Mothers of the west: women in Texas and their roles in manifest destiny, 1820-1860

Abstract

Manifest destiny played a prominent role in early nineteenth century history. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to women's perceptions of this phenomenon, let alone their participation in it. This dissertation examines women in Texas between 1820 and 1860 and notes that not only did they support manifest destiny, but they played an active part in doing so. A variety of factors made up this gendered understanding of expansionism and led to manifest destiny's ultimate success in the period. Women's role in realizing manifest destiny began with the arrival of early filibusters and settlers. As these pioneer wives struggled to establish their households, they helped to entrench civilization in their new homeland. Because of concepts such as the cult of domesticity, women's presence necessarily implied a civilizing influence in the new territory. This aspect of manifest destiny continued throughout the period. Yet women did not always remain passive in their support of manifest destiny, using true womanhood to make the frontier more familiar. Women actively promoted the Texas Revolution as well as contributing supplies and even manpower during various crises. This idea challenges the idea of women as passive, the defended rather than defenders. Manifest destiny has distinctly racist overtones which this dissertation also addresses. Texas was the crossroads of four different cultures in the early nineteenth century: Native Americans, Hispanics, blacks and whites. Research reveals that white women had strong racialist views about their neighbors in keeping with current understanding of expansionist philosophy. These opinions demonstrate how race and levels of civilization were joined in the minds of many American women. Nevertheless, non-white women also had a vested interest in promoting the good of Texas and, eventually, the United States. Although sources for Indian, Hispanic and black women are more limited, Mothers of the West seeks to portray a more multicultural perspective of expansionism as revealed in Texas. For many, it was not racial but political identity that prompted their support for manifest destiny.