DBQ Women’s Rights, The Market Revolution, and The Great Awakening Essay Example

in family life. In the years of the market revolution and Second Great Awakening, women started making strides in changing their roles in society socially, politically, and economically. During this time, they became more renowned in religion; they made their presence known in politics and took part in many reforms.

Socially, women of that period became very passionate and religious, as Charles G. Finney observed, some women who were very sociable yet fearful of revival became the most dedicated members of the church and spread the enthusiasm to their friends (Doc A.) On the subject of reform, women gained the most fame and unpleasant reputation, as their determination to see change where they saw wrong eventually led to the earning of their rights.

Politically, women fought for reform, like Dorothea Dix who protested the cruel treatment of the insane and prisoners (Doc F.) Women also protested for reform through their clothing, as these brave women wore bloomers instead of traditional garb, despite harassment and pestering from the people (Doc H.) Economically, women also changed in society, as a petition to the Massachusetts legislature stated, women wanted to be treated as equal as men, even when it came to taxation, representation, and labor, as well as having a voice in the latter (Doc I.) In summary, the role of women in society changed as they became more zealous in religion, more outspoken in politics and reform, and demanded equality politically and economically. Throughout the market revolution and Second Great Awakening period, women started to become more involved in the workforce. Women became more well-known in the Northern textile factories.

These women, often called

factory girls, worked to collect as much money as they could. These factory girls earned higher wages than the women engaged in other occupations (Doc. D). Even with women earning wages, they still were not close to equaling men in the workforce. Although these women in the North worked for wages, the African American women were not as grateful, working for free. These women worked on the Southern plantations all day without relief. They not only worked in the fields, but also in the house with their masters.

Though people thought slavery was a sin, as Mrs. A did, women could not challenge slavery politically because there was a great lack of decorum in women getting involved with politics, thus African American women continued to work for free (Doc. C). Even though this was a setback, women in the workforce pushed forward and strived to become equal. As women continued to chase their equality in the workforce, they petitioned the Massachusetts legislature to try and equal themselves with men (Doc. I). Although women started off slow, working for low wages, they continued to challenge for their equality in the workforce.

The Second Great Awakening and the Antebellum Market helped women to become the leaders of their family, movements in social reform, and their independence from industrial workplaces. This helped America have an important role in the future American society, and the global economy and eventually politics. Although women were still a minority in the 19th century, the Second Great Awakening and Market Revolution transformed the roles of the family, workplace, and society and made great stepping stones to women’s equal rights.