… It had been discussed by female political idealists in France during the French Revolution, and American women (following the French at the time) liked the idea of wearing “trousers”. They had seen indigenous tribes wearing them.
With the concept of a new country where both genders worked hand in hand, it made sense to American women to have a garment they could wear toiling in the field.
(Photos: Left North American Ojibwa women and Right Cherokee woman of late 19th century in traditional dress which included “trousers”)