early 1800s Trace the development of the women’s movement Describe the Seneca Falls Convention and its effects
3. Key Parts Women Work for Change Women Begin the Fight for Rights Women Convene in Seneca Falls
4. Introduction Read Section 8.4 Answer questions #4&5 on page 290.
5. Women Work for Change Women struggled in the early 1800s, American women lacked many basic legal and economic rights. Ex. Could not hold property, vote, or hold any kind of political office. Also there were no formal educational opportunities for women during this time.
6. Cont. One way that women begin to step into the light is when they begin to lead reform efforts. Ex. Dorthea Dix, Catharine Beecher, Emma Willard, and Elizabeth Blackwell. During the 1820-30s women begin to enter the industrial workplace. This is a big step because most women stayed at home and took care of daily tasks and chores around the house.
7. Women Begin to Fight for Rights Women began their fight with the premise that they were treated very nearly the same as slaves. This launched the women’s movement for greater rights and opportunities for women. Women’s rights reformers began to publish their ideas in pamphlets and books. One of these women was the Transcendentalist Margaret Fuller.
8. Cont. She believed that what women needed was not personal power but “as a nature to grow as an intellect to discern, as a soul to live freely and unimpeded, to unfold such powers as were given her.” The Grimke’ sisters also published their ideas on women’s rights. In the Letter on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Women, Sarah Grimke’ argued that God made men and women equal and that therefore they should be treated equally.
9. Cont.. The women who spoke up for full equality were a small minority. Even among abolitionists there was disagreement about how much public leadership women should take. Some agreed women should be in business meetings and some did not. Two who did were Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and would later take a dramatic step to advance women’s rights.
10. Women Convene in Seneca Falls In 1848, Mott and Stanton helped organize the nation’s first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. (Seneca Falls Conv.) This meeting attracted hundreds of men and women. Only a couple concrete improvements in women’s rights occurred, however it marked the beginning of the women’s movement in the United States.
11. Cont. The convention inspired generations of young women. One of which was Amelia Bloomer, who published “The Lily,” which advocated equality of women in all things, including the right to wear pants instead of just dresses. Another who drew inspiration was Susan B. Anthony, she was accredited for gaining women the right to vote.
12. Cont In 1848 the state of New York passed a law called the Married Women’s Property Act. This took 12 years to pass and guaranteed many property rights for women. It was later amended to make it more comprehensive.