Quizlet: What Was Republican Motherhood?

Republican Motherhood is an 18th-century term that referred to the belief that women should raise their children to uphold ideals of republicanism and make them perfect citizens. This ideology was present in the emerging United States before, during, and after the American Revolution. It was an unspoken movement through which women used their influence in domestic and familial spheres to teach their children. The first American female academies were founded in the 1790s, and this idea of an educated woman became known as “Republican Motherhood”.

The idea of Republican Motherhood elevated the role of women and gave them the prestigious role of special keepers of the nation. It emphasized that a responsible, well-educated mother educated and raised her sons to become good political leaders. This belief did not exist in such a way before the Revolution.

The first American female academies were founded in the late 1700s, and the idea of Republican Motherhood was based on the belief that women should become educated to teach their children so the republic would succeed. This belief did not exist in such a way before the Revolution.

The influence of Republican Motherhood shaped future generations and created the very people that would help to tear down societal barriers. It was an ideology that held women played an indispensable role in the new nation by training future citizens. The first American female academies were founded in the 1790s, and the concept of “Republican Motherhood” continues to be studied and understood today.