Best of the Best: American Female Reformers Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Presidential wife and mother and early advocate of women's rights

Answer: Abigail Adams

Not only was Abigail Adams a presidential wife (John Adams), she was also a presidential mother (John Quincy Adams). An important advisor to her husband, Abigail wrote letters to him while he was in Philadelphia, at meetings of the Continental Congress.

In one she reminded him to "...remember the ladies ... If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation". Concerned about the property rights of married women, and the lack of educational opportunities, Adams was also an ardent believer in the evilness of slavery.

2. Authored "Declaration of Sentiments" for Seneca Falls Convention

Answer: Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "Declaration of Sentiments" is credited with beginning the first organized women's rights and suffrage movement in the United States. An active abolitionist who worked with her husband, she eventually made women's rights her focus. She was not only concerned with voting rights, but other topics, such as property ownership, employment, and birth control.

3. Wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin", which strengthened abolitionism in the North

Answer: Harriet Beecher Stowe

According to her son, Stowe was greeted with, "so you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war", upon meeting Abraham Lincoln. Her book about the horrors of slavery stoked the abolitionist movement in the North before the Civil War and angered the South. Although she was the author of thirty books, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" remains her best known work.

4. Civil War nurse who worked for rights for the mentally ill

Answer: Dorthea Dix

Dorthea Dix led the reform movement for the treatment of the mentally ill in the 1840s before becoming Superintendent of Army Nurses during the Civil War. Beginning in the state of Massachusetts, she traveled throughout the United States documenting the living conditions of the poor insane.

She is credited with the establishment of the first public mental hospital in Pennsylvania. After the Civil War her work included crusades, not only for the mentally ill, but also for prisoners and other disabled people.

5. Longest-serving First Lady of the United States, advocator of African American and women's rights

Answer: Eleanor Roosevelt

As the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt perhaps had more time to leave her mark on social issues than the other First Ladies. A bit controversial due to her outspokenness, Roosevelt was the first First Lady to hold press conferences, speak at a party convention, and host a radio program.

She continued to be an advocate of human rights - especially for African Americans and women - after leaving the White House for the remainder of her life, and was the first chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

6. Wrote "Silent Spring", which helped to begin the environmental movement in the U.S.

Answer: Rachel Carson

An American marine biologist, Carson also became a full time writer. Her book, "Silent Spring", warned of the dangers of the use of synthetic pesticides, and led to the banning of DDT. Although the book angered chemical companies, the attention that she brought to environmental concerns led to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

7. Wrote "The Feminine Mystique", which questioned the then existing role of women in the household

Answer: Betty Friedan

Friedan's book questioned the fairness of women giving up their ambitions and dreams in order to stay at home, take care of the household, and have children. In her opinion, women were capable of doing both! In addition to writing (she authored six books), she was also the founder of NOW, which was the National Organization for Women, founded for the purpose of bringing women "into the mainstream of American society now [in] fully equal partnership with men".

8. She and her sister were ardent abolitionists and proponents of women's suffrage

Answer: Sarah Moore Grimk�

Born into a wealthy Southern family in 1792, Grimk� became a Quaker after moving to Philadelphia. She was forced to leave the religion, however, after she became politically active. Quaker women were not allowed to engage in public speaking! She and her sister, Angelina, spoke on the abolitionist lecture circuit, and were among the first women to speak in public about political issues. Sarah is also considered the first to speak regarding female equality, and inspired later suffrage workers.

9. Founder of Hull House and led the settlement house movement

Answer: Jane Addams

Known as the "Mother of Social Work", Jane Addams, along with her friend, Ellen Gates Starr, established Hull House in Chicago. It was intended to be a settlement house, especially for recently-arrived European immigrants, with the purpose of providing educational and social opportunities. Classes in subjects like literature, art, and history were held, as well as free concerts.

The recipient of the Noble Peace Prize in 1931, she was the first American woman to win the prestigious award.

10. Used the term "birth control" and opened the first clinic in the United States

Answer: Margaret Sanger

While working as a nurse in New York City, Sanger became concerned about the health of the working class, mostly immigrant women that she saw who had frequent miscarriages, self-induced abortions, as well as frequent pregnancies. She is credited with opening the first birth control clinic in the United States.

In addition, she founded the American Birth Control League, which has evolved into the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Source: Author ponycargirl

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Questions		Choices
1. Presidential wife and mother and early advocate of women's rights		Rachel Carson
2. Authored "Declaration of Sentiments" for Seneca Falls Convention		Abigail Adams
3. Wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin", which strengthened abolitionism in the North		Sarah Moore Grimk�
4. Civil War nurse who worked for rights for the mentally ill		Dorthea Dix
5. Longest-serving First Lady of the United States, advocator of African American and women's rights		Eleanor Roosevelt
6. Wrote "Silent Spring", which helped to begin the environmental movement in the U.S.		Margaret Sanger
7. Wrote "The Feminine Mystique", which questioned the then existing role of women in the household		Harriet Beecher Stowe
8. She and her sister were ardent abolitionists and proponents of women's suffrage		Betty Friedan
9. Founder of Hull House and led the settlement house movement		Elizabeth Cady Stanton
10. Used the term "birth control" and opened the first clinic in the United States		Jane Addams

In the United States, March is set aside to celebrate National Women's History Month. What do you know about these famous reformers? Can you match the following ladies with their descriptions?