Early American Women

Final Paper Topic: While women once had few life options beyond isolation in the domestic sphere, what historical developments presented new opportunities for women in society? I. Introduction A. This paper will be written in essay form to explore historical developments which presented new opportunities to women. In our history women traditionally led and managed a domestic lifestyle that kept them in the home serving and caring for the family. Over the years, since the founding of our great nation the roles of women have changed quite dramatically. From the isolation of domestic lifestyles and traditions, to the leaders in businesses and politics, the role of women has significantly shown astonishing progress. In this paper I will
Topic Sentence #2: The first major step towards autonomy for women in American history was the establishment of the Daughters of Liberty. A. Supporting Evidence: “Emerging out of the patriotic enthusiasm of the 1760s and 1770s, Daughters of Liberty supported the American revolutionary cause by joining boycotts against British goods. Some colonial women demonstrated their support for the boycott by spinning wool and flax, others by forming anti-tea leagues” (Norton, Liberty’s Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800, (1980).

B. The establishment of the Daughters of Liberty emerged out of the patriotic enthusiasm of the 1760s and 1770s.

C. So What: The meetings made a political statement by focusing attention on the need for frugality and industry in colonial households and by providing a way for American women to contribute to the struggle against Britain.

III. Topic Sentence #3: World War II served as a major pivotal point in the professions that women held.

A. Supporting Evidence: “Approximately 1,600,000 women joined the workforce between 1914 and 1918 in Government departments, public transport, the post office, as clerks in business, as land workers and in factories, especially in the dangerous munitions factories, which were employing 950,000 women by Armistice Day (as compared to 700,000 in Germany)”(Firstworldwar.com,
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