Chesapeake Vs New England Women Essay

During the time of 1600-1700’s women did not have the same rights as men in other words they did not have any rights at all. Women were treated very poorly with no type of respect. In the book called FIRST Generations WOMEN in COLONIAL AMERICA, by Carol Berkin it talked about various examples of how women were treated. Throughout my essay I will be explaining a few topics that were repeatedly in the book and I found important. Huge topic like gender roles, women population, and men being privilege. It was not easy for women around this time era, because they had to deal with a lot of hurtful things. Women were doing things we would not to today just so they can survive. Even though some women by becoming a mother meant to die soon.

Colonists came primarily to the Chesapeake region to increase their wealth. The vast variety of immigrants to the Chesapeake region was young men seeking economic opportunity (Doc C). The differences in the New England and Chesapeake’s primary motivations for settlement led to the divergent societies.

The New England colonies were formed by Protestants who were escaping England. They ‘planned’ their society. When they came over they brought entire families, not just random people. The Chesapeake region colonies were formed by whoever signed up. The reasons that resulted in the differences between the New England and the Chesapeake colonies were political, social, and economic.

During the Antebellum period, women were not seen as equal citizens compared to men. Social attitudes did change during this period and most women seemed to benefit from it. Women could receive a good education, and even find jobs although their pay was not equal to that of what men were getting ("Women in Antebellum America", 2017)

The book First Generations: Women in Colonial America written by Carol Berkin shares the power of control of a women’s role in the early part of American society was linked to her race and where she lived. In the book Berkin does a great job of giving examples of the life of the colonists. For example, we know that women white women had more freedom than slaves African Americans especially when it came to marriage. If a African American would want to get married to a white man it would be considered a “criminal offensive” ( Berkin 109).

The travelers from England that headed for the Chesapeake Bay were predominantly men, which led to an unbalanced society and lack of wives to promote a family-based culture. The passenger list for one boat had a sex ratio of sixty-four men to eleven women. Not only was there a radical imbalance, only four of the men were above forty, while only eight total were above thirty (Doc. C). That left fifty-six young males headed to a new land with only their self-government of a House

The evidence that these documents offer about the diversity women faced in colonial America is that a major role of our history was women; even if they were not properly recorded. Women did were not able to enjoy the same rights in colonial America that they can today; however they were still essential in the role of creating America. During the late 17th to 18th century, America had become a more patriarchal system, where men were recognized as the heads of household and were the lead in social and political power. In contrast, women in 17th to the 18th century America were generally relegated to the domestic sphere where they were expected to teach children about morals and spirituality run the household, weave, and cook .

Beginning in the late 1800’s, the daily life of a woman was very crucial and consistent. Starting from early morning until dusk, the women would care for children, clean the house, and provide any other services they could. Throughout the late 1800’s, women were treated unfairly due to the women assisting their families, caring for children, and being an American housewife.

Exports rose from 1.5 million pounds of tobacco annually in the 1630s to 40 million pounds in 1700.

In the early American colonies, women who had money, schooling, or special skills were sometimes able to hold the upper hand in their household. Unfortunately, most women in the patriarchal family, did not have as many rights. They were to perform different everyday jobs and were rightfully controlled by

Prior to colonization, women were builders, warriors, farmers and craftswomen. A woman was in charge of gathering materials and building homes. They also made tools and weapons that her husband would use for hunting. Women were well known for their craft work, played a significant role in healing and had the responsibility for taking care of religious items. Their strength was what allowed the tribes to survive. Although women did not have traditional political power, they did have the right to divorce and if her husband did not meet her needs, he could find himself homeless. On the contrary, colonial women were expected to help the men in physical labor tasks so that her family could survive. As time progressed, colonial women took on traditional roles which consisted of house and farm work and raising her children. The men now dominated the women and he chose how many children they would have. She did not have the right to vote and her belongings also belonged to her husband.

The colonial woman has often been imagined as a demure person, dressed in long skirt,apron and bonnet, toiling away at the spinning wheel, while tending to the stew at the hearth. In reality, the women of the early settlements of the United States were much more influential, strong and vital to the existence of the colonies. Her role,however, has shifted as the needs of the times dictated.

I want to start by sharing that I was born overseas, therefore, they way I would probably see women in US History in the colonial period would probably be quite different from someone who was born in the United States.

Until more recent scholarly attention in the field of Women’s Studies, the economic history of the colonial United States was almost entirely given from a male perspective. Women in the early United States played a variety of roles in the formation of the new nation, but often times, these roles were dependent on race, class, and geographical distinctions. Despite the differences, however, overarching patterns existed, reflecting a common public attitude toward women at the time. Economic opportunities and gender labor division, often informed by cultural values, for women differed depending on the colony and its individual demands and local customs. In some colonies, the labor value of European women was worth more in the New World than

“ Massachusetts Bay colony was a man’s world”(History of American Women). Women were not allowed many civil rights or liberties, which men were awarded. Women could not attend town meetings, or vote in the churches elections, even the sermons were favored by the male supremacy (History of American Women). It was preached that the soul had two parts: “the immortal masculine half, and the mortal femine half” ( History of American Women).