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Revolutionary War
War between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies, fighting for the independence of America. Mothers and women served in the war. -
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Founded in Cleveland, Ohio, a group of women formed this organization to initially focus on changing men's drinking behavior since they believed alcohol was causing problems in the home. Frances Willard eventually became the president of WCTU. This reform is imperative to the development of motherhood over time since it conveys how women began using their roles as mothers as a strength to unite and empower themselves by enacting reforms. -
Muller v Oregon
During the progressive era, this law limited the workday for female wage earners to ten hours in factories and laundries. It was meant to protect the health of women workers. -
Banning Child Labor
In 1912, Congress established the Federal Children Bureau, which was headed by Julia Lathrop. The bureau became essential in the process of stopping child labor. It is crucial in the changes of motherhood throughout time because it is a very significant precedent of maternalist defeat. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression happens to be the result of the stock market crashing. Mothers/women were effected in numerous ways mainly economically. -
Social Security Act
A legislation providing a federal pension plan to fund programs for unemployment assistance and for aid to dependent mothers and children. However domestic workers, farm-workers, and women who worked in the home as mothers were excluded from being covered by the program. -
World War II
During World War II, wives and mothers especially were tremendously affected, due to the fact that their husbands were fighting in the war and they were unable to provide support for their family. This left wives and mothers no choice but to go to work, taking on jobs specifically designed for men such as factorial work and engineering. -
Pregnancy Discrimination Act
Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which recognized the increased participation of mothers in the workforce and gave pregnant women protection against workplace discrimination under the Civil Rights Act. -
The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Act
Bill Clinton passed this act and signed it in effort to "end welfare as we know it." Decades after welfare reform, families were still struggling in poverty. Therefore, Clinton included legal limitations and guidelines that limited the time from when women first start receiving benefits (cut off after five years). This act continues to be discussed in regards to its affect on mothers today, especially single mothers. -
KEY EVENT: The Abortions Rights Movement
The recently relevant United States Abortion Rights Movement have divided mothers, women, and political parties based on their distinct views on wheat circumstances it is morally just for a woman to have an abortion. Feminists claim that a woman has every right to make the decision herself because it is her own body. Whereas, others believe it is morally unjust depending on their religious and political standpoint.
