Women in the Revolution by Mary Beth Norton explains the hardships that women faced during the American Revolutionary War. Throughout the writing it is explained women’s role in the Revolution and how they impacted the lives of others. In the writing it explains specific groups of women and how they were influenced by the war. Throughout the war women faced just as many difficulties as those who were fighting in the war. The efforts of women in the revolutionary war were very important in the course of women’s civil rights. The impact on women in the revolution was very powerful. The impact was stronger based on who the person sided with. If a woman was sided with the Patriots she had the freedom to choose what she wanted to do. However if her husband sided with the Loyalists it was more concrete. The wife was doomed to follow her husband’s actions if he had a differing political opinion. Under most circumstances women were people who worked at home. Once their husband swore loyalty to the crown they were no longer given such the luxury. Due to their political beliefs they “lost not only those homes but also most of their possessions, and that had to feel the alien lands as well.” (90). …show more content…
The revolution served as a time where most American ideals changed and molded to the new lifestyle. Out of any of the lives that were changed women were probably affected the most. After the revolution women became much more respected in the eyes of the average American man. William Hooper, and American citizen, stated that his wife Anne had shown “a masculine patriotism and virtue.” (92). There were also some negative changes with the end of the revolution, though. One of these was that women were still dismissed when speaking of women’s rights. Equality was still not reached and it created large debates between groups of
From the social viewpoint the war changed the lives and rights of women all across the United States. Many of the husbands left to fight in the Revolutionary war leaving countless women in charge of farms and businesses, roles which they were not accustomed to. Although the war did little to change women’s rights, in some states it did become possible for women to divorce and in new jersey women even obtained the right to vote which was way out of the ordinary in that time. Before the war both men and women viewed the wife as an obedient and serving spouse that raised the children and took care of the house. But the revolution encouraged people of both genders to reconsider the contribution of women to the family and society.
Overall, women were an integral and vital part of the Revolutionary War. While few fought on the front lines, others helped in more subtle ways that showed rebellion and helped edge the USA towards long-awaited victory. Men thought women were incapable of understanding the intricacies of war and were proven incorrect time and time again. Whether through spying, healing, or fighting, without women, Britain most certainly would’ve overpowered America in the Revolutionary War.
If America can forget the role of women and the support they provided, what other details have we left out of history? The book also points out a larger flaw with the country’s view of women. Throughout history, society’s view of women has juristically fluctuated. At the time of the revolution, women were meant to subservient to either their husbands or their fathers.
The first of many small changes started to happen as the men left to fight in the Revolutionary War and the women stepped forward. The contributions made by the American women became noticed as America fought for their independence. The war allowed them to seize tremendous responsibilities. In “Women’s Role in the American Revolution,” they note these responsibilities, “The war gave some women the opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to assume responsibilities regarded as male. Women took charge of businesses and farms, defended their homes and neighborhoods, gathered
Without the help of women, America wouldn’t have succeeded in gaining their independence. Truthfully and outwardly, women had special roles and tricks up their sleeves, and those things made everyone else in America flourish. Whether it be, accounting for how they started buying/making American goods, instead of English made products, joining an independence group/movement, or their portrayal/acts during the war. Women made a distinct difference on how the American Revolution played out, also how all Patriots showed England, America could be a self-sufficient country, even if everyone didn’t get recognition for it.
The American Revolution is mostly focused on the battles that the soldiers were fighting. But the women also had an important role in the war too. And this essay will be focusing on that role by looking in an excerpt of ¨The Sentiments of an American Woman¨ and what it suggests about women's roles, describing roles played by minority groups during the war, and the impact these groups had on the outcome of the Revolutionary War. In the document called ¨The Sentiments of an American Woman¨,it suggests that the role of women in the war was very important, just like the soldiers.
Also, many of the ideas behind the American Revolution caused Women to reevaluate their position in American Society. Women such as Abigail Adams, who called for the protection of women from tyrannical men, and Judith Sargent Murray, who advocated the right of a women to get an education wanted to increase the independence of the american woman. Despite their efforts, no change came about. What the Revolution did change for women was the fact that there was an increased expectation for women to be “Republican Mothers”, meaning that it was their job to raise children with American ideals. Women would not get any rights for many years after the revolution, but the American Revolution was monumental for the women because this was one of the few times that Women took an active role in a
As the saying goes, “a woman’s work is never done,” but today’s women live a far different life than their predecessors. The women of the revolution were courageous and brave-hearted. The obstacles of their time were far more difficult to overcome than those faced by women in this day and age. Whether it was slavery, war, or racial prejudice, these women kept their heads held high and worked to break down these barriers and create change for the future. On top of having to deal with these hardships, the women of the revolution had families to take care of, mouths to feed, houses to clean, and wounds to heal. For many women of the revolution it was all about taking a stand for their rights and being
History remembers The American Revolution as the war that freed America from the control of Great Britain. This was an important turn of events during that time because the British empire was considered one of the strongest empires. In addition, Great Britain colonized America. So for a new nation as small as they were to defeat one of the strongest empires shocked the world. The American Revolution was revolutionary for the colonists because it gave them freedom. The effect of the war was revolutionary to major groups as well. One group that it was revolutionary for were women. Women played a huge role from the start of colonization to even after the war was won. The war not only freed the colonists from the tyranny of Britain, but it
The Revolutionary War caused major changes in ideas about the the role of slaves, and the role of women, and the role of people in the government, . Before the revolution women were seen as being superior too men. Women contributed to the war effort by stepping down and taking over the households, family farms, as well as running business while the men fought in war. The Revolution demonstrated the power of women and the equality between men and women became significantly popular. Slavery was questioned which later led to abolishment of slavery in the northern states.
The fight for independence in the American revolution was a fight for both sexes. Women accepted the challenge to step forward and fight together with the patriots for the liberation of their country and also defend their homes. They took charge of business and farms, served as maids and cook for the continental army, while some came to the front to battle.
Pre-Revolutionary War period women were to thought to be inferior beings when compared to men. Women were seen as having a lesser intellectual capacity than men, thus prohibiting them from becoming engaged in any political, economic, or even civil matters. However, the Revolutionary War changed those thoughts and showed that women are indeed equal to men intellectually and are just as willing to fight for their freedom as the men.
During the revolutionary period, women were seen as inferior to men. Men believed that women were only capable of cooking, cleaning, and attending to the needs of the children. White women were very oppressed against men, and during the revolutionary period, women had the chance to shine what each was capable of. Women branched out and started a boycott against British goods with groups such as the daughters of liberty, and were nurses, maids, and maids to individuals that were not in the family but who were significant figures such as soldiers and spies. Although women of this period are not given credit, these women helped make the war be a success behind the scenes. Brave women during this period enjoyed the growth of possibilities being established towards women, and one woman specifically who did was Mary Wollstonecraft. In Wollstonecraft’s “Vindication of the Rights of Women” Wollstonecraft states, “let women share the rights, and she will
Introduction: Women in the French Revolution did not have a significant role in society until the made a stand for themselves. Women did not have equal rights of men, including voting rights, inheritance rights and weren’t looked at as equals in jobs.
The history of the most prominent revolution in American history was those in which women achieved the equal rights in politics, economic opportunities, and personal freedom.