High School Unit II

Activity 1: The 1840s—How Things Stood for Women

After students have read the excerpts from the “Body of Liberties” and the “Declaration of Sentiments,” and answered the questions on the documents, discuss the following questions:

  1. What were a young woman’s options as she approached adulthood at mid-century?
  2. What obstacles stood in the way of her pursuing a course other than marriage and motherhood?
  3. What problems are caused by limiting options for girls/women?

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