Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - Paper Turtle

I generally agree with your observations and additions. The anti-slavery movement did have a lot to do with, at least in the North. You're also right about the demanding nature of daily 18th century and 19th century life - esp on the farm and/or frontier.

I would, however, caution against any implication or assumption that spousal abuse was universal. I've seen many people make that claim and I think it's a tremendously unfair assumption to make. It's like our grandfathers, great grandfathers, great great grandfathers and so forth are PRESUMED guilty. I don't like that one bit.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if domestic abuse is worse NOW than it was in the 1700s and 1800s. There are some indications of this, but regardless...

If one studies the correspondence between the Founding Fathers and their wives, you don't see indications of and/or evidence of unhealthy, abusive relationships.

Abigail and John Adams, for instance, have one of the storied romances in our history, and I really don't think they were exceptional or unique OTHER than the fact that they were both public figures and they kept copies of their letters deliberately for the benefit of history. To the extent that their marriage was at all representative of that era (at least among society's leaders), then I think the image of tyrannical husbands holding back their wives is an unfair one.