republican motherhood

Republican motherhood is the concept in which women know and live by the values that America was built on and subsequently pass those values down to their children. These values include but are not limited to patriotism, philanthropy, respect, and a strong work ethic. The goal of republican motherhood is that mothers instill their children with these values and the children go on to become adults who demonstrate these values. In this way the republic sustains itself and is able to stand as long as there are republican mothers.

Republican motherhood is the basis of what Sarah Josepha hale preaches in Manners. Hale says that the welfare of the nation depends on the virtue and intelligence of its families. Hale places much of the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of the nation on women when she says, “She is the teacher and exemplar, from whom the future citizens of the Republic derive their first lessons in knowledge, manners, and morals.” Since women raise the politicians that run the country, Hale does not believe that women’s suffrage is necessary because they already have such a strong influence over political candidates.

An example of republican motherhood in a literary work is Mrs. March in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. While Mr. March is serving his country in the Civil War, Mrs. March stays home and makes sure the family continues to run, even without Mr. March’s presence. Mrs. March teaches her daughters to be smart, caring, and respectful. Through her many lessons, she teaches them how to be republican mothers themselves.

-Maksim Latman