Republican Motherhood Blog

1. What role did the Revolutionary War play in the transformation of housewifery to Republican Motherhood?

The Revolutionary War changed the role of mothers to be someone who was educated in things like writing, geography, and math to help correct her children. The role of motherhood also changed so that it was her raising her children to have values about liberty.

2. What were the consequences of Republican Motherhood on women?
The consequences were that women now had more respect because everyone saw that it was through women that society and values were passed onto the future generations. Women were seen as the foundation of society from that point on.

3. What is the significance of the ideology of Republican Motherhood?
The significance is that women were there to be homebodies. They were the ones who raised their children, which was an important part of society, so they were respected for it, so their influence was important even though they weren't.

Mary Gibson Tilghman and her sons by Charles Willson Peale(click hyperlink for source)

1. What is the setting?
The setting is in a house on a sofa.

2. Who serves at the center of the portrait and why? How does the woman look? How is she "republican" rather than aristocratic?
The mother serves as the center of the portrait because she is the center of the household. She is the one that raises the children. She looks very elegant, but also caring and calm. She's more "republican" than aristocratic because even though she does seem elegant and is the center of the portrait, she is with the children and it is clear that they are her main concern.

3. What values do her sons exhibit?
The sons exhibit good morals because they are both dressed nicely. The older of the two sons also seems like he's educated because he has the bird held in his hands in a delicate fashion, so he knows how to hold a bird without harming it(if it's not dead, which is always an option...) while still showing its wings.

4. Is there a significance to the position of Mrs. Tilgham's arm?
Yes because Mrs. Tilgham's arm is positioned so that it is protecting her younger son, which is a symbol of love and protection. It also shows that her priorities are towards her children.