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Women's Roles During The American Revolution

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Spies, war nurses, and soldiers are what you’d expect to read in your favorite fictional stories. However, they actually existed in our own history. Furthermore, to the surprise of many, women were the ones called to fill these roles. Without their contributions during the American Revolution, many men would have starved, been killed in combat or from disease, or would have been captured by enemy camps. These women sacrificed themselves for the good of their country, whichever army that may be. Although thought to be unimportant and unintelligent, women taking part in the war may have been the most important “weapon” used by either army. Women took part in nursing the sick or injured troops, which was preferable to male nurses for many reasons. These women were typically far more gentle and soothing than their male counterparts, and could comfort the soldiers easily. They were much smaller and more nimble than the men as well, which made the job of healing soldiers quicker and easier. Also, every female nurse meant another man free to fight in the army. The job brought with it many deadly hazards …show more content…

Both British and American armies were looking for young women to work for them as nurses, cooks, and maids (“American Revolution”). This almost unrestricted access to the camp granted many women from the opposing side the chance to join the men as seemingly patriotic women doing their part for the country, while inconspicuously working as spies. Females were considered innocent and non-threatening, and not intelligent enough to understand military strategy. This caused few generals to look deep into these women’s backgrounds even though they were using women in espionage work for their own armies (“American Revolution”). Some women would even spy for both armies at once. These women took great risks and put both themselves and their families in danger

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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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