Linda Kerber argued in the mid-1980’s that after the American Revolution (1775-1783), an ideology of “republican motherhood” resulted in a surge of educational opportunities for women in the United States.
Kerber maintained that the leaders of the new nation wanted women to be educated in order to raise politically virtuous sons.
A virtuous citizenry was considered essential to the success of the country’s republican form of government; virtue was to be instilled not only by churches and schools, but by families, where the mother’s role was crucial.
Thus, according to Kerber, motherhood became pivotal to the fate of the republic, providing justification for an unprecedented attention to female education.
Introduction of the republican motherhood thesis dramatically changed historiography.
Prior to Kerber’s work, educational historians barely mentioned women and girls; Thomas Woody’s 1929 work is the notable exception.
Examining newspaper advertisements for academies, Woody found that educational opportunities increased for both girls and boys around 1750.
Pointing to “An Essay on Woman” (1753) as reflecting a shift in view, Woody also claimed that practical education for females had many advocates before the Revolution. Woody’s evidence challenges the notion that the Revolution changed attitudes regarding female education, although it may have accelerated earlier trends. Historians’ reliance on Kerber’s “republican motherhood” thesis may have obscured the presence of these trends, making it difficult to determine to what extent the Revolution really changed women’s lives.
Q11:
According to the passage, Kerber argued that political leaders thought that the form of government adopted by the United States after the American Revolution depended on which of the following for its success?
A.
Women assuming the sole responsibility for instilling political virtue in children
B.
Girls becoming the primary focus of a reformed educational system that emphasized political virtue
C.
The family serving as one of the primary means by which children were imbued with political virtue
D.
The family assuming many of the functions previously performed by schools and churches
E.
Men an women assuming equal responsibility for the management of schools, churches, and the family
The answer is C, but I think it should be A.
The passage suggests that mother's role was crucial in instilling political virtue in children. Thus, it is logical to make inference that women assuming the sole responsibility for instilling political virtue in their children, making A the correct answer.
Anyone can help me on this issue?
Thanks!
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