Women's Contribution To The American Revolution

The American Revolution or also known as the U.S War of Independence and the American Revolutionary War took place during 1775 to 1783. The Revolution was a conflict arose from the residents of Great Britain’s 13 colonies and the colonial government. The Revolution brought few changes to the lives of women, while the men were away at war, women would stay home and take over the jobs men had before the war. As time flew by, women started taking roles in the Revolutionary War, examples of women who took roles are: Molly Gutridge, Eliza Wilkinson, Anna Rawle and Esther De Berdt Reed.

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

The problem of women rights is a very enormous conflict in the world which is still existing today. American Revolution is also known as a Revolutionary War. During the time of American Revolution women does not have enough rights. Before the beginning of the American Revolution, ladies were perceived solely as associate degree appendage to their husbands and fathers, while not taking any half within the political lifetime of the country. On the birth of a girl, their father soon decide their husband that who is going to get married with his own daughter. Subsequently, when a women get married, she is completely dependant on his husband and also a women were expected to follow whatever their husband told them. The time of American revolution was very significant because it bring change socially. On the other hand, politically it did not bring a lot of changes during the time of revolutionary war. It was the first time in the history of American Revolution, when women get a chance to take a job of their husband since their husband went to the war. Women got most of the opportunities to show their active social stance and thus, supported their own country. After, the American Revolution, the women political rights remained the same. However, on the flip

Evodie Saadoun Trevor Kallimani Hist 210 13th October 2015 Women in the American Revolution There is a proverb that says, “The woman is born free and remains equal to men in rights”. Since the eighteenth century, women still try to be equal to men and try to be independent. During the American Revolution, women were dependent on their husband. This meant they had to cook, clean and take care of their children. They were not allowed to do what they wanted.

"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.

Name: Subject: Tutor: Date: THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR Introduction

When the topic of the American revolution during the years 1765-1783 is discussed, the mind races through all the horrifying battles men fought, the declarations men made, the brave male soldiers they drafted, and the founding fathers who wrote the constitution. But what is rarely mentioned is all the behind the scenes work women were responsible for while men were off fighting in the military. The war disrupted their ordinary lives, and the everyday roles men were employed in needed to be filled. Women throughout the United States assumed untraditional roles to so that life would continue, now being involved in politics, factories, businesses, commanding the household, and helping during battle.

“Behind every great man there’s a great women.” This quote by Meryll Frost was first used in 1946 during his acceptance speech for the most courageous athlete of 1945. He gave credit to his wife and noted that he would not have received the award without her help. To this quote could have also been used to describe Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams. She was a courageous woman who stood out to against in justice. Throughout her entire life she stood greatly with courage and was also known for her loyalty for her country and family.

Information on the Revolutionary War typically focuses on the Founding Fathers and their actions that brought about American independence. Few women are ever spoken about, one might hear of Abbigail Adams or Betsy Ross but that is it. Berkin says that while women played no formal role in the revolution, they actively participated and without their help many men

The Daughters of Liberty The Daughters of Liberty was a group of women activists who fought for the freedom of the colonists from the British Parliament. They were a major factor in protesting against taxes and boycotting British goods. The Daughters of Liberty did whatever it took to free the Patriots from British rule. They accepted women from all ages and all backgrounds.

The Civil War was a series of battles fought from 1861 to 1865 between the North, the Union, and the South, the Confederacy, of the United States of America over the disagreements on the acceptance of slavery. It was a long fought war with high casualties on both sides. Due to that, even more civilians were needed to become soldiers, spies, and etc. Men were always the ones that were expected to fill those positions, despite some of them not wanting to. Women were expected to stay home as the men in their life left for the war. A female becoming a soldier or a spy or any kind of person that helped throughout these battles was unheard of. But there were so many women that did, some disguised and some not. The role that women held in the American

Molly Pitcher - Olivia Blankenship Molly Pitcher was a female hero in the American Revolution. She was one of the many women who played important roles in American history but one of the few mentioned. Molly was a strong fighter for the patriots in many well-known battles in the American Revolution. After the war, she became a very respected person. She is an inspiring role model for many women fighting in wars or just women in general.

In the book written by (Gavin, 1997) it was cited that “As women took over from their absent men in hundreds of new and challenging occupations, many of which had previously been considered inappropriate”. From the beginning of the World War 1, the German women were participating a great deal. They contributed to half a million-people working on the munitions manufacturing alone (Gavin, 1997). It also mentioned in the book that over in the U.S, the men in charge refused to let the women participate up until April 1917 (Gavin, 1997). The U.S government never formally authorize the enrolment of women, despite Army officials repeatedly asking for such personnel’s.

Before the Civil War, women were rarely involved in any part of the war, but during it, women started to help the war effort by becoming nurses, and now by joining the Army. Document 4 is a letter from a war doctor; in her letter, she writes, “my post the open field between the bullet and the hospital... I write letters home for wounded soldiers, not political addresses.” As women like Clara Barton become more willing to help in wartime, they get more opportunities to become involved; whether being a nurse or a disguised soldier. Another example of this willingness is shown in Document 7; it is a photo of Eleanor Roosevelt speaking with American soldiers in the Galapagos Islands.

Yet, women were expected to set aside their personal beliefs to insure that America could still make further advancements without its men. However, women still complied because they knew the responsibility laid with them to keep the nation running. Still, much of propaganda had a purpose to motivate women to lend a helping hand in the war. As Susan Mathis said, “The patriotic appeal had two aspects… ‘do your part’... ‘a soldier may die if you don’t do your part’...”