Correct. The answer is b. The predominant belief in early America was that basic schooling was acceptable for girls, but that too much schooling would result in a devastating and undesirable loss of a woman’s femininity. A woman who spent too much of her time attending school, reading books, and studying would not have enough time to take care of her children, her husband, and her home—all of which were understood to be women’s natural roles.

Incorrect. The answer is b. The predominant belief in early America was that basic schooling was acceptable for girls, but that too much schooling would result in a devastating and undesirable loss of a woman’s femininity. A woman who spent too much of her time attending school, reading books, and studying would not have enough time to take care of her children, her husband, and her home—all of which were understood to be women’s natural roles.

Correct. The answer is d. In the early Republic, many Americans supported basic schooling for girls—and higher numbers of girls attended schools and academies—because having a basic education would ultimately make American girls into better mothers. Mothers were understood to be the most significant influence in young children’s development, and mothers with a basic education would be ideally situated to shape their children’s character for the better.

Incorrect. The answer is d. In the early Republic, many Americans supported basic schooling for girls—and higher numbers of girls attended schools and academies—because having a basic education would ultimately make American girls into better mothers. Mothers were understood to be the most significant influence in young children’s development, and mothers with a basic education would be ideally situated to shape their children’s character for the better.

Correct. The answer is c. Willard especially encouraged her students’ study of geometry because she hoped to demonstrate to her community—particularly to educated men—that her female students were as skillful as male students in their aptitude for logic. Geometry thus helped Willard in her mission both to educate girls with the same rigor and in the same subjects as boys, and to demonstrate the intellectual capacity of the female sex.

Incorrect. The answer is c. Willard especially encouraged her students’ study of geometry because she hoped to demonstrate to her community—particularly to educated men—that her female students were as skillful as male students in their aptitude for logic. Geometry thus helped Willard in her mission both to educate girls with the same rigor and in the same subjects as boys, and to demonstrate the intellectual capacity of the female sex.

Correct. The answer is a. Emma Willard's father encouraged her academic aspirations. She was able to attend both the local district school and an academy for girls, which enabled her to start her teaching career at Middlebury Female Academy. Willard's father's support of his daughter's education made him unusual among his peers because prevailing ideas about gender in the early Republic held that men were naturally superior to women, including intellectually.

Incorrect. The answer is a. Emma Willard's father encouraged her academic aspirations. She was able to attend both the local district school and an academy for girls, which enabled her to start her teaching career at Middlebury Female Academy. Willard's father's support of his daughter's education made him unusual among his peers because prevailing ideas about gender in the early Republic held that men were naturally superior to women, including intellectually.

Correct. The answer is d. Emma Willard was able to support her family when her husband suffered major financial losses because she had received an excellent education from her encouraging father. For most early American white girls, who received no more than a basic education, providing for a family (or even for oneself) was extremely difficult, which meant that most women had to depend on a husband or father for economic survival.

Incorrect. The answer is d. Emma Willard was able to support her family when her husband suffered major financial losses because she had received an excellent education from her encouraging father. For most early American white girls, who received no more than a basic education, providing for a family (or even for oneself) was extremely difficult, which meant that most women had to depend on a husband or father for economic survival.