Question

Using the excerpts above, answer (a), (b), and (c).

a) Briefly describe ONE major difference between Crane’s and Zagarri’s historical interpretations of the

immediate impact of the American Revolution on women.

b) Briefly explain how ONE event, development, or circumstance from the period 1765 to 1800 that is not

explicitly mentioned in the excerpts could be used to support Crane’s argument.

c) Briefly explain how ONE event, development, or circumstance from the period 1765 to 1800 that is not

explicitly mentioned in the excerpts could be used to support Zagarri’s argument.

Answer 1

Crane argues that the Revolution created new opportunities for women to participate in public life and challenge traditional gender roles, while Zagarri contends that the Revolution ultimately reinforced the status quo and did little to improve the lives of most women.

One event that could be used to support Crane's argument is the founding of the Female Society of Philadelphia in 1780.

One event that could be used to support Zagarri's argument is the unsuccessful attempt to include a provision guaranteeing women's suffrage in the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776.

What did Crane and Zagarri disagree on?

Crane points to the increased political activism of women during the Revolution, such as their participation in boycotts and protests, as evidence of their growing sense of civic engagement.

Zagarri, on the other hand, emphasizes the continued patriarchal structure of society after the Revolution. She argues that the ideals of liberty and equality, while inspiring, did not translate into concrete gains for women in terms of legal rights or economic opportunities.

The passage is:

“The revolutionary moment was neither radical nor a watershed for American women. Those who disregard America’s commitment to patriarchal rule and plead for a historical interpretation that favors enlightened exceptionalism have overlooked the conditions that made large-scale change all but impossible at that time and place.” Elaine Forman Crane, historian, Ebb Tide in New England: Women, Seaports, and Social Change, 1630–1800, published in 1998

“The coming of the American Revolution... created new opportunities for women to participate in politics. Responding to men’s appeals, women engaged in a variety of actions in support of the revolutionary cause, which led women to experience a greater sense of connection to and involvement with the polity. After the war their political contributions were praised, celebrated, and remembered. . . . Women now were seen as political beings who had the capacity to influence the course of war, politics, and history.” Rosemarie Zagarri, historian, Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic, published in 2007

Answer 2

The American Revolution: Impact on Women

a) One major difference between Elaine Crane's and Rosemarie Zagarri's historical interpretations of the immediate impact of the American Revolution on women is:

Whereas, Crane argues that the American Revolution did not improve the societal status of women, with their gender roles remaining unchanged.

Zagarri, on the other hand, argues that the American Revolution improved the societal status and influence of women, giving them more visibility in society.

b) One event, development, or circumstance from the period 1765 to 1800 that could be used to support Crane's argument or position is:

women could not participate in political decision-making after the American Revolution, and did not enjoy the rights accorded to their male counterparts.

c) One event, development, or circumstance from the period 1765 to 1800 that could be used to support Zagarri's argument or stance is:

many women, including Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Freeman, Mercy Warren, etc., made their voices heard in political circles and galvanized women to demand better political treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Elaine Crane in her "Women, Seaports, and Social Change" (1998) argued vehemently that the American Revolution did not provide women the radical watershed they required to play active political roles in society. However, Rosemarie Zagarri, writing in "Women and Politics in the Early American Republic" (2007), perceived the American Revolution's impact on women differently. She praised the new opportunities that were created for women to participate actively in politics.