Kingdom of Matthias by Paul E.Johnson and Sean Wilentz

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Recommended: Various roles of women in gender roles in America in the 19th century

In the Kingdom of Matthias told by Paul E. Johnson and Sean Wilentz, tells a story of a peculiar religious sect, but changed the American society and culture. The story brings rise to changes in economy, sex, politics, religion and race and also the beginning of the Protestant revival known as the Second Great Awakening. Through the story of Matthias and Elijah Pierson, there were many changes in society but a main change was the gender roles. Matthias created his Kingdom during the time period where women had little to no rights, and he carried out this belief through force. From two extremists, a scandalous Kingdom and an ex-slave turned abolitionist leader, gender roles in the early 1800s were very distinct.
Matthias grew up in a household where some beliefs were certain beliefs mattered more than others. This prompted him to grow into individuals with very strong and aggrieve patriots. The time period and society he grew up in encouraged men to be more powerful over women. Women were supposed to abide by any rules the man set forth.
Matthias enforced this belief in his home by abusing his wife to make her fear him. But his wife, Margaret, was tough and didn’t believe her husband was any more powerful than she was. These actions caused Matthias to despite women, which grew more and more as he became older. Once he created his Kingdom later in his life, he made clear his feelings toward women in that they were nothing better than maids and sexual subjects to men. He forced strict rules on women that they were only to cook, clean and take care of the family while the man went out and did the “important work”.
Elijah Pierson grew up very similar to Matthias but was not as devoted to his beliefs as Matthias was. Upon his mo...

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...expecting this was the first time that women were sent away from home to work. This allowed them to make money on their own and that alone was a huge step toward women’s rights.
Women rights have always been a conflict in the United States. So hearing about two extremist who believed men were superior over women, the kingdom they created and then an ex-slave turn servant turn abolitionist leader, puts the concept into perspective. Many changes occurred during these stories and they show case women’s lives in America during the early 1800s.

Works Cited

Murray, Judith S. "On the Equality of the Sexes." Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History. Third ed. Vol. One. New York: W.W. Norton, 2005. 140-42. Print.
Foner, Eric. "Chapter 9: The Market Revolution." Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Third ed. Vol. One. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. 332-33. Print.

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