The Fourth of July and Washington's Birthday

In Hale's Manners, the author describes the Fourth of July as a celebration of Christian households. According to Hale, if a country did not consist of households, it would be doomed to failure (she cites Sparta as an example). Hale sees America's success as a result of the sacred institutions of Christianity and families. There is a patriotic tone throughout this piece that is meant to invoke nationalism within the readers. Hale believes households and Christianity are the backbone and foundation of American society, and that without them the result would be doom and downfall.
Hale highlights the importance of the household and religion to breed patriotism, and also to reinforce women's roles as mothers and domestics. She illustrates these roles as civic duties that are necessary for the success of the country and encourages women to be mothers and wives, to take care of thier households, and be beacons of religious knowledge.
Hale also focuses on another important national holiday to reinforce the importance of family and the role of women as mothers and moral leaders. George Washington is idolized by Hale, who states that he only one step below Jesus, and attributes his amazing character and virtue to his mother. She uses the first president of the country as an example of the perfect man and uses his mother to be a role to other women. The role of women is portrayed as the nurturer, and the molder of boys into men. Washington's mother is seen as delicate and pious, and his wife is represented as faithful and dedicated to her husband. Washington's greatness is constantly credited to his mother, and this tactic is meant to reinforce the importance of the female role as a mother, and reinstate it as a civic duty. The downfall or the success of the country, according to Hale, rests with the stability of the Christian household.


Ashley Smith