Semester of Creation
Spring 4-21-2026
Submission Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in History
Department
History
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Marianne Holdzkom
Course Number
HIST4495
Course Title
US History Research Seminar
Description of Work
In this work, delaPortilla analyzes the Homespun Movement, a boycott largely led by women during the American Revolution that encouraged the use of homespun fabrics to avoid purchasing fabrics from Europe. DelaPortilla argues that the homespun movement was not as widespread as existing historiography allows us to believe and explains that the movement was largely limited to people of means who could afford to commit to a fully homespun lifestyle. DelaPortilla further argues that the forceful application of the homespun movement in New England largely contributed to the mass criticism and in some occasions abuse of women.