Sentiments of an American Woman - Esther Reed The Ladies Association of Philadelphia PDF

Preview

Summary

Assigned readings and quiz answers for Professor Olwell's HIS 315 Class...

Description

Sentiments of an American Woman By: Esther Reed (1780) -Wife of Penn. Gov. James Reed -Says women want and could fight in the war but men wont let them -She tries to show that women in society do make meaningful contributions and hopefully get men to recognize their role in society more. -similar to Abigail Adams letters to her husband about not only doing away with the king of the governmnet but the king of the household as well (doing away with coverture and allowing the relationship between man and woman in a family to be more equal) -Combats the idea that patriotism and virtue is exclusive to men which was thought bc fighting was a main way of proving your republican virtue and since women were not allowed to fight they must not have it. But ER says that women can be patriots too if men just let them have the chance to contribute (“they aspire to render themselves more readily useful”) -She uses examples of historical heroic women such as Joan of Arc and biblical women like Deborah, Judith, and Esther to show that women can do the things she is saying -She also references famous women rulers (Marie, Catharine, Batilda, Elizabeth -She says a man cannot call himself a good citizen while he refuses to recognize the contributions women make -She says women can contribute in a major way by giving up things that are vanity related and instead using the money to help fund the soldiers and the war effort. Also by sewing and making clothes/uniforms for soldiers The Ladies’ Association of Philadelphia (1780)

-ER plan for women in the republic -Women will voluntarily donate what they can to women in each state deemed the treasuress -Next, when the sum is large enough the treasuress will give them sum to the wife of the president/governor of the state who is known as the Treasuress-General of the State -Next, the Treassuress General will send the money to Martha Washington and if she is unavailable then the money would be given straight to George -George will then decide how best the money should be spent -Finally, if women who sent offerings choose so they can have their name recorded so that in the event that a list of contributors is published she will be given credit -Washington appreciates the money but just wishes that it would be given directly to him...