Social Themes & Inferences

"Rip Van Winkle and Culture"
External Links

1. Female roles and impact

[http://www.history.org/history/clothing/women/anatomy.cfm 2. Women's Clothing deconstructed]

[http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/anatomymen.cfm 3. Men's Clothing deconstructed]

[http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/wigcover.cfm 4. Wigs]

As seen through the Art, there existed a shift in domestic life from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. The "Bermuda Group" by John Smibert, for instance, portrays a rigid family stucture with a lack of emotional connection between its member in the early 18th century. Moving towards the end of the century, American families warm up to the idea of affection. Women and children begin to take their post in the center of the family. Gender relationships embrace more intimacy and sentiment. Such changes are prominent in "The Peale Family" by Charles Willson Peale himself.

Behind this shift in domestic life is a greater social movement: the Second Awakening. This religious movement promoted a Christian's free will to salvation. Nathaniel Taylor and Lyman Beecher, two prominent figures in this evangelical reform, soon realiezed the remarably number of women who play many active roles. As a result, women, for the first time in American history, practiced leadership. "This began a shift in gender relations. 'Women's parcipation in the 'benovelent empire' suggested that the legacy of the Revolution applied to them, too (see the Encyclopedia of American Social History REF HN57.E58)" (Sutton et al.)

" Charles Grandison Finney preached a new strain of revivalism which appealed to members of the society who were interested in challenging the power of the existing white, male dominated society, and promoted a creed of free will that made good works the test of a converted heart. A new, dynamic middle class was busy executing a capitalist revolution in the political economy, naturally gravitating to evangelical religion with its emphasis on human agency and responsibility. The middle class and a more urban society also gave rise to the cult of true womanhood, a philosophy which divided activities by gender, giving women the responsibilitiesof child rearing and preservation of morals in the family, while men earned money to support the family and had societal obligations in areas of government, military and business" (Sutton et al.)

