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Questions and Answers
What was a primary focus of the female 'clubs' that emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?
Which of the following organizations was founded in 1896 and aimed to uplift Black women and address civil rights?
What role did Carrie A. Nation play in the reform efforts of her time?
Which movement did many white women's clubs struggle to include Black women due to rising American prejudice?
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What characterized the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the National Association of Colored Women in terms of their membership?
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What was the primary reason cited for the dismissal of charges against Nation?
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Which major initiative did Frances Willard NOT focus on during her time as the leader of the WCTU?
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How did the WCTU describe alcohol in their campaigns?
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What was one effect of associating alcohol with various social ills, according to the content?
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Which of the following best describes Jane Addams' reputation among American reformers?
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Study Notes
Women's Activism and Reform
- The Reform era opened new avenues for women's activism in American public life, boosting the suffrage movement.
- Women’s clubs became prominent social organizations, focusing on intellectual growth and community philanthropy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- National women’s club federations emerged in the 1890s, with significant ones being the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (1890) and the National Association of Colored Women (1896).
- These federations were predominantly composed of upper-middle-class, educated white women, leading to racial tensions and limited biracial participation.
- Black women established their own organizations focused on civil rights and the upliftment of their communities, such as those led by Mary Jane Richardson Jones and Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin.
- The National Association of Colored Women, formed by activists including Mary Church Terrell, sought to secure suffrage and challenge discrimination.
Contributions through Moral Reform
- Many women engaged in moral reform through churches and organizations aimed at improving American society.
- Carrie A. Nation became a notable figure for her aggressive stance against alcohol, famously destroying saloons with a hatchet, which gained national attention.
- Nation’s actions, while headline-grabbing, were not broadly followed by other women activists, who preferred more organized approaches.
- The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), founded in 1874, initially aimed at temperance but transformed into a prominent political body under Frances Willard’s leadership from 1879 to 1898.
- The WCTU advocated for various reforms including urban poverty alleviation, prison reform, child labor laws, and women’s rights, with a strong emphasis on temperance.
- Alcohol was linked to social issues like domestic abuse and poverty, with the WCTU branding it a "home wrecker" and associating it with urban and immigrant communities.
- Reformers believed abolition of alcohol would lead to societal improvement, lower crime rates, and better living conditions for women and children.
Notable Reformers
- Jane Addams emerged as a leading figure in the reform movement, celebrated for her innovative approach and significant contributions to social welfare.
- Addams's background included personal tragedy, with the loss of her mother at a young age, influencing her future endeavors in community service and activism.
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Description
Explore the pivotal role of women's activism during the Reform era in America. This quiz covers the rise of women’s clubs, the emergence of national federations, and the efforts of women from diverse backgrounds in the suffrage movement. Dive into the complexities of race and activism as you test your knowledge.
