Essay On Women's Role In The Revolutionary War

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.

In addition to all the roles patriotic women played in helping America emerge victorious, one of the biggest methods was nursing. Battle nurses were organized into army ranks, the highest rank having been ‘matron’. Their necessity was so that the ratio for wounded soldiers to nurses was 10:1. Even George Washington himself had found female nurses indispensable--he demanded they be present to help nurse soldiers back to health on and off the battlefield (National History Education Clearinghouse).

Have you noticed that in most history text books that the role of woman was

When the American Civil War began on April 12th, 1861, over 3 million Union and Confederate soldiers prepared for battle. Men from all over America were called upon to support their side in the confrontation. While their battles are well documented and historically analyzed for over a hundred years, there is one aspect, one dark spot missing in the picture: the role of women in the American Civil War. From staying at home to take care of the children to disguising themselves as men to fight on the battlefield, women contributed in many ways to the war effort on both sides. Though very few women are recognized for their vital contributions, even fewer are

“During the war about half of American women worked outside of their homes,”( Hughes 2). The number of working women rose from fourteen point six million in nineteen forty one to nineteen point four million in nineteen forty four. “Women were not just motivated by wages or patriotism; but buy the feeling of independence that they gained from the work,” (Hughes 2). Without women laborers the US economy would have never been able to produce military hardware to be successful in the war. Even though women played a huge role in the work force during the World War II, they also played an even bigger role in the war itself. Women played several different roles in the actual war. “A few of women’s roles in the actual war of World War II would be army nurses, spies, pilots and entertainers,” (Scott3). Women served as army nurses during World War 11, there were than seven thousand active nurses on duty when the United States entered the war. “Women also served as pilots, on September tenth nineteen forty two, Nancy Harkness Love, with the support of th U.S. Air Transport Command, organized twenty five women pilots into the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (W.A.F.S),” (Scott3). Women pilots were used to serve non- combat flights, to free the men for combat flights. “Women spies of the World WarII , they were often successful and unsuspected since people suspected women that women’s properly roles were solely domestic,” (Scott3). Lastly

While most women stayed on the home front, each contributing their own skills, some women grabbed a uniform instead. Nearly 350,000 women served in the army during WWII (American Women). First lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped give women the boost they needed to fight in the war. New organizations were created to accompany the new women soldiers in each military branch. The Women’s Army Corps, the Navy Women’s Reserve, the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, the Women’s Air force Service Pilots, the Army Nurses Corps, and the Navy Nurse Corps were the major organizations that women joined to assist the war effort (Women). Even though women joined the military, they did not necessarily fight. Many took over jobs such as driving trucks, radio operators, and repairing airplanes. They allowed more men to fight on the frontline because there was still a belief that women were not as capable as men. But, women were appreciated enough to receive medals of Honor. 1,6000 nurses were honored “for bravery under fire and meritorious service” (Women). Women’s success in the military during the war assured an eternity of opportunities for other women across the nation.

Nurses were very key in the war especially in World War Two. The numbers and the role of the nurses during World War Two became more important than ever. At the beginning of the war there was a large shortage of nurses to help with less than seven thousand volunteering. More women began to join, but not just anyone could serve. The women had to meet certain standards. To serve a woman had to be a citizen of the U.S, a registered nurse, and between the ages of 21 and 40. She also had to be checkout by the military to make sure she was healthy enough. She also couldn’t have children that were under the age of 14. During other wars women didn’t have any training, but this changed when 1943 rolled around. From that point nurses had to go through training on sanitation, psychiatry, and even physical training to make sure they could survive the tough conditions. Nurses also had to put up medical facilities if they needed to. Women had to go through all of this training because, they began to work closer to the front lines than they had ever had to before. The nurses were so close to fighting that they had to be able to come up with solutions fast and make decisions that could save or take a life. Nurses also had to learn how to use guns in case the time arose that they needed them. During the war some of the nurses wanted to go farther than just being a field nurse, so they would go to extra training to become flight nurses. Because nurses were so close to the front lines, and they had extra training, they were better able to serve their country and their soldiers when they need help (“Nursing and Medicine During World War

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.

The American Revolution began in 1775 as a war between the thirteen colonies in Great Britain and North America. There was a series of events that caused The American Revolution. This Revolution showed roles of woman at the time.When the war ended,and the colonies won their independence.Once the colonies won they all combined together to make the United States of America.

The history behind women in the military, in the late 1700’s women served as battlefield nurses, water bearers, cooks, laundresses and saboteurs. Overtime women were opened to other noncombat jobs. In 1948 the Women's Armed Forces Services Integration Act grants women permanent status in Regular and Rescue Forces in the Military. Executive order ended racial segregation in the arm forces. 1950-1953’s Service women joined the reserves were recalled to active duty during the war. Army nurses served in combat zones and more assigned to hospitals. 1973 the end draft opened to all women, women were promoted to pilot wings armed forces as a major general and women chaplin. The Supreme Court rules unconstitutional of benefits for dependents of military

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.

     “May 22, 1942, will surely go down on the record,” predicted the Christian Science Monitor. “It was the day that women joined up with the army...” It was obvious; the U.S. needed a larger military force. Thus women joined the army within organizations. From there came Oveta Culp Hobby, the director for the first American military organization of women. This organization was called the WAAC (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps). Many people were impressed by the strength of the WAAC and it is said that within three months, the AAF was discussing the possibilities of obtaining more members of the WAAC (Weatherford, p.34).

In the United States, women played an imperative role that is clearly depicted in American history. Women’s significance was apparent in imperative historical events such as the American Revolution, struggle for independence, and the colonial America. During the American Revolution, women contributed significantly, where they played an active role in the American armies (Wayne & Tiffany 213). In this case, the women participated in the war as soldiers, where they fought alongside men, with the intention of overwhelming nations that took part in the revolutionary war. Women such as Deborah Sampson, Hannah Snell, among many others played an active role (women soldiers) during the revolutionary war. Their active participation in battle accounted for their rise in high military ranks. The likes of Deborah Sampson were named aide-de-camps to revolutionary war generals such as John Peterson.

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.

Women have fought alongside men in the United States Military in every major battle since the American Revolution. The roles of women in the military have evolved over time to allow the incorporation of women in expanding military career fields. Women have proven themselves to be an asset to the military despite some of society believing women would weaken America’s military effectiveness. Today more than 200,000 women are active-duty military, this is about 14.5% of all military. Currently, women are involved in all branches of the Armed Forces; there are around 74,000 women in the Army, 62,000 in the Air Force, 53,000 in the Navy, and 14,000 in the Marine Corps (By the numbers: Women in the U.S. Military). Military women continue to