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Arrival in Jamestown
Jamestown is the first known settlement in North America.The arrival of women in Jamestown contributed to the early stages of economic roles that will pave the path to society today. -
Women were allowed to own and manage property
If husbands were incapacitated -
Feme Covert
The Feme Coverts were married women. At this time, it meant that the husband was in complete control of everything, including a woman's legal rights. A married woman could not own property, enter into contracts, represent herself in court, and was not even liable for her own legal actions. All of the money earned in the household was controlled by the man as well. This importance of this event holds is that it shows where women's economic independence began. Lots of progress is made later on. -
Patent Act of 1790
This allowed women to claim their own inventions. This event demonstrates how women were able to contribute to households, businesses, etc, with their inventions. -
Lowell Mills
The Lowell Mills signified an important economic change. The start of factory work challenged the traditional family based structure of the time. Young, unmarried women left their homes where they were previously making and selling goods, and went to work in at the Mill. These women were much more independent than they ever were before. They were making their own wages and they were living away from their families, although they were still able to help them out financially with their wages. -
13th Amendment
The end of slavery paved the way for African-American men and women to create new lives from themselves and be free from heinous ruling of slave owners. The opportunity that followed not only benefited the men but also the women. Black women were able to become apart of their own economic ruling and created a space for themselves in that world. This was the start of may opportunities for Black women. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Hundreds of women and girls along with 23 men died from a fire while working in a textile shop. It is the second deadliest industrial disaster in U.S History. This event lead to the better working conditions and regulations for both women and men. -
Bread and Roses strike
Women protested the Lawrence textile company for better working conditions and safety for children working lasting from January to March 1912. The protest ended in victory and more regulations were set up to aid the workers. -
Women on the Home Front
When the men went off to fight in World War II, women started taking up the jobs men would have originally been working. This greatly increased the number of working women at the time. There was more diversity in women workers at this time too. Previously, young, unmarried women were more likely to work. At this time, most of the women workers were married and a great deal were age 45 and over. These job opportunities proved women were capable and widened their spheres economically. -
Equal Pay Act
June 10, 1963: President John F. Kennedy signs into law the Equal Pay Act, prohibiting sex-based wage discrimination between men and women performing the same job in the same workplace. -
Betty Friedan
Author of The Feminine Mystique which founded the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her book sparked public activism for gender quality and also gave millions of women a voice. She co-founded the National Organization for Women. NOW also ended sex-segregated help-wanted advertising. -
Christa McAuiffe
January 28, 1986: Christa McAuliffe was set to be the first civilian and educator in space. She was picked out of thousands of candidates and would have made history for people all over the world. The space shuttle, the Challenger, ended up exploding moments after takeoff.
