What Role Did Women Play In The American Revolution

During the American Revolution, fighting in the war was considered too much work for the women in the family. Only men were allowed to serve as soldiers during this time because they were the only ones able to understand military strategy. Although women were considered unskilled and uneducated about the war, they also had a great impact on the victory of the war. Because they severed several roles, women were the primary reason men were able to function during the revolutionary war. Women had a lot of roles in the war such as nurses, cooks, spies and so much more. Many of the women who took on these roles started out as camp followers seeking safety, housing, food for their family and work. These women needed the army, and while Washington and many officers didn’t like to admit it, the army needed women (“Revolutionary War”).

There wasn't much demand for nurses at the beginning of the war but when things became more complicated they were needed more and more each and every day. Most men that fought in the war claimed to prefer female nurses over males (Haugen 45). Not only because they thought nursing was a woman's job, not only because the men who
would be taking care of them. If it weren't for females that means there are guys that could be fighting in the war having to take care of others instead of fighting for our country. The women were paid for this job, it surely wasn’t enough and often times not consistently. They dealt with dangerous conditions and had little supplies to treat the wounded and care for the sick. The women weren’t just doing this for the money they were doing it because they cared about their country and the people fighting for its freedom. they also cared about the soldiers getting home to their loved ones and knew that they couldn’t get back to their lives until the soldiers could return home.

Although having cooks may not sound very important during the time of war, it was vital. Most women only cooked for retainers of the camp, rather than for the soldiers. Many of the most memorable women, such as a person by the name of Hannah Thomas, earned money cooking for the Generals who could afford to pay them, even though not all of them were in it for the money (Miller 72). Most women who had husbands or other male figures fighting would cook for them and their troops for free, Paid or unpaid, it was not at all an easy task. Most of the time they would have to go out to find food before being able to make a meal, which weren’t very big or filling for the soldiers that were lucky to have a meal to begin with (“History”).

One of the most interesting roles was being a spy. On top of their other roles, these women worked to gather critical information from the enemy, which could be very dangerous and required some skill. “According to the National Women’s History Museum website, most of the female spies worked as cooks and maids for the British and American military camps where they eavesdropped on conversations about troop movements, military plans, supply shortages and deliveries” (“History.org”). Generals and soldiers believed all women were innocent and non-threatening; therefore, they did not think to be quiet or private when there was a female near. Little did they know these females were reporting everything they heard back to General Washington. These brave women are sometimes referred to as “patriots in petticoats” (National Women’s”). At times, these ladies were made to disguise themselves as men to be sure they were not caught or accused of being suspicious.

Abigail Adams once said:

I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable

to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of

the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular

care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a

Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no

voice, or Representation. (Thomson 105)

She wrote this letter to her husband and the continental congress, urging them to never forget about the women when fighting for America’s independence (Thomson 105).

Yet women were still not able to fight in the war women still made an impact to end the revolution, honestly they made a huge impact on the way women are treated now.
the impact that the women of the revolution made an impact that can never be forgotten. These brave souls made a life changing decision to leave the safety and security of their homes to serve any way they could to help protect their country. They went through discomfort, danger, and hardship but it was what they lived for. Without their men and families they had nothing. They worked hard to take care of their families as well as support the men who fought to protect them. We often take these selfless women for granted and don't think about what they did for this country. Without the women in the revolutionary we might still be under britain's
rule.