Guardians of the Home: Women's Lives in the 1800s (Daily Life in America in the 1800s)

While often behind the scenes and hidden from history, women in 1800s America worked side by side with men in building our nation. On the frontier, strong, capable women worked as hard—or harder—than their men-folk, taming the land and raising the crops while shouldering the responsibilities of keeping house and caring for the children. The life of the farm wife in the settled parts of the country was one of sunup to sundown labor in an era with few modern conveniences. And in urban areas, working-class women were a major part of the workforce in an industrializing economy, while middle- and upper-class women influenced America's social movements, supported charities, and helped beautify the gritty cities. In the course of the 1800s, new labor-saving technologies in the home, improved health conditions, greater economic and educational opportunities, and a growing sense of their rights helped to empower women and started the movement toward full equality with men that continues to this day. Contents Introduction Part I. Home: 1800–1848 Part II. The World Beyond the Home: 1848–1869 Part III. New Opportunities: 1869–1900 Think About It Words Used in This Book Find Out More Index Picture Credits About the Author and the Consultant Describes what life was like for nineteenth-century American women, exploring how they worked hard to care for their families and homes in urban areas and on the frontier, and discussing how they were impacted by various social movements Surveys the lives of American women during the 1800s, offering insight into the ways that race and class affected the choices available.