In 1837, Catherine Beecher criticized the growing political activism of women in the antislavery movement as “unwise and inexpedient.” What did Beecher advise women who opposed slavery to do instead?

Question

a. to follow the old Republican Mother role, and try to influence male relatives and friends

b. to vote for politicians who opposed slavery to Congress

c. to engage in hunger strikes to protest slavery



d. to assassinate political enemies in Washington, D.C.

Answer 1

The answer is A. Beecher believed that women were important influencers, but not in the way that men were. Their role, as dictated by "heaven", was to extend a quiet influence in their own domain, the home.