Women DBQ

Amy Lee
2/3/14
DBQ Question During the period of 1890 to 1925, new political and economic opportunities arose for women because the cultural assumptions about women's roles outside of the home were progressive and modern. Leaders, such as Susan B. Anthony, were instrumental in implementing these changes. Women were viewed as becoming wiser, stronger, and better able to protect themselves and their children. This cultural shift which began with this time period allowed for expansion of the traditional roles and new roles for women. The industrial era was a time of industrial and economic growth. Document E indicates that women were often the main workers in factories due to low wages and extended hours that employers were legally allowed to demand. Women often generated their own organizations like the Ladies Garment Workers Union. This placed the focus on women's workers rights. Movements for female workers led to an improved comprehension of the power and importance women can acquire. The women's movement expanded the roles women played beyond domestic duties during the first decade of the twentieth century. Document C indicated that in order for women to take a more active role in administrative and civic duties, they must have the right to vote. Document A presented that with advancing technology and changing way of life, middle class women had unprecedented opportunities to pursues trades, vocations, and professions they were previously excluded from performing. Due to advances in improvement in household methods, middle class women were able to become more politically active including advocating for women's suffrage. Document H showed that they were not idle homemakers who were entirely dependent on men because they did not have a job, they had assumed the position of community leaders. The suffrage movement ended with the passage of the 19th amendment in 1916 which allowed women the right to vote. The growth of female independence began with underpaid workers and was taken up by the middle class. World War I furthered economic opportunity for most women. Women took over jobs that were never acceptable for females during peacetime. Document G showed that this advancement extended to skilled trades such as ship building for both white and African-American women. When the veterans returned, women left the skilled and physical jobs they had during the war. The 1920's reopened a women's movement, this time concerning the liberation of women completely from their traditional roles. Thoughts of women only being mothers were disregarded. The way females were perceived changed with some women establishing themselves as independent fiscally and politically. The women's movement, that developed in the 1890's through the 1920s, changed America significantly. It began with women entering the workforce and joining together for their workers rights. It continued with the contribution of middle class women in social issues and reform and continued with a new workforce during World War I. It finished with economically independent women in the 20's. Economic opportunities opened the chance for women to become politically active and change how America viewed women. As the rising level of income for women increased, the opportunitiesd for women did likewise.