Samplers, Girls, and American Experiment

Girls’ samplers reflect what the young United States of America aspired to become: a virtuous republic full of educated and industrious people. Vermont became the 14th state in 1791, a time when the success of the “American experiment” was in no way guaranteed. Education was understood to be the foundation of a successful democracy, but the role of women and their education was hotly debated. Stitched samplers were created by girls as lessons in needlework, literacy, and moral behavior. Like all schoolwork, they reflect the values of the society in which they were made.

How have the ideals displayed in girls’ needlework 200 years ago shaped the America we know today?

How are young girls treated differently/ the same?

What might a modern “sampler” look like?