Revolutionary Women Essay

The Fight for Women’s Independence When thinking about the Revolutionary War, we think about the American colonist fighting against British rule for America’s freedom. In Carol Berkin’s book, Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the struggle for America’s Indepe6ndence, we are shown through women’s eyes how the war affects them, and not just the army’s that fought in the war. The war saw changes in women that were different than their style of life had been, although not always recognized by the men who fought the war. Berkin argues that women were still treated the same as before the war, no matter the struggle for independence for their nation and themselves. I agree with Carol Berkin, because women did what they could at home or in the front

In Wendy Martin’s article “Women and the American Revolution”, the author is trying to bring to light that the men of the revolution weren’t the only ones who suffered during the war and in the wilderness living on the frontier. In this review I will be discussing the evidence the author provides to support this. I will also be discussing what in my opinion what are the strengths and weaknesses of the article.

The Civil war brought large amounts of despair for people of both the North and the South. However, women during this time period were subject to a new sense of opportunity that would that would influence many to become leaders and take on important roles both on and off the battlefield. On the battle field many women were nurses and helped take care of soldiers who were wounded while others actually fought in the war disguised as men. Furthermore, women had important roles besides helping on the frontlines. Many took on new roles at home when the men in the family left to fight in the war.

Even though most history books have minimized women’s contributions to colonial society, Carol Berkin’s Revolutionary Mothers was able to vividly recreate the daily occurrences in women’s lives during the Revolutionary war. Berkin describes the roles of women through the eyes of the rich and poor, loyalist and patriot, and African and Indian women. The cover displays a gowned women clenching a rifle while overlooking the battlefield with nothing more but a solemn expression. As extrinsic as it may seem, it’s a good interpretation of just how much women were affected by the war and how influential they were in the shadows. Even the most pacifistic ladies became involved in the bloody battle in attempt to strive for the peace they loved.

Throughout American history women were put on the backburner with rights that a man had. When the American Revolution started women thought that they would have rights as a man, such as having a job and not staying home to care for the children constantly. These women came to what soon would become America for a change in their life and to stand by their man. Although it can be argued that it is important to keep the house tidy and children in check, does this really mean you are a bad wife if you do not want to do this? When war broke out women took to the fields as nurses and would bring water to the men. This would appear that women finally had their break, to be seen as equals. Many women had the chance to show their capability of labor.

This caused many women to be overworked and many died of starvation and exhaustion. Over 600 women dressed up as soldiers and many died alongside their husbands, leaving their children alone. Other women joined as spies or medical staff. Women weren’t safe

One might think that men had the greatest role in the Revolution, but women had an equal role in making the Revolution

Many of the women who were a part of union camps were laundresses or cooks; a lot of escaped slaves were hired for these jobs. Sadly, prostitution became a way of making ends meet, as women had no other way to feed their children. An orphaned, young teenage woman, named Ana Jones was one of the more popular prostitutes, and had ties with George Armstrong Custer and General Judson Kilpatrick. The position of a vivandiere was another role taken on by women during the war. Vivandieres would sometimes carry a little keg of liquor for the soldiers, but mostly carried food.

It is not known how many women messengers there were, nor are many known by name. This is because they would simply walk into an army camp, deliver their message, and be on their way (Zeinert 32). Sybil Ludington was a notable messenger who is many times compared to Paul Revere. She rode for miles spreading the word that men were needed in the fight immediately. Anna Strong was in charge of delivering messages to the Patriots in the New York area.

If women continued to gain power and independence then the fabric of society would disintegrate and gender relations would be altered, which men did not want to happen. Americans had a choice of keeping the practices and ideals of the revolution concerning women or maintain the social

Next to fear of shame, the theme of women as one of the motivations is emphasized in the novel. There are several instances where women are mentioned as some kind of a motivation for example: Henry Dobbins and his pantyhose of a girlfriend or Lieutenant Cross and pictures of Martha. These both facts can be considered as a motivation for a soldier mainly because of their love to them and the need to get back home from the war to see their loved ones. Indeed women play a large role in the novel itself but they cannot be considered as a motivation. Lieutenant Cross actually burns his girlfriend Martha’s pictures because they are a distraction for him.

Durn the American Revolutionary period women played a very vital but often overlooked role. Women made a huge difference with their contributions made towards the war efforts. They successfully boycotted the purchase and use of British trade goods which was successfully contributed to the dedication of colonial women’s willingness to alter their consumption of imported goods. Some women rallied to publicly denounce the purchase of goods such as in Hannah Griffits; The Female Patriots, Address’d to the Daughters of Liberty in America where she writes “Let the Daughters of Liberty, nobly arise, And tho’ we’ve no Voice, but negative here, The use of the Taxables, let us forbear” and “That rather than Freedom, we’ll part with our Tea”. Addressing

Many women dressed like men to fight in the war to show not all women are weak. No soldiers in the fight knew women were upon them until after they were wounded or killed. Most of the time women joined the fight to be with a relative or their fiances and/or husbands because they didn’t want them to be alone in the fight and they never wanted to let them go. Not only did women fight on the

How did their roles change after American Independence and did some women oppose these roles? Before the Revolution women held domestic duties like they always had along with staying subordinate to their husbands and their

The French Revolution had started in 1789 with revolutionaries and radicals overthrowing the monarchy and creating change in government and ideals. Women had played a large role in the French Revolution. During the time period a societal change regarding the rights of women had begun to take place. Three women named, Etta Palm D’Aelders, Olympe De Gouges, and Pauline Leon all have made immense contributions to the development of the French revolution by advocating for equal gender rights, writing to the National Assemblies and Legislatures, and expressing patriotism for their country.