Initial thoughts on Kerber

So far I like this book because of some of the questions it raises for me fits into some of our larger discussions this semester. Kerber in the first chapter begins by discussing the status of women during the time of the Revolution and immediately after. What she shows is that while the men of the new nation were pressing for a new republican government, they left in place a patriarchal system in their marriages. What I find intriguing about this comes from some of our other readings such as Gordon Wood who makes a point of describing the aversion the republican founding fathers had with patriarchy and dependency. I know that dependent relationships existed in America as republican ideas were being asserted like slavery and Roediger's hirelings, but the people who were under dependent relationships were looked upon with disdain and certainly would not have been viewed as having the ability to participate in government. However, the men left in place a system of patriarchy with their relationships to their wives. Yet we have Holton's depictions of Abigail Adams who was constantly making large financial decisions for her husband John while he was away. I guess the question it raises for me is, if dependent relationships were seen with skepticism under republican ideals, how did the founding fathers justify leaving in place patriarchal relationships with their wives? Also if people living under dependent relationships were looked upon with skepticism  how did men living under republican values truly feel about their wives?