Women's Role In The American Revolution

During the American Revolution, not only did men have to face the struggles of war time atmosphere, but women had to as well. The country during the war was divided into three different groups of people; the loyalists, the patriots and the remaining people who did not care. Catherine Van Cortlandt, a loyalist had to endure different struggles then the patriot women Eliza Pinckney and Abigail Adams. However, parts of their stories are similar when it came to their family struggles.

The role of women played in any given war is quite often severely underestimated. This sentiment especially goes for the American Revolutionary War, where women actually played an absolutely essential role in our victory against the British. Not only where there different types of women who had helped, but there were many different ways each of them helped--particularly as nurses to help save lives and tend to injured soldiers. Without women helping in the war, we would have most certainly lost (National History Education Clearinghouse).

     The revolution also changes the status of women in the 15 years following the American Revolution. There was a push to allow for better women’s education. In 1789, Massachusetts passed a law insisting elementary schools be open to both girls and boys. Girls from rich families had the ability to receive a good education on subjects including math, history and geography. A large advocate of women’s education was Judith Sargent Murray, who argued men and women had equal intellectual abilities, but women’s lack of chances is what made them appear inferior. Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, also called for legal reform in order to prevent male tyranny over women. Some even went further and called for the right of women to vote. This was still denied to women, however, and it would not be over 100 years later until they were granted this right. Despite some small advances for women’s rights, there was still a notion of inferiority to men.

Women generally did not fight in the revolution, and the traditional status of Eighteenth Century women meant that they were not publicly able to participate fully in the debates over the revolution. However, in their own sphere, and sometimes out of it, woman participated fully in the revolution in all the ways that their status and custom allowed.

The American Revolution was a war between the 13 colonies and Great Britain. The colonies, trying to gain their freedom, revolted against their mother country, which resulted in a war. The war lasted from 1765 to 1783 and as a result, the colonies gained independence from Great Britain and became the United States of America. While white, male Americans participated in the American Revolution, women, African Americans, and foreigners were also involved. While women, African Americans, and foreigners participated in the American Revolution, their contributions and motivations varied.

Women serving in the military is a topic that most people have very strong convictions on. Rather you are for or against women serving, you can find strong opinions that support both sides in this contentious dispute. Women have struggled to fit into the military life for years. Even though woman have fought alongside men in each key battle from the start of the American Revolution, they still find it hard to shake the stereo types about woman who serve. Woman have always had to cloak themselves in a masquerade of sorts to serve alongside men. When woman were finally accepted into the military, they were given secondary roles to the men. The Pentagon has just recently began to realize that gender really do not matter on the battlefield. Since the Pentagons enlightenment, one can now see progress in the integration of women in all expanding military careers. Women have always proven that they are not only an asset to the military but they are the strength of the America’s military.

By declaring independence, America demonstrated that it was possible to overthrow “old regimes”. This was the first time a colony had rebelled and successfully asserted its rights to self-government and nationhood. This inspired many European nations and colonies to revolt.

Roles of Women during the Revolution Contrary to popular belief, men weren’t the only people creating an impact in the Revolutionary War. You often hear the names of male individuals awarded credit for our country’s independence, but women do take on difficult tasks during the war too. I am going to explain the roles women took on, the importance their hard work had, and examples of females that left a significant impact on the war. Women clearly took on the duties of seamstresses, cooks, and maids, but also took on the more interesting jobs of nurses, soldiers, and spies. To begin, many women adopted the position of being a nurse during the American Revolution.

The American Revolution was the war that formed America. Many years ago, Brittan controlled America. They were tyrannical people that didn’t give fair rights to the colonizers in America. The common people formed a militia to fight against England. It started out with small riots and things like the Boston Tea Party. The fist battles of the war were in the towns of Lexington and Concord. The English army fought and won many of the battles in America. Eventually England was defeated and America gained their independence. They made General George Washington their president, and he led them to become a strong nation. Eventually they made the Constitution which made laws that protected the people’s rights, so they wouldn’t become tyrannical

During the American Revolution, colonists united to fight Britain for their natural rights. Often forgotten heroes are the ladies, who have found their own ways to shape their country. Their ideas have been implemented keeping in mind women's place in society. Some of these contributions to the Revolution include dressing up as men, boycotting British goods, and influencing others' political opinions among many others. There is no doubt that women have made their mark in the American Revolution in numerous ways.

The Revolutionary War had an affect on women due to the fact that men assumed that it was their war alone, and women were not to be consulted on the political affairs that were involved to develop judgment on gaining freedom from the British. However, women were often used as spies during the war, because men never would think that women were involved with providing help during the war. “Women were challenged to commit themselves as politically and then to justify their allegiance. The war raised once again the old question of whether a woman could be a patriot – that is, an essentially political person – and it also raised the question of what form female patriotism might take,” (Kerber: pg. 9). Kerber essentially argues that women often had to prove themselves that they also were fighting for their rights during the war and providing the help that was necessary. Women were patriots as well as willing to fight for their country’s freedom to belong in the new America.

Women took on many different roles during the Revolutionary War, such as cooks, nurses and maids. Those were traditional and to be expected. But then there are the more before their time roles. Women would act as secret or replacement soldiers and spies, too. Let’s start with the common roles of Women of the Army: seamstresses; maids; cooks; water bearers and laundresses.

Women had many roles in the Revolutionary War. Some women worked as nurses, cooks and maids and others just worked at home. When an opportunity came to explore the outside world and feel more appreciated for the work that was being put in, many took advantage of that opportunity. Women who were nurses and caregivers were really helpful because they helped to discover new ways to treat and care for people who were sick. I would say women were definitely motivated in participating because they wanted a change in the way women were viewed. Men always got most of the credit, and women wanted to receive the credit they deserved back.

Men believed all women could do is stay at home and take care of their children. Men also thought that they did not fight in a revolution for women to get equality. Women wanted to take part in their political interest, but men did not allow them because they thought women were not able to be in charge or thought their opinion did not matter. When soldiers returned from fighting in the revolutionary war they were surprised to see that their wives were

The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a time of great change in America. American men were fighting for their right to be free from an oppressive ruler 3000 miles away. They wanted to have their say about what went on in their own country. America won the Revolution and its freedom, but while this was going on something else was happening. Internally changes were coming about too during all this fighting. The Revolution was the catalyst for women to make progress towards freedom. Women were making economic and political gains to further women's rights.