The American Revolution was a colonial revolt in which America fought for its independence from Britain. Several groups of people stepped up to contribute during the Revolution that deserve a great deal of recognition. Beginning with women, who in spite of their low position in society still served in a variety of ways. Women took on the roles of men when men were away at war. There were women who were bold enough to serve on the battlefield alongside men. They were determined to prove that they were just as capable of doing what men could do. African Americans, both free and enslaved, also served in the Continental Army. African Americans fought bravely and eagerly, as some even ended up becoming heroes. They were willing to be a helping hand and would even lie to be able to fight for America’s independence as well as their own. Foreigners were another group who supported America by providing trainers and leaders. Foreigners also supported America financially to get the army the supplies it needed. Without the help or support of all these different groups of people, America may not have won its independence. Despite the low position women held in society, they participated in any way they could during the war. When their husbands were away fighting, they took over their husbands’ positions as weavers, carpenters, blacksmiths or shipbuilders. Others transformed their homes into hospitals for the wounded, as explained in Document 2. Document 2 also describes how hundreds of
Many women would have to take over their husband’s normal work, such as running the family business, farm, or plantation. Women would often open their homes to soldiers allowing them to sleep in separate rooms or beds. They would also take in the wounded and help aid them back to health. Homes would also be raided by the British, taking and doing whatever they pleased, during this event women would try to hide themselves and their children to ensure their safety. The woman had to cope with the hard truth that they may never see their husband again after the Revolution. Some women would go to war supporting their husbands becoming what was known as a camp follower. Not all camp followers were soldiers’ wives. The role of camp followers included cooking, washing, sewing, finding supplies, and nursing soldiers in need. Some very brave women even participated in war first hand on the front lines. These
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 American Revolutionary War occurred when the American colonies wanted to become an independent country from England in order to separate from the British Monarchy and their strict control over the colonies. The colonists wanted a revolution, a change in how they were governed and treated as a whole. However, the American Revolutionary War was not as "revolutionary" as it was said to be in terms of race, gender, and class. The revolutionaries spoke of change, when really all they were doing was creating their independent version of what they wanted to separate from.
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.
After men leaving for war the women would take take over their husbands job. Many work in factories, farms, they worked on trucks, cars, and also worked as taxi drivers. Women working in factories would work on steel parts like for planes or cars. The women also worked on heavy machinery for war and also needs to survive at home and at the farms. Women also enjoyed working with other women.
The American Revolution, which happened during the last half of the eighteenth century, reshaped many aspects of life in America. The desire of the Founding Fathers to make America a republic played a very significant part in changing the role of women after the Revolution. The role of women as wives became more important as an emphasis on virtue was established; women were encouraged to find virtuous husbands and utilize their seductive nature to keep men virtuous. The roles of women as mothers also became more important in the republic, as patriarchy loosened and mothers were depended on to educate their children in the republican way. And finally, the role of women in politics was theoretically reduced due to the increasing demands of
The earliest example of women working outside of the homes during the Revolutionary Era, were "mill girls." These women were employed primarily in the textile mill industry as factory workers. It was the first time that women were able to break into the outside world and earn wages for themselves. At that time, the mills created boarding houses that were created exclusively for women. This allowed women to work but kept them socially separated from the men as some men did not believe that their spheres should overlap while dually protecting women’s “virtue.”
Women in the Armed Force have come a long way from their small involvement in 1775 during The American Revolutionary War. The American Revolutionary War was the first time American women played a role in the military. Women in this time were only allowed to serve in the battlefield as water bearers, nurses, cooks, saboteurs and laundresses. In 1861 The United States broke out into a civil war over the abolishing of slavery, this particular war plays a major importance in the women’s military history. This war plays a major importance because it shows that women still served in war despite not actually being a part of The Army.
The American Revolution played a significant role in lives of nearly every person in America. Most men left their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters in charge of farms and businesses when they left to fight in the Patriot armies. There were many men, who had no farms or businesses, left their women with absolutely nothing to fall back on. This led to a significant increase in the population of impoverished women in several cities and towns. Due to the ongoing war, there were many price increases that these women simply could not afford. Some would riot and loot for food, while others would lead popular protests. “In New Jersey and Staten Island, women launched
worked in factories expanding industrial output, and helped raise money in the community. The women are what helped keep the country running. When women filled jobs that were traditionally men’s, this aided the country as a whole because while men fought in the war, women were able to keep the country moving. Women not only worked in factories and offices, but working in the community played an immense role in helping the soldiers fighting. Women raised money for the war, collected blood, rolled bandages, aided in civil defense, tended Victory Gardens, and hosted troops. Some women still worked at home centering their work around what the soldiers needed. They recycled aluminum foil and other materials that were scarce, they raised children as usual, and mourned for the soldier that had died. Women were assisting the troops with all that they could in order to make life easier for them.
Women in colonial America played revolutionary roles. They played roles that were always changing. “All men are created equal.” It’s the basis in which America was built, but what about the women? Without women, men wouldn’t have been nearly as successful. But what exactly did women do? Well, different races had different roles to play within their population(WiseGEEK).
They opened up their homes to the wounded, raised money for and provided food and clothing to the Army. There are even several recorded instances of women serving as spies or soldiers in disguise. Most of the active participants however, were in the form of what was called "camp followers". While some of these were women were prostitutes, many others were wives, daughters and mothers of soldiers who followed the Army because they were unable to support themselves after their men left for war. They served the Continental Army as nurses, cooks, laundresses, and water bearers. These women became the earliest American examples of women who supported the military to "free a man to fight" as they performed jobs usually done by male soldiers.
Historians once presumed that, since women during the American Revolution had limited or no political decisions, and demonstrated little concern in achieving the franchise, they were fundamentally apolitical members of the society. In the modern world, scholars acknowledge the fact that women played a leading role during the war and they were actively involved in debates, which accompanied the movement towards independence, and that the war expanded their territories in their political and legal roles. Furthermore, the male welcomed women’s support during the war that was a very instrumental move towards the expansion of the women’s roles in the society unlike in the past when women were restricted to household chores. As women filled important roles because of the shortage of men to fill these roles, like managing business and farms, the idea that females were lesser than males started to fade away (Bielich, 2008). The laws prior to and during the revolution did not acknowledge females as equal to men in
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.
With over 6 million men enlisted into the war, their jobs had to be filled, so women stepped up to fill those positions. With roles as nurses, badge sewing, working in factories & shipyards, to selling war bonds, and even spying. Women were also working on airplanes in the Air Force, as mechanics. Women were the driving force of the United States labor and job industry. (The Role of Women in WW1) Prior to the war, women were expected to remain in the home tending to domestic duties such as keeping the house clean, cooking meals for the family and raising children. Women were not allowed to work outside the home, especially in factories, as it was deemed, unladylike to work in such an