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Women In Antebellum Reform Wheeling Ili Ginzberg Summary

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Ginzberg, Lori D. Women in Antebellum Reform Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson, INC. 2000 Thesis: Ginzberg argues that women of the Antebellum-era, particularly, those that were white and middle-class, believed that is was their moral and civic duty to aid those less "fortunate" (economically or spiritually) than themselves, and by doing so, they were serving a purpose in this life. Themes: 1. One of the main themes behind Ginzberg's book is how women used religion as a means to spread their political and theological ideals. Women were not traditionally allowed in the "public sphere" because it could be damaging to their reputations, but if they were doing the Lord's work, it was an excusable reason to step out of their kitchens and into the …show more content…

She includes illustrations and photos depicting various political cartoons, petitions, artifacts, and engravings between pages 80 and 81. In her preface she first introduces the limitation of having white, middle-class women reformers. Chapter one, The Roots of Reform, introduces us to how women, empowered by the church first start exploring various charitable forms of outreach, the effect of the Second Great Awakening, and the first leading women; such as Juliana Tappen and Maria Weston Chapman. Chapter two, Charity and the Relations of Class, explores the middle -and upper-class women's need to perform charity. (Again tying in religion) The poor merely existing as a way for the wealthy to earn their way into heaven. We see the invention of the poor house, and how to define who was the "worthy poor." We see the invention of the Asylum as well as early talks of abolitionism. Chapter three, "Drinks, Sex, Crime, and Insanity", introduces the first major movement of the antebellum era, temperance, and the role alcohol played in the antebellum life. We see the emergence of Susan B. Anthony. This is the chapter where we begin to see more radical action from women, and some earlier reformers step away because they are scared of how far the movements are going. These movements are beginning to keep the women out of the kitchen just a little too long. Women begin to have more say, and do more than just simply make speeches and hand out pamphlets. Chapter four, Antislavery, is where we see the biggest divides in the reform movement. Women were divided on issues such as colonization, ending slavery, or should they even be involved at all. Many women wanted to be abolitionists, but did not want to associate with black people. Chapter five: Women's Rights, explores the earliest movements in the women's right cause. We see the effects of the Seneca

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