All papers examples
Get a Free E-Book!
Log in
HIRE A WRITER!
Paper Types
Disciplines
Get a Free E-Book! ($50 Value)

Independence and Southern Women of the Civil War Era, Research Paper Example

Pages: 2

Words: 425

Research Paper

The romanticized “Southern Belle” stereotype of southern women in the Civil War Era is misleading. No matter what their race or station in life, southern women faced many difficulties, such as lack of real freedom. Society in the era of the Civil War pressured women to marry and made it difficult for women to be successful independently. However, success was not impossible and could be achieved with determination and perseverance. Elizabeth Hobbes Keckley is an example of how women could “fight the odds” and be successful independent of any man.

As a woman born into slavery, Keckley faced many challenges. She was separated from the man whom she thought was her father when his master moved. As a young girl, she was subject to sexual abuse from a prominent white man for four years; one encounter resulting in the birth of her son. Keckley survived as a single mother in a time when this status was judged harshly. She eventually marriedJames Keckley, though expressed her reluctance to bring another child into slavery.

To support the family who owned her, Keckley worked as a dressmaker. She also used her talent to raise money to buy freedom for both herself and her son. She was able to accumulate the money necessary to become free. Her determination for the freedom she knew she and her son deserved surpassed her husband’s. Their marriage ended when Keckley decided to leave. Though it is common in present society to end a marriage due to irreconcilable differences, in the Civil War Era, leaving a marriage was looked down upon.

In the Civil War era, women had no real freedom. Women’s fates were often determined by their fathers or husbands. Early in the Civil War, there was a lot of pressure for women to be married and many had an extreme fear of becoming a “spinster.”Her determination led her to the White House as the personal dressmaker and confidant to Mary Todd Lincoln.

Though there was pressure to marry and be taken care of, Elizabeth Keckley proved that a single mother could achieve success. Her story is significant because as a slave, she had to overcome additional barriers. But her hard work paid off and landed her a great career in the White House.

Bibliography

Hacker, J. David, Libra Hilde, and James Holland Jones. “The Effect of the Civil War on Southern Marriage Patterns.” The Journal of southern history. no. 1 (2010): 39-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002115/ (accessed October 5, 2013).

Keckley, Elizabeth. Behind the Scenes. New York: George W. Carleton, & Co., Publishers., http://digilib.nypl.org/dynaweb/digs/wwm9713/@Generic__BookView (accessed October 5, 2013).

Time is precious

Time is precious

don’t waste it!

Get instant essay
writing help!
Get instant essay writing help!
Plagiarism-free guarantee

Plagiarism-free
guarantee

Privacy guarantee

Privacy
guarantee

Secure checkout

Secure
checkout

Money back guarantee

Money back
guarantee

Related Research Paper Samples & Examples

The Risk of Teenagers Smoking, Research Paper Example

Introduction Smoking is a significant public health concern in the United States, with millions of people affected by the harmful effects of tobacco use. Although, [...]

Pages: 11

Words: 3102

Research Paper

Impacts on Patients and Healthcare Workers in Canada, Research Paper Example

Introduction SDOH refers to an individual’s health and finances. These include social and economic status, schooling, career prospects, housing, health care, and the physical and [...]

Pages: 7

Words: 1839

Research Paper

Death by Neurological Criteria, Research Paper Example

Ethical Dilemmas in Brain Death Brain death versus actual death- where do we draw the line? The end-of-life issue reflects the complicated ethical considerations in [...]

Pages: 7

Words: 2028

Research Paper

Ethical Considerations in End-Of-Life Care, Research Paper Example

Ethical Dilemmas in Brain Death Ethical dilemmas often arise in the treatments involving children on whether to administer certain medications or to withdraw some treatments. [...]

Pages: 5

Words: 1391

Research Paper

Ethical Dilemmas in Brain Death, Research Paper Example

Brain death versus actual death- where do we draw the line? The end-of-life issue reflects the complicated ethical considerations in healthcare and emphasizes the need [...]

Pages: 7

Words: 2005

Research Paper

Politics of Difference and the Case of School Uniforms, Research Paper Example

Introduction In Samantha Deane’s article “Dressing Diversity: Politics of Difference and the Case of School Uniforms” and the Los Angeles Unified School District’s policy on [...]

Pages: 2

Words: 631

Research Paper

The Risk of Teenagers Smoking, Research Paper Example

Introduction Smoking is a significant public health concern in the United States, with millions of people affected by the harmful effects of tobacco use. Although, [...]

Pages: 11

Words: 3102

Research Paper

Impacts on Patients and Healthcare Workers in Canada, Research Paper Example

Introduction SDOH refers to an individual’s health and finances. These include social and economic status, schooling, career prospects, housing, health care, and the physical and [...]

Pages: 7

Words: 1839

Research Paper

Death by Neurological Criteria, Research Paper Example

Ethical Dilemmas in Brain Death Brain death versus actual death- where do we draw the line? The end-of-life issue reflects the complicated ethical considerations in [...]

Pages: 7

Words: 2028

Research Paper

Ethical Considerations in End-Of-Life Care, Research Paper Example

Ethical Dilemmas in Brain Death Ethical dilemmas often arise in the treatments involving children on whether to administer certain medications or to withdraw some treatments. [...]

Pages: 5

Words: 1391

Research Paper

Ethical Dilemmas in Brain Death, Research Paper Example

Brain death versus actual death- where do we draw the line? The end-of-life issue reflects the complicated ethical considerations in healthcare and emphasizes the need [...]

Pages: 7

Words: 2005

Research Paper

Politics of Difference and the Case of School Uniforms, Research Paper Example

Introduction In Samantha Deane’s article “Dressing Diversity: Politics of Difference and the Case of School Uniforms” and the Los Angeles Unified School District’s policy on [...]

Pages: 2

Words: 631

Research Paper