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How Did The Revolutionary War Affect Women

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The Revolutionary War’s Effects on Slavery and Women’s Roles In April of 1775, American minutemen and skilled British soldiers commenced a war that lasted for about seven years. The Revolutionary War brought about changes in American society in several ways, especially since America won independence from Britain. Two groups of people were heavily impacted - African Americans and women. The imbalance of American opinions on slavery and changing perspectives of women were major impacts of the war. Going into the war, slavery was an integral part of the success of American agriculture. Enslaved African Americans were the primary source for manual labor on farmland. The British used the mass amounts of angered slaves to their advantage, and when …show more content…

Wives, mothers, and daughters, of Patriot soldiers were left to operate businesses and keep up with the duties of farms. Other women followed their soldiers to the battlefield. Though their presence around the army men was oftentimes controversial - they were commonly regarded as nuisances - having women around to clean and cook, along with being companions, benefited the American army. Women that wanted to fill the boots that their husbands left, or step up to the plate on their own, would disguise themselves as men so they could participate in battle. Post-war women’s roles were seemingly regarded the same as they had been before. Even so, women began to speculate that their social rank wasn’t quite right. Unmarried women had some rights that married women didn’t have; they could own property and enter contracts. But the only reason they could do that was because there wasn’t a man around to do it. No women could vote, save New Jersey for a short time, or have any other say in society. Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, sought to break down those limitations. She entreated her husband that when he had the chance to influence the laws of America he, “remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them….” The patriarchy was in full swing following the Revolutionary War, but some men did develop a greater appreciation for the tasks that women shouldered and the duties they

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American Revolution DBQ The American Revolution changed American society politically, socially, and economically, as the American colonists overcame their differences and broke away from British rule. During the American revolution, Americans began to develop different political views than that of their European counterparts. Following the Revolution, the Americans created a new type of national government, a republic.

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The Battle of Vicksburg and the War did not only affect the lives of men, but the women were majorly affected. Before the war women were only allowed to take care of the home, the husband, children, and work in mills and farms (Encyclopedia Britannica). Women were not given a tenth of the respect or rights that men received, but as the war progressed that started to change. During many battles including the Battle of Vicksburg women were doing the household jobs, taking care of children, and doing the work that their husbands, fathers, and/or brothers would be doing if they were not drafted. Some women even disguised as men and fought in the war or acted as spies.

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888 Words | 4 Pages

Abigail Adams was a silent hero during the Revolutionary War. She never received a proper education and is known for the letters she sent to John Adams. The soldiers were grateful for her during the war and knew her as a silent hero. Abigail Adams was the first known women’s rights activists.

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1303 Words | 6 Pages

Information on the Revolutionary War typically focuses on the Founding Fathers and their actions that brought about American independence. Few women are ever spoken about, one might hear of Abbigail Adams or Betsy Ross but that is it. Berkin says that while women played no formal role in the revolution, they actively participated and without their help many men

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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

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801 Words | 4 Pages

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875 Words | 4 Pages

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1545 Words | 7 Pages

Men were always the workers within the family, the ones that were expected to provide for their families. When they went to war, their role within community life needed to be filled. That is when their wives, daughters, and sisters stepped up and took over. “In addition to caring for their families, [women] were left to supervise businesses and farms while the men were away fighting” (Senker). Women were already cooking, cleaning, and caring for their children, but still made time to work and provide as a father figure every single day.

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Women went from having a very small role in society to having a very large and important role. After the Revolutionary War, many changes in women’s education began taking place based on the expectations for the new citizens. The War taught the people that it was very useful to be prepared for anything. They saw the education of women was one way to prepare its citizens for success.

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