The Pre-War Era

Women fought more than two hundred years in order to got the rights that were guaranteed to man in the constitution of the united states. Even if the revolution of the United States against the colonial Great Britain gave them more consideration among the society especially regarding the education of their children with the republican motherhood aspect, women were not equal to men and they were totally dependent of their husband for their entire life. Then, the civil war appeared in April 1861; during this war, which is considered as the bloodiest war of the American history, women were really involved and contributed a lot to help soldiers both of the confederated and of the union side. Some women engaged herself as nurse and gave care to the soldiers. Other tried to collect funds in order to provide food, uniforms and other things the soldiers needed. The most courageous disguised herself as men to fight within the army for their beliefs. After the civil war and during the reconstruction period, women were not recognized for what they did and it created a kind of uprising. The feminism aspect, which began in 1830, mushroomed. Over the years, after long years of fight, women saw a considerable improvement of their role and their place into the society but even

In England, educated middle-class women purchased and discussed the books and pamphlets of the era. Some also contributed to the era 's intellectual life by raising the issue of the rights of women. In Paris, wealthy women made their homes centers of debate, intellectual speculation, and free inquiry. Their salons brought together philosophers, social critics, artists, and members of the aristocracy and commercial elite. Women were powerfully affected by their participation in revolutionary politics, which in part resulted from Enlightenment thinking. Before the American Revolution women led boycotts, and during the war they organized relief and charitable organizations. Nevertheless, they were denied political rights in the new republic. During

Carol Berkin’s book, Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for American Independence, proclaims that the Revolutionary War was "the last great romance with war". It was more so a time of turbulence and disorder. The American Revolution did not discriminate against man or woman, class, race nor culture. The Revolution took a toll on the families during this time in history and it also made women important figures. Women were forced to take charge over their families and even on the battlefront. This was very intriguing to society because the roles that that they took on were not expected of their gender. Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America 's Independence illustrates the historical events of different groups of women and simply how women from a variety of backgrounds existed.

Several people equate being politically active to voting, however, even though women were denied the right to vote, historians and scholars recognize that women still played an active political role throughout the “Revolutionary Period”. The passing of the Townshend Act played part in growing women’s political self-awareness. One way that women were politically active was by boycotting British goods. They homespun their cloth rather than using imported cloth. They also substituted herbal teas and coffee after the British placed new regulations on imported non- British tea. Many assumed that a woman’s allegiance followed her husband, however some women where independent and chose the patriot side even though their husbands supported the British. These were relatively mild but effective ways for women to support the patriot war effort. Several women, such as Esther DeBerdt Reed and Sarah Franklin Bache, stood out by their actions during this time. Reed and Bache organized the Ladies Association in Philadelphia which

In the book Revolutionary Mothers, author Carol Berkin discusses women’s roles in the American Revolution. She separates out the chapters so that she can discuss the different experiences and roles of women during the period. She utilizes primary and secondary sources to talk about how women stepped into their husband’s shoes and maintained their livelihoods and how they furthered the war effort on both sides, as well as how classes and race effected each woman’s experience. Berkin’s main goal was for the reader to understand that although women’s roles aren’t traditionally discussed when talking about the American Revolution, nevertheless, they played a major part in it.

This tax, unlike the Sugar Act, affected all colonists rather than just a certain groups, such as merchants. This tax affected all printed materials, such as wills, deeds, newspapers, diplomas, and, surprisingly, playing cards and dice. Meanwhile, people in the colonies quickly took to protested the “tyrannical” tax. Delegates from nine colonies organized the Stamp Act Congress-- an assembly of people that protested the Stamp Act by sending petitions to the English Crown in order to repeal the Stamp Act. Their main argument was that the colonies should be in charge of taxing themselves. While the Stamp Act Congress peacefully tried to negotiate the repeal of the Stamp Act, the colonists took matters into their own hands. Many colonists joined by boycotting British goods, however, some took a much more violent approach. Colonists formed secret societies protesting British rule, most famously the Sons Of Liberty who called for American independence. These groups attacked in mobs by violently parading through the streets, burning British paper, ransacking some British custom official’s homes, and even tarring and feathering some of the custom officials. This caused many custom officials to resign from their position for fear of their

"These are the times that try men's souls" During the American Revolution it was a time where it seemed like all hopes of winning had vanished, it tested to see the soldiers bravery and stamina. The war started because of taxes that the Americans saw unjust, this soon led to boycotts and the Boston tea party. After major key events it sparked the seven year Revolutionary war. The final battle took place in Yorktown 1781. Throughout the war women, African Americans, and Europeans each played important roles in the American Revolution.

