The Great Divorce

Brittany Phillips | History 103 | September 29, 2015

Brittany Phillips | History 103 | September 29, 2015

The Great Divorce

The Great Divorce

INTRODUCTION:

Who would have thought that the word divorce existed in the 1800’s? It was more common than you may think. Divorce was not as common as it is today, but it was far from unheard of. In this book, “The Great Divorce” (by Ilyon Woo). Eunice was a very strong woman who stood her ground. She was the wife of James Chapman, and the mother of George, Susan, and Julia.

James Chapman was an abusive alcoholic that later abandoned his wife, Eunice, and kids who then became part of the Shaker religion. James was open armed and welcomed into the Shaker community. James was expected to share his sins and admit to his wrong doings, and when he did, they told James that he was to return home and try to convince his wife to convert to the Shaker religion as well. However, when Eunice refused to move to a Shaker village with James and the children, James took off again, and later returned to collect his belongings which included his children. With the years just passing by, Eunice spends her time fighting to get her children back. She went through courts, public announcements and threats to the outside community. 

As a woman, her case was considered shameful and dishonorable. In that time, the only grounds for a legal divorce were well-proven adultery, and a man could do as he pleased with his children as the head of household. Because of this social structure, Chapman was widely ridiculed and made to look like a lunatic for her attempt at divorce. Some claimed the case would embolden other women to rebel against their circumstances. These detractors demanded a speedy dismissal of the case. Even Thomas Jefferson objected to Chapman’s allegedly vulgar behavior.

  In the end, Chapman won her case. She was the first and only woman of her time granted a legal divorce and custody over her children in the...