Name Class Date

Enlightenment and Revolution Biography

Mary Wollstonecraft
1759–1797

WHY SHE MADE HISTORY Mary

Wollstonecraft was one of the first important
feminists. Her book, A Vindication of the
Rights of Woman, was the first great feminist
document.

As you read the biography below, think about

how Mary Wollstonecraft’s individualism helped
her to become a champion for women’s rights.
© Tate Gallery/Art Resource, NY
Mary Wollstonecraft was a woman ahead of her
times. During the 1600s and 1700s, women were VOCABULARY
not educated in the same manner as men. Most cunning crafty, tricky
women received training only in the things they or sly
needed to know to run households and raise feminist person who
children. Women received little if no formal believes in equality
education beyond reading and writing their own between the sexes
names. Higher education was restricted to men.
Many powerful men were opposed to education
for women. King James I of England was quoted
saying, “To make women learned and foxes tame
has the same effect—to make them more cunning.”
Wollstonecraft wanted to change those attitudes.
She strongly believed that women should have
the same educational and social opportunities
as men. This sounds like a simple request, but in
Wollstonecraft’s day this was radical thinking.
Wollstonecraft worked as a teacher and a
governess. In 1787 she first expressed her ideas on
education for women in her publication, Thoughts
on the Education of Daughters. She began working
as a translator for a publisher and several of her
other works were published. Wollstonecraft’s most

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4 Enlightenment and Revolution

5635_MSH_Biography_Ch17.indd 4 6/28/05 2:03:41 PM

Name Class Date

Mary Wollstonecraft, continued Biography

important work, A Vindication of the Rights of

Woman, was published in 1792. It was the first
major document on women’s right to education.
Wollstonecraft argued that the practice of training
women to be shallow and incompetent in affairs
outside of the home was a mistake. She said that
educated women would make better wives and
mothers, and would also be capable workers.
Wollstonecraft called for a radical reform of the
educational system to include women.
Sadly, Wollstonecraft’s arguments caused great
controversy but little action. It wasn’t until the rise
of the women’s movement in the mid-1800s that
her ideas were revived and influenced the feminist
movements in Europe and the United States.
In 1798 Wollstonecraft married British political
reformer William Godwin. Their daughter, Mary
Wollstonecraft Shelley, is best known for writing the
novel Frankenstein.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

1. Recall What was the theme of Mary Wollstonecraft’s publication, A Vindication of
the Rights of Woman?

2. Evaluate Think about King James’s quote, “To make women learned and foxes
tame has the same effect—to make them more cunning.” Why do you think many
men did not want women to be educated?

ACTIVITY
Imagine that you are the headmaster at a school for boys in the 1700s.
Mary Wollstonecraft writes a letter asking you to accept some talented
girls in your school. What arguments might she give to convince you to
accept the girls in your school? Write a copy of the type of letter you think
that Wollstonecraft might send you, and another letter with your reply.

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5 Enlightenment and Revolution
Enlightenment and Revolution Answer Key

Vocabulary Builder Biography

Section 1 Mary Wollstonecraft
1. the Age of Reason WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
2. a social gathering held to discuss ideas 1. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
3. a non-religious movement was about women’s rights to formal
4. Mary Wollstonecraft education.
5. Voltaire 2. Accept reasonable answers.
6. Enlightenment
7. secular Biography Charles Louis
8. Adam Smith
9. Denis Diderot Montesquieu
10. salon WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. The three classifications of government in
Vocabulary Builder Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws are; the
republic, based on virtue; monarchy, based
Section 2 on honor; and despotism, based on fear.
1. true 2. Possible answers: The aspects of
2. false—John Locke argued for government Montesquieu’s thinking that may have
as a contract between the ruler and influenced the American Constitution
the people. are his belief in the importance of human
3. false—Charles Louis Montesquieu dignity and the evils of despotism,
believed that a government should be slavery and intolerance. He argued that
divided into separate bodies, or branches, government should be divided into three
to protect people’s freedom. separate powers; legislative, executive,
4. false—Benjamin Franklin argued against and judicial working independently of
“taxation without representation” when each other.
he addressed Parliament’s House of
Commons stating that the colonists had Biography
no representative in Parliament.
5. true Thomas Jefferson
6. true WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
7. true 1. Jefferson’s most important achievement as
president was the Louisiana Purchase.
Vocabulary Builder 2. Possible Answer: The main difference
between the Federalist and the Republican
Section 3 parties was that the Federalists wanted
1. regime a strong central government while the
2. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Republicans wanted a decentralized
the Citizen government with strong individual
3. English Bill of Rights state rights.
4. Declaration of Independence
5. Bastille
6. First Continental Congress
7. unalienable
8. Articles of Confederation
9. U.S. Constitution
10. Magna Carta; English Bill of Rights

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35 Enlightenment and Revolution