women rights

women rights

By Rashena Edwards

Rights for women

In the beginning of the 1800s, women had many duties at home and in the church, but they had very little political or economic power. They were not allowed to vote,they could not hold any form of government office, and they had few professional opportunities for work. Married women were seen as dependent on and under the control of their husbands. They were unable to own property or make any sort of legal contracts, and in the case of a separation or divorce, the father retained custody of the children. As the 1800s progressed, however, more women became empowered.

As women joined the ranks of the social reformers, working for the benefit of others, they began to see the need for reform and equality for themselves as well. The fight for women’s rights began mainly with the abolitionist movement. In the 1830s, many women were involved with the fight against slavery. Women remained in the background, however, seen as dependents, not as independent thinkers and leaders.

​During the early and the mid-1800s, opportunities for women began to improve. Some schools for women were “finishing schools” whose purpose was to teach women social graces to prepare them for entry into upper classes society. Founded by Emma Willard in 1821, New York’s Troy Female Seminary was the first school in the United States to provide women with an academic program similar to men. In 1837, at a national women’s antislavery convention, it was decided that women should be allowed to give speeches to mixed gender audiences; their voices should be heard by men and women alike. The abolition movement was split on the idea: Could women really be entrusted with the power to tell men how to think? People such as Sarah and Angelina Grimké, powerful abolitionists in their own right, believed so. When church leaders expressed shock and outrage over Angelina’s lecture to a mixed audience, her sister spoke up and published a pamphlet touting the idea that men and women should not be treated differently and that women deserved equal rights.

Multiple Choice

what could women not do in the 1800's

• vote

• own land

• keep money

• all of above

Multiple Choice

In the 1800"s middle-class women in american had

• many educational opportunities

• had chances to stay home

• many job opportunities

• few job opportunities

Multiple Choice

Married women were seen as

• independent women that takes control

• dependent on and under the control of their husbands.

• Thinkers

Multiple Choice

''Could women really be entrusted with the power to tell men how to think?'' Who believed so in their own right's?

• Sarah

• Angelina Grimké,

• Sarah and Angelina Grimké,

• Emma Willard

Open Ended

what did Sarah do When the church leaders expressed shock and outrage over Angelina’s lecture to a mixed audience..?

Open Ended

Married women were seen as dependent on and under the control of their husbands. They were unable to....?

Open Ended

what was the first school in the United States to provide women with an academic program similar to men.

Multiple Choice

who found the New York’s Troy Female Seminary school

• Emma Willard

• Harriet Tubman

Multiple Choice

In 1837, at a national women’s antislavery convention, what was decided

• women should be allowed to give speeches to mixed gender audiences

• their voices should be heard by men and women alike.

• both