Women During The Jacksonian Era

The Age of Jackson, from the 1820 's to the 1830 's, was a period of American history full of contradictions, especially in regard to democracy. The period saw an immense increase in voter participation, nominating committees replaced caucuses, and electors began to be popularly elected. Yet, all of these voting changes affected only a minority of the American people: White, Anglo-Saxon males. So, though one can easily tell that White, Anglo-Saxon males were gaining

In the early 1800s, women were second-class citizens. Women were expected to restrict their area of interest to the home and the family. Women were not encouraged to have a real education or pursue a professional career. Also, women were considered unequal to their husbands and all males legally and socially. The day-to day lives of men and women were quite clearly divided during the late 1800s. Woman in the late 1800s were treated inhumane because of society, class, and their rights.

In this short paper, we will speak about the role women had in society in the antebellum south and how it was affected.

Throughout most of history women generally have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities than men. Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant professions. Since early times women have been uniquely viewed as a creative source of human life. Historically, however, they have been considered not only intellectually inferior to men but also a major source of temptation and evil. Colonial women faced the harsh realities of childbirth, housework, and serving their husbands because it was tradition. The ways of the ‘old country’ culture was forced upon a new one, disallowing any room for new ideals. Although constrained by society Colonial women have had their part in shaping America.

The real cause for the disapproval was that Margaret and Eaton had been living together before Timberlake was killed. There were also rumors that Margaret had miscarried Eaton’s child before they were married, but it is hard to say if there is any truth in that.

Although there are many reason the Jacksonian period of 1824-1848 has not always been celebrated as the period of the “common man,” because it didn't live up to certain expectations such as women, Indians and slaves not having rights. Yet, the period should still be celebrated as the era of the “common man” because it lived up to its expectations by the significant impact it had on America's economic development, politics and reform movements.

The American Revolution, which happened during the last half of the eighteenth century, reshaped many aspects of life in America. The desire of the Founding Fathers to make America a republic played a very significant part in changing the role of women after the Revolution. The role of women as wives became more important as an emphasis on virtue was established; women were encouraged to find virtuous husbands and utilize their seductive nature to keep men virtuous. The roles of women as mothers also became more important in the republic, as patriarchy loosened and mothers were depended on to educate their children in the republican way. And finally, the role of women in politics was theoretically reduced due to the increasing demands of

The documents in “The Age of Jackson”, fall into two themes, government development and territory advancement. The government development is the theme of “John C. Calhoun Argues for the Right of States,1828” in document one, “Daniel Webster Lays Out His Nationalist Vision,1830” in the second document, “Andrew Jackson Condemns the Right of Nullification and Secession, 1832” in the third document, “Historian George Bancroft Assert His faith in the Wisdom of the people, 1835” in the fourth document, “John L. O’Sullivan, a Democratic Newspaperman, Venerates Democracy and the “Democratic Principle” in the sixth document, and “Michel Chevelier, a French Visitor, Marvels at the pageantry of Policies, 1839” in the seventh document. Moreover, the territory advance is the theme of “Lieutenant-Colonial Jose Enrique de la Pena Defends Mexico’s Actions against the Texans” in the fifth document, “John L. O’ Sullivan Defines “Manifest Destiny” in the eighth document, “Senator Thomas Hart Benton Justifies White Supremacy” in the ninth document, and “Senator John Dix, Advance into Mexico” in the tenth document.

Jackson, uneducated as he was, was a very shrewd man. Using the spoils system, he all but totally replaced the cabinet from the previous administration. By rewarding the men who had helped him reach his current state, he made it clear that the middleclass could improve their condition. The cabinet was no longer filled with wealthy men of status, but instead of more every day people.

Although the “Age of Jackson” wasn’t a time era, which brought forth a great political, social, or economic freedom and equality to the U.S., it did in fact put our country through a metamorphosis in our political lives of the nation. The start of a new presidency (Jackson’s presidency) was accompanied by huge numbers of Hickoryites (Jacksonian supporters) and official hopefuls. Many of these hopefuls were granted their desire of holding office, which is one of the changes brought into Washington by Andrew Jackson.

President Jackson, a man who most Americans assimilate to the twenty dollar bill. There is more, however, behind the man than his ironic appearance on the currency of the United States. The Jackson era was a time filled with political turmoil and gossip, economic booms and busts, social changes, diplomacy and many other events. The rise in “modern” style campaigning came to bring this audacious man into power at a time of only one political party. To many Americans we wish that there was only one party today to avoid these political rivalries that seem unparalleled. Actually there was actually more and possibly worse rivalries amongst the same political party. This in fact represent the united states as a whole. While seemingly united under an era with out much foreign intervention and driving the British back out in 1812, there was still division amongst the people. Their voices could be heard on the political and economic stage, but for the Jacksonian era no bigger voices were heard than those demanding social changes. In “The Jacksonian Promise: America” by Daniel Feller he successfully argues that a social revolution started concurrently with the era of Jacksonian policies that was the most responsible for America’s march towards progression. The use of the discussion forum is essential as there are to many social aspects to discuss compared to political or economic factors. The main three social factors that took charge into the era was abolitionist movements in the

Women have been fighting for equality since the early 1700’s. Abigail Adams was one of the first advocates to bring up the topic in Massachusetts on March 31st. (5-1) Abigail writes a letter in response to her husband John Adams. In her letter she tells her husband to “Remember the ladies” when drawing a new federal government. Another case of equality came about in the early 1800’s with Deborah Sampson. Sampson pretended to be a man named Robert Shutlif and was shot twice in the Revolutionary War. (5-9) At the time of the Revolutionary War women were consider to be inferior to men. Even the first ladies had a number of privileges they could not receive because they were female. The Revolutionary War increased people 's attention to political things and made issues of liberty and equality very important. During the time of the Revolutionary War people began rethinking of the rules for society which also led to some reconsideration of the relationship between men and women. In the North, where states abolished slavery after the Revolution, black women attained rights to marry, to have custody of their children, and to own their own property. Only on paper they had the same rights as white women. In the Southern states, lawmakers continued to reject enslaved women these simple human rights. But even in the South, a larger number of freed black women enjoyed the same privileges under the law as white women.

In the mid to late 1700's, the women of the United States of America had practically no rights. When they were married, the men represented the family, and the woman could not do anything without consulting the men. Women were expected to be housewives, to raise their children, and thinking of a job in a factory was a dream that was never thought impossible. But, as years passed, women such as Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Elizabeth Blackwell began to question why they were at home all day raising the children, and why they did not have jobs like the men. This happened between the years of 1776 and 1876, when the lives and status of Northern middle-class woman was changed forever. Women began to

John Eaton helped manage Andrew Jackson’s campaign before he became Jackson’s sectary of state. John Eaton suffered similar attacks to the attacks on Jacksons’ wife because he maries his mistress Peggy Margaret O’Neale. She accused of having an affair with Eaton when he was still the senator; many believed this was the reason her husband committed suicide. Due to this affair, Floride Calhoun led a movement to stop Eaton from becoming secretary of state. This caused a stigma against the Eatons as many of the Washington leaders did not associate with them at the time. Andrew Jackson was angry with the members of his cabinet especially his vice president John Calhoun because of the way they treated the Eatons because this where the same slanderous attacks his wife received. He forced all his cabinet members to resign

Women began to speak out against the laws that were deliberately set against them. Throughout this time period, women were denied the right to vote in all federal and most state held elections. Women