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Women and the Election of 1816 Video Project Script

 

Michelle Azar (as Mary Alsop King), Cheryl Clifton (as Elizabeth Monroe), Richard Ramsey (as the Announcer)

 

Announcer: Today we will discuss women’s’ participation regarding the elections of 1816. We have Mary Alsop King, the wife of former presidential candidate, Rufus King and Elizabeth Monroe, wife of president James Monroe.

 

Mary: Hmm, where to start? Women’s political participation has progressed so much since the American Revolution?

 

Elizabeth: Yes, at first we were simply expected to sew, raise our sons to be good …

(say at the same time) Elizabeth: Republicans.   Mary: Federalists. (p.92)

 

Mary: Then we created reading circles (p.56)

 

Elizabeth: -Literary Societies

 

Mary: In which women discussed politics and other interests for our enlightenment.

 

Elizabeth: Some women began using print media to express their views, instead of simply influencing their husbands. (p. 50, 54-55)

 

Mary: Oftentimes, especially during the war of 1812, we were used as symbols of true patriotism or vile representatives of our adversaries. (p. 98, 102-103,110)

 

Elizabeth: More directly, republican women aided by boycotting goods, creating homespun clothing, and collecting money for our troops (p.99)

 

Mary: Federalists women opposed the war and we refused to show any encouragement for it. (p. 100-101)

 

Elizabeth: We should (continue American Women’s progression by) modeling ourselves after the French women who marched against the monarchy to end their subordination to men. (103)

 

Mary: Like those masculinized women called to bear arms in the papers? They were myths! In any case, this war has deepened the rift between political factions.

 

Elizabeth: That’s why I “influenced” my husband to travel the country and heal these rifts! Maybe if you stopped listening to mumble news and contributed your husband would have won the election. (p.123)

 

Mary: Like the gossip about former President Thomas Jefferson and his elicit affair?

I do love a good paper. (p.106)

 

Elizabeth: More like the portrayal of federalists as the strumpets of our society! (p.112)

 

Mary: Your mothers a strumpet!

 

Announcer: And that concludes our discussion of women and the presidential election of 1816!