Introduction
The USA is the oldest independent state in the Western Hemisphere with a republican form of government. The second half of the 19th century was a period of rapid economic development for them, marked by the rise of the Wild West and the bloodiest conflict in the history of North America – the Civil War. The USA was a federal republic with a weak central government and a relatively low share of the economy under state control.
Impact of the 19th Century Transformations on American Men and Women
All the events took toll on male and female roles in society. For instance, women were expected to preserve a housewife ideal in the 19th century. Women were expected to take care of household chores, cooking, and childcare. During that period, they played a very different role than males did. Women were not given the same opportunities as men and were not permitted to speak up.
Meanwhile, males were viewed as superior to women in all respects, including the ethical aspect. In a society with a tight patriarchal order, men dominated not only wealth and political influence but also the upbringing of their children, religious concerns, and all moral judgments. They were major politicians, scientists, and economists, and occupied the majority of positions, mainly due to industrialization.
In addition, civil rights have become the cornerstone of the debate over male-female equality. Women sought greater rights because they felt intimidated and suppressed and wanted to express their talents. Women underwent transformation and reform at the end of the 19th century. Many people began to question the roles that society had previously assigned to them, as a result of the rejection of the cultivated roles of wife, mother, and subservient in favor of the roles of worker and respected equal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the period between 1840 and 1900 witnessed a significant shift in the roles of men and women in American society. This period of the Civil War and industrialization altered perceptions of gender stereotypes. In the decades that followed, new opportunities in politics, business, and education enabled many people in the United States to make significant advancements, creating new roles for women.
Works Cited
Carmichael, Peter S. 2021. The War for the Common Soldier: How Men Thought, Fought, and Survived in Civil War Armies. United States: University of North Carolina Press.
Professor Gregory Beyer. 2019. “Civil Rights vs. Labor Rights for Black and White.” YouTube video.
U.S. History. 2022. United States: XanEdu Publishing Inc.