Some believed that the service men paid during the Revolutionary War, protecting the rights of the people of America, would be forgotten since the war was so long. They said that, while raiding their sons, a Republican mother should "[watch] the gradual openings of their minds" and teach them about the values the American soldiers defended and thus prepare him to be fit for the next generation of men (Document C).
2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
They were presented as vital to the family, saying that the men couldn't get jobs "without the assistance of the female members of the community" (Document B). However, they were normally confined to the house, as many people believed their duties lay strictly in the home and that it would be the place she could best serve the country, and they believed that nature dictated that home was her "appropriate and appointed sphere of action" (Document A).
3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood as a stage in the process of women's socialization?
They were encouraged to be educated in English and literature, and to be knowledgeable about republicanism, to be able to raise their sons properly and be the "stewards and guardians of their husbands' property." As they were the ones who would raise their children and educate them well about values, they were given more respect since the next generation of men depended on them. Their supposed role was in the home, which was considered the "cradle of the human race," where they bolstered the population with educated sons (Document A).
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| Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons; painted by Charles Willson Peale in 1789 |
1. Describe the setting.
There is a woman on a sofa with her two young sons sitting on her lap / near her. The room is lit and it looks as if they're posing for a picture.
2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why? How does the woman look? How is she "republican" rather than aristocratic?
Mary Gibson Tilghman is at the center of the portrait because she's the main subject of the piece, and she's being presented as a mother to her two young sons. She looks proud to be a mother, with a small smile. She doesn't appear to be dressed as a wealthy aristocrat would; instead, she is dressed modestly.
3. What values do her sons exhibit?
They both have good posture and appear to be well behaved. Like their mother, they look proud, but are dressed in simpler clothes.
4. Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilghman's arm?
It is placed across her younger son's lap, holding him back gently. It shows the role of women to bring up their sons to be responsible and well-behaved.
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