What Republican Motherhood Taught Me about Civic Responsibility

The politics of the early republic weren’t so different from those of today—often messy, fiercely competitive, and driven by self-promotion. And though women of the time were excluded from formal political life, that doesn’t mean they lacked influence. Intelligent, ambitious women found ways to shape the fledgling nation, ensuring that their husbands and sons remained committed to the ideals of liberty, virtue, and the public good—even from outside the political sphere.

In 1976, in an article for The American Quarterly, historian Linda Kerber described these women as “republican mothers”:

The Republican Mother’s life was dedicated to the service of civic virtue; she educated her sons for it; she condemned and corrected her husband’s lapses from it…. The theorists [of the early republic] created a mother who had a political purpose and argued that her domestic behavior had a direct political function in the republic.

In short, republican motherhood offered women a way to influence politics indirectly—by raising engaged citizens and reinforcing civic responsibility. Today, of course, women directly shape policy, lead institutions, and hold elected office. But the principle that everyone, whether serving in public office or not, has a role to play in fostering civic responsibility remains just as vital.

That’s why this idea resonates with me. As R Street’s Vice President of Public Affairs, I see civic responsibility not just as an abstract value, but as an active, ongoing commitment—one that aligns with our vision for free markets and limited, effective government. That’s why R Street is hosting its second Real Solutions Summit on May 6 at the Planet Word Museum in Washington, D.C.

At this event, we’ll bring together academics, policymakers, media, industry leaders, and philanthropists to reflect on America’s upcoming 250th birthday and explore the pressing policy challenges of today—everything from energy sustainability to AI governance and beyond.

In the early republic, many believed the experiment in self-government would fail. Women played a key role in ensuring its survival by instilling core civic values in their families and helping shape the broader political culture.

As we approach our nation’s semiquincentennial, R Street remains committed to these founding principles—popular sovereignty, federalism, civic virtue, and the constitutional framework that has shaped our democracy. We believe in protecting these values through genuine debate, collaboration, and bold policy solutions and we hope you’ll join us in the conversation.