First off, many Native Americans had to choose sides when war erupted. Many of the tribes sided with the Americans; however, a majority of them supported the British. England promised to protect native lands from encroaching American Colonists. Both sides begged the Native Americans to keep their noses out of the conflict. But by 1776, both sides courted the Iroquois Confederacy. Two thirds of the tribes sided with the British, and a third sided with the Americans. Moving on, slaves were extremely important in the American Revolution. Over five thousand free blacks and slaves served in the Continental army. These extra men strengthened the military. They battled at Fort Ticonderoga and Bunker Hill. Lastly, women played a huge role in the Revolution. Many of the women became nurses to help aid injured soldiers. Some of them became cooks and maids for the military. Aside from the typical “women” work, some women became soldiers and spies. Women are not allowed to become soldiers; however, some do it secretly by disguising themselves as

The oppressive ruler Charles II caused many problems because the colonies went from being disregarded to having a multitude of new rules and restrictions. Before Charles II, the colonies were practically self-governing and enjoyed the freedom; England's colonial policy could accurately be described as benign neglect because colonies were ignored since England was in the midst of a civil war. Therefore, when Charles II's plans were in direct opposition to the independence colonists had had for many decades many colonists were left angry. In addition, Sir Edmund Andros was another cruel authority figure who caused resistance from the colonies. His unjust taxation inevitably hit a nerve in the colonists because, as history would later prove when the colonies opposed a tea tax, they were strongly against taxation without representation. Moreover, Andros places preposterous restrictions on many things in the colonies, constricting the freedom they once had and missed. The large contrast between how the colonists were used to living and how they were living now only made matters worse because they knew how much nicer life could be without strict English rule. Furthermore, the unjust relationship between both place left poisonous effects in the New World; more English officials worked in America, many who were unethical and amateur. As

After the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, tensions grew between the colonies and Great Britain. The era of salutary neglect drastically changed the relationship between Britain and the colonies. Although some colonial citizens encouraged the idea of revolution, others were concerned about being separated from Great Britain.

Women have numerous roles in this Revolutionary War. Despite the fact that women are not permitted to join the military, several women are still serving as secret soldiers amid the Revolutionary War. The absolute most usual roles for women in the Revolutionary War are laundresses, housekeepers, cooks, water bearers, and seamstresses for the armed force. Several women additionally are serving as spies in the American Revolution. As medical attendants, house keepers, soldiers or spies, these women are risking their lives to serve the nation. These women are accomplishing more than their offer to win independence for America. Numerous nurses are “camp followers,” which are daughters, wives, and moms of male troopers. Those male troopers are joining

Without women during the war, times would have been difficult. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton dealt with women's rights during the war. The sanitary commission took care of families and raised money while men were at war. Woman on the home front grew crops to keep the U.S. from starving during the war.

Each night she would hide in the ravine, change and join the other side at dawn. After four years of combat, she contracted malaria and retreated to Michigan to avoid prosecution. She then went on to write her memoir and donated all of the proceeds to the Union army (Sarah). After the war, she returned with military honors and found praise in her community. Another common misconception was that women were simply too weak to ever become soldiers. Women like Sarah Emma Edmonds and Loreta Janeta Velazquez definitely proved that theory wrong. Velazquez was a wealthy Cuban woman who eloped at 14 and went on to serve beside her husband in Texas. She used armor and braces to flatten her chest while also dressing as a man to serve as a soldier under the name Harry T.

During the times of the American Revolution, women gained a sense of self-identification, among other things. These times are important to women’s rights because this laid the foundation for the freedom and equality among sexes we come to know today. Women in the American Revolution gained new roles and discovered importance beyond the household duties of precious generations, by means of filling the gaps left by their husbands at war.

From 13 colonies to 13 states, America started taking its shape in Jamestown, Virginia 1607. Tedious factors such as, gender, class, ethic, religious and regional view help shape American identity after Revolutionary War.