Essay On Women In The Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War was a period of time when America would free from its constraints of Britain, and become their own independent nation. The men, the soldiers in the war were credited mainly for the pathway to freedom, but what about the women who also made efforts? Most of the women who stepped forward to help out and pave the way for freedom were looked past, or down upon because women were looked to be subordinate to men. Though the Revolutionary War opened opportunities for minority groups, including women to liberate and develop their individuality. Women's’ movements in the war may have attributed to the suffrage movement in 1920, allowing women to obtain equal rights, and alter their position in society. There were several women
who made courageous acts that contributed to women becoming less inferior. Abigail Adams, one of the most notable women of the American Revolution, and is “often referred to as the wife of one president and the mother of another.” (Bober, ix) But, she was more than just an accessory to her men.
Adams spent a majority of her time at home tending to the soldiers camped out in her front yard, while her husband, John Adams was traveling. She was also commissioned by the Massachusetts Colony General court to question fellow women to see if they were true Patriots or Tories. In addition, when officials realized they had not brought bullets or gun powder when the British fired on Boston’s Harbor, Adams quickly melted steel and metals from her household and made bullets for the soldiers. They recognized her from this as a loyal and faithful woman. (Revolutionary-war.net). Adams attributions to the men in the war kept her legacy alive today. She is seen as one of the most recognized woman from the Revolutionary War and has won herself a high place in American letters. Her devotedness and patriotism made her a trustworthy person in that time. She was also a looked-up to advocate for women's rights and always reminded her husband and other men to “remember the ladies.” (history.com). Her promotion of women's rights made her a role model among women in that time, and may have contributed to women’s freedom
today. Deborah Sampson, another notable women, took a different approach in helping in the American Revolution, and the pathway to women’s rights. Sampson was looked to as many as “ an unusual woman who would have found a way to break out of what Herman Mann called the ‘narrow’ and ‘contracted sphere’ that set the boundaries for her sex at the time” (Young 58). Sampson challenged the roles women were placed upon them. She started rebelling against these boundaries starting with religion when she left the Congregational Church and joined the Baptist Church despite the revival of the teaching of the Christian religion. Her revolting of gender roles came to a climax when she changed her appearance and demeanor to be more like a man. Sampson was not pleased to know that women were not allowed to join the army, and enlisted herself as “Robert Shurtleff” on May 20, 1782. The soldiers teased her playfully about facial hair and her less than average height for a man, but along the way she earned respect among the soldiers and was appointed as an aide for her helpful and caring characteristics. While everything was going the way she wanted in the war, back at home rumors spread about her suspicious activities, and gossip concerning her disappearance was among the people. The First Baptist Church of Middleborough, Massachusetts, where she had practiced, suspended her because of the rumors circulating that she dresses like a man and was in the army. Sampson was enjoying life in the army until she was wounded in her leg during battle. She tended to the wound by herself, worried that a doctor would be able to see that she was a woman. Over time, the injury never healed, and was infected which resulted in a fever that ultimately left her hospitalized. Here, a doctor found out about her real gender, and made arrangements that discharged her from the army. (distinguishedwomen.com) Following her discharge, Sampson became a model to young women and inspired them to challenge boundaries set to them. She gave lectures and shared her experience with people throughout New England and New York. She was also given a pension and was written a letter from Paul Revere. There have been other women who have done Sampson's actions and had been punished. Sampson was lucky she was not part of this. One last woman I will be talking about is Sybil Ludington. Her help in the Revolutionary War was different than the past two women I have talked about. Ludington was only sixteen when she made an impact on the war. Ludington’s father held many jobs and was loyal to the British until 1773 when he joined the rebel cause. On a night in April 1777, came to the Ludington’s house to signal them that British troops have attacked a nearby town and was looking for help from the colonel's family. The sixteen year old took on the courageous responsibility to ride 40 miles throughout the woods to warn men about the troops. (nwhm.org) Because of her, the Putnam militia played a critical role in the Danbury battle (Berkin 139) This is why people have pegged her as the ‘female Paul Revere’. The fearful and devoted efforts of not only these three women, but many others moved us toward freedom from the British, and may have even had a part in the way to the women's rights movement. Adams, Sampson, and Ludington all contributed different ways in order to help America become its own nation. Men soldiers should not be the only credible source of America’s freedom because without women’s help, who knows where they would have ended up.