Fashioning Political Economy: The Gendered Politics of Fashion in the Panic of 1819

The Panic of 1819 prompted dialogue about the development of American industry and the continued reliance on foreign imports. Economic conditions altered rhetoric about luxury and republicanism, making the production and consumption of cloth and clothing a site of contention. Moralists and politicians alike blamed women, as both the victims and perpetrators of fashionable excess, for the conditions that led to the Panic. Because women's consumption and production was central to the economy, however, women also helped reshape the meaning of "homespun," crafting an active role for themselves in national debates about American political economy and offering solutions to bolster the economy. Not only did women champion older forms of republican restraint; some also formed associations to advocate for interventionist economic policy. By positioning women as key players responsible for ending the economic crisis of the 1810s and early 1820s, the homespun movement reflected shifting values in a rapidly changing economy and mapped onto the growing partisan divides shaping national politics. Abstract: The Panic of 1819 prompted dialogue about the development of American industry and the continued reliance on foreign imports. Economic conditions altered rhetoric about luxury and republicanism, making the production and consumption of cloth and clothing a site of contention. Moralists and politicians alike blamed women, as both the victims and perpetrators of fashionable excess, for the conditions leading to the Panic. Yet, because women's consumption and production was central to the economy, women also helped reshape the meaning of "homespun," crafting an active role for themselves in national debates about American political economy and offering solutions to bolster the economy. Not only did women champion older forms of republican restraint, but some formed associations to advocate for interventionist economic policy. By positioning women as key players responsible for ending the economic crisis of the 1810s and early 1820s, the homespun movement reflected shifting values in a rapidly changing economy and mapped onto the growing partisan divides shaping national politics.