Blog #5: Republican Motherhood

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood? 
      The Revolutionary War changed peoples views of housewifery in a sense that women were now expected to raise the future men of America. A Republican Mother shows her patriotism by teaching her sons about it. Therefore, it is purely is the hands of women to nature her children with patriotic values, while their husbands went off to fight in the war. 

2. What were the Consequences of the Republican Motherhood on women?
  • Women had to stay home and take care of their children and were confined to their domestic spheres
  • They gained a more vast knowledge of the world by having more of a literature background 
  • Women must instill good Christian morals in the children      

3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women's socialization? 
         Before this time, women were never educated, now they had a right to be properly educated, so they can properly educate their children. It was a step in the right direction for women's rights by giving them the control of the domestic livelihood. 

Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons by Charles Willson Peale (1789) 



1. Describe the setting
      This portrait is of Mary Gibson Tilghman with one of her sons in her lap, who is dressed up in a dress with long hair, as was the style of that time period. Her and both her sons are sitting on pink couch and the three of them have small smiles on their faces. 

2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why? How does the women look? How is she "republican" rather than aristocratic? 
       The center of this picture is Mrs. Tilghmam because she is a republican mother, she is the center of her sons' world, and she is the commanding figure. She is dressed fashionably but not overly prideful in her image. her republicanism is reflected in her simplicity, and yet, elegance of her clothing. 

3. What values do her sons exhibit? 
      Her sons reflect her values.  They are also dressed simply, and neatly. They are calm and they are able to sit still while this picture was being painted, which shows their value for calmness and obedience.        

4. Is there significance to the position of Mrs. Tilgham's arm? 
       The significance of her arm positioning is seen in that it rests reassuringly on her wilder, younger  child while at the same time restraining him and inadvertently showing him how to act in republican society. She is asserting her dominance with her restraining hand. Since her hand is not resting on the other son it shows that he has grown and learned how to properly act. 

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