The Reception of Mary Wollstonecraft in Early America

Summary

The video explores the reception of Mary Wollstonecraft's 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman' in early America, highlighting the struggle for women's rights in a young nation. Despite the optimism following the American Revolution, women faced increasing restrictions, with key figures like Abigail Adams advocating for women's inclusion in government. Wollstonecraft's ideas on education, political representation, and financial independence for women were groundbreaking but met with backlash, particularly after her personal scandals were revealed posthumously. Her work influenced future feminist movements, eventually being embraced during the women's rights campaign in 1847, laying the foundation for the fight for gender equality.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mary Wollstonecraft's *Vindication of the Rights of Woman* was written in 1792, during a time of political upheaval in America and the rise of democratic ideals globally.
• 😀 Women had gained freedoms during the American Revolution but were expected to return to traditional roles in the home after the war, a contrast to their hopes for expanded rights.
• 😀 Despite Abigail Adams urging John Adams to 'remember the ladies,' the Founding Fathers were unwilling to grant women any significant political rights.
• 😀 The French Revolution (1789) briefly inspired hope for global democracy, but the Reign of Terror (1793) caused fear and backlash in America, particularly affecting those who supported it, like Wollstonecraft.
• 😀 After her death in 1797, Wollstonecraft's reputation was damaged by the publication of a biography revealing her personal struggles, which led to the dismissal of her intellectual contributions by many.
• 😀 Wollstonecraft's *Vindication of the Rights of Woman* called for better education, political representation, and financial independence for women, but was often misinterpreted as advocating for women to abandon their domestic duties.
• 😀 Despite initial sympathy for Wollstonecraft's work, the scandal surrounding her personal life overshadowed the more radical ideas of her feminist philosophy.
• 😀 In 1800, during the presidential election, Federalist magazines used Wollstonecraft's past to attack Thomas Jefferson, associating him with the perceived moral corruption of the French Revolution.
• 😀 The concept of the 'republican mother' emerged as a conservative backlash against Wollstonecraft's ideas, reinforcing women's roles in the home as essential for raising future Republican leaders.
• 😀 Wollstonecraft's influence on the women's rights movement was not fully realized until the mid-19th century when activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton resurrected her work during the Seneca Falls Convention in 1847.
• 😀 Although Wollstonecraft's name faded from print, her philosophical impact remained, influencing works by authors like Charles Brockden Brown and others in the early American literary canon.

Q & A

What was the reception of Mary Wollstonecraft's *Vindication of the Rights of Woman* in early America?

The reception was mixed. While some people initially embraced her work in light of revolutionary ideals, her personal scandals, revealed posthumously, led to a tarnished reputation. Her ideas were largely ignored for years until the women's rights movement in the mid-19th century.

How did the American Revolution affect women during its time?

During the American Revolution, women enjoyed many freedoms as the nation relied on the help of every citizen to fight British tyranny. However, after the war, women were expected to return to their traditional roles in the home.

How did the Founding Fathers of the United States view women’s rights?

The Founding Fathers were not willing to grant women the rights afforded to men in the new Republic. For example, Abigail Adams urged her husband to 'remember the ladies' when framing the new government, but her plea was ignored.

What role did the French Revolution play in influencing American women’s rights?

The French Revolution, which began in 1789, sparked optimism about democracy spreading across the globe. Many idealists, including Mary Wollstonecraft, saw it as proof of the growing cause for equal rights, inspiring women in America to hope for similar changes.

What impact did the Reign of Terror in France have on Mary Wollstonecraft's reputation?

The Reign of Terror in France, which began in 1793, led to a backlash against the French Revolution and its supporters, including Wollstonecraft. Her continued support for the French Revolution contributed to a decline in her reputation in America.

What scandal affected Mary Wollstonecraft’s posthumous reputation?

After her death, her husband, William Godwin, revealed personal details in his biography, including her previous child out of wedlock, two suicide attempts, and her struggles with faith. This significantly damaged her reputation and the perception of her work.

What was the central message of Wollstonecraft’s *Vindication of the Rights of Woman*?

Wollstonecraft’s work called for the better education of women, increased respect, political representation, and financial independence. It argued for women to have the same rights as men, though it still emphasized women’s traditional roles as wives and mothers.

How was Wollstonecraft’s *Vindication of the Rights of Woman* perceived in America after the publication of her biography?

After the publication of her biography, *Vindication of the Rights of Woman* was viewed with suspicion. Her more radical ideas were rejected, and the work was largely ignored or denounced, especially following the scandalous details revealed about her personal life.

How did Mary Wollstonecraft’s reputation influence political elections in the early United States?

During the 1800 presidential election, Mary Wollstonecraft's personal indiscretions were used against Thomas Jefferson in a campaign of slander. Federalist publications linked him to her 'loose morals' and the ideals of the French Revolution, though Jefferson eventually won the election.

What was the concept of the 'republican mother,' and how did it affect women’s roles in early America?

The 'republican mother' was a concept that suggested women should be educated to manage the household and raise their sons to become good Republicans and future leaders. This idea effectively silenced more radical calls for women’s rights and kept women in traditional domestic roles for decades.

When did Mary Wollstonecraft’s work gain renewed attention in the United States?

Wollstonecraft’s work gained renewed attention during the women’s rights movement, particularly in 1847 when it was adopted as a foundational text at the Seneca Falls Convention, marking the beginning of a new wave of activism for women's rights.