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Carol Berkin Revolutionary Mothers Analysis

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The Fight for Women’s Independence When thinking about the Revolutionary War, we think about the American colonist fighting against British rule for America’s freedom. In Carol Berkin’s book, Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the struggle for America’s Indepe6ndence, we are shown through women’s eyes how the war affects them, and not just the army’s that fought in the war. The war saw changes in women that were different than their style of life had been, although not always recognized by the men who fought the war. Berkin argues that women were still treated the same as before the war, no matter the struggle for independence for their nation and themselves. I agree with Carol Berkin, because women did what they could at home or in the front …show more content…

They had to obey every command, and never question it. Women were considered to have little intellect and were thought to be better served to stick with tradition roles. In fact women that read books were considered to have “lost their senses because they read them.” (Berkin.3). When their home was in trouble, women would not hesitate to pick up torches or axes to join the men as they marched to defend their neighbors against the British army. Even some women would go so far to gather money to put clothes on the soldier’s back or sew their clothes. Others would travel with the men, whether it is camp followers, who were women who washed, cooked, nursed, sew, gather supplies, and even in some cases be sex partners or spies. Women dressed up as men and changed their name to fight as a soldier, or General’s wives who just wanted to be with their husbands like Martha Washington or Caty Greene. Not only do we see the point of the war through the women’s eyes that resisted British rule, but also from the eyes of Frederika von Residesel whose husband, Fritz Residesel, who fought for Britain. Indian women also felt the effects of the war, because they thought that “if America won their social roles would be changed and their power within their communities diminished” (Berkin.107). African American loyalties “trying to make their own future, but not for the Congress or the king” (Berkin.120) were hoping to gain

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If women continued to gain power and independence then the fabric of society would disintegrate and gender relations would be altered, which men did not want to happen. Americans had a choice of keeping the practices and ideals of the revolution concerning women or maintain the social

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In the book Revolutionary Mothers, author Carol Berkin discusses women’s roles in the American Revolution. She separates out the chapters so that she can discuss the different experiences and roles of women during the period. She utilizes primary and secondary sources to talk about how women stepped into their husband’s shoes and maintained their livelihoods and how they furthered the war effort on both sides, as well as how classes and race effected each woman’s experience. Berkin’s main goal was for the reader to understand that although women’s roles aren’t traditionally discussed when talking about the American Revolution, nevertheless, they played a major part in it.

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They professed to feel betrayed. They were willing to risk their lives for the Union, they said, but not for black freedom.” They believed in the “legacy if 1776”, but that legacy was a white legacy and as soon as that image was broken, it broke their will to

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To start off women played an important role in the revolution while the men fought at war. Women took jobs like shipbuilding, blacksmiths, carpentry, or weavers. Others transformed homes into hospitals for the wounded, and some sewed uniforms and stockings for the soldiers. One woman who dared to join the army was Deborah Sampson.

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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’...”

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Military conflicts often produce unanticipated social transformations. The case of the American Revolutionary War is no exception. The war had awakened a new class consciousness through the struggle over who would rule and who would fight. Slaves and Indians began to see their way of life change by the outcome of the war and women began to expand their role within the home. But, not all things changed for these groups.

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One might think that men had the greatest role in the Revolution, but women had an equal role in making the Revolution

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Women were considered inferior to men; they had to rights and most of all no voice. Typically, as the old saying goes ‘they were to be seen and not hear’. Revolutionary Mothers, by Carol Berkin tells of the general stereotypes of women in America, the roles in which they played during the America revolution, and lastly it tells the story of the women through their own words. Stereotypes of Women In chapter one, Berkin states “God had created her to be a helpmate to man….and formed her for this purpose…to be frugal, and obedient (2005, p.4)”.

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Women also faced, “severe shortages of food, clothing, and other goods, while inflation raised the price of everything they had to buy. Spare parts for farm equipment were hard to find,” (Senker). That never stopped these strong females. Without them, the community life during the war would have been in ruins. The whole town would have suffered if females didn’t step up when their male partners left for war.

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The women were starting to work like men for example the women were producing and shipping the supplies to the War or other places. Also an estimate of 600 women dressed like men to fight in the War. This women will known Jennie Irene Hodgers gave herself the men named of Albert Cashier to join the

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In Wendy Martin’s article “Women and the American Revolution”, the author is trying to bring to light that the men of the revolution weren’t the only ones who suffered during the war and in the wilderness living on the frontier. In this review I will be discussing the evidence the author provides to support this. I will also be discussing what in my opinion what are the strengths and weaknesses of the article. The author states “most women stayed at home struggling with… the difficulties of running households and small farms alone, as well as the more serious problems of epidemics of dysentery and influenza.” In my opinion these women suffered just as much as the men fighting the war; they had to adapt to the role of being the breadwinner

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Most husbands did not like the idea of their wife being in the army with them because it was a “ man’s job”. Women who went with their husbands refused to stay home alone with the children. When women left home with their husband and they sent the children to a sisters house or to her mother house. Another women joined the war alongside her brother. The siblings parents had died when they were younger and they had been together since then.

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These statements were anonymously printed in newspapers and became a new and courageous move towards traditional beliefs. For the most part, it was positively received, especially when it supported the same causes that their husbands supported. Women became much more aware that their daily functions/actions could be seen as political acts and became concerned about their civic duties. William Tennet III insisted that women could save the colonies (pg.21) in which is what they fully intended to support despite the heavy costs that were imposed. Particularly, in the book, Berkin allows the reader to grasp the feeling of accomplishment caused by their previous efforts that were indeed successful.

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Limitations were put on women’s opportunities for religion, race, class, sexuality and age. As the war continued, the women on the home-front stayed busy with numerous activities. In the community women raised money for war bonds. They raised children and often mourned for those whose lives were lost. These activities would keep the women busy, not being able to focus on the reality of home life.

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Before I begin to describe the powerful roles of women at and around the battlefield, it seems as if many do not know the influence that women had on the male soldiers as they went off to war. As the bloodshed of the

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