How did the different levels of U.S. government (local, state, and federal) influence the rights and freedoms of American women from Reconstruction to the Great Depression
Instructions to be Followed in Answering the Question:
Provide an Overview of the Historical Context:Begin by outlining the time period from Reconstruction after the Civil War to the Great Depression.
Highlight how the U.S. government’s involvement during this era shaped the lives and freedoms of American women.
Examine the Role of Local Government:Discuss how local governments influenced women’s rights, including the introduction of suffrage laws at the municipal level.
Analyze civic and social initiatives led by women during this period, with specific reference to Progressive Era reforms.
Include examples of how local governance provided educational opportunities for women and addressed issues such as child labor and unsafe workplaces.
Explore the Impact of State Governments:Examine how state legislatures contributed to or hindered the advancement of women’s rights, with examples such as the passing of suffrage laws in Western states like Wyoming.
Address how discriminatory laws, particularly in the Southern states (e.g., Jim Crow laws), negatively affected African-American women.
Discuss state involvement in programs during the Great Depression, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA), focusing on how these programs provided employment but also maintained gender inequalities.
Analyze the Role of the Federal Government:Discuss the federal government’s role in advancing or restricting women’s rights, starting with Reconstruction policies and amendments like the Fifteenth Amendment.
Address the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment and its importance for women’s suffrage.
Critically analyze gender-based discriminatory policies, such as the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), and how they impacted women’s employment and wage rights.
Address Intersectionality:Explain how gender, race, and ethnicity interacted during this period, focusing on the unique challenges faced by African-American and Native American women.
Highlight significant figures, such as Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells, who played important roles in advocating for the rights of women of color.