What Role Did Women Play In The American Revolution Essay

he significance of women during the American Revolution is often greatly undermined. The war was not just a man’s war. The war for independence would have been harder and longer or possibly even lost without women. They helped through traditional female responsibilities around the home and community. Women supported home life, helped run local businesses, and provided for soldiers. Organizations were formed by women in efforts to contribute. In addition, women took an active role in the war. Women were nurses, cooks, and soldiers in the Continental Army. The American Revolution provided an opportunity for women to prove their worth and place in the new country being fought for.
Women’s Domestic Efforts Women stepped forward domestically to help during the war. Housewives often stayed home to raise their kids and defend their homes. They also used their “purchasing power” to support the Revolution. The Boston Tea Party is one of the most famous protests of the American Revolution; however, women had been boycotting British manufactured goods prior to the Boston Tea Party in efforts to show their support for independence. The Townshend Act imposed by England was a tax on glass, tea, and clothing. Women started the Homespun Movement in protest against the Townshend Act. They refused to buy clothing made in England and
Mary Ludwig Hays participated in the Battle of Monmouth. She is more commonly known by her nickname Molly Pitcher. Pitcher got her nickname because during the battle she would carry pitchers of water to the fighting soldiers. Her husband was an artilleryman and in charge of one of the cannons. When he collapsed, Molly Pitchers took over his job firing the cannon until the Americans were victorious. She became “one of the most popular and enduring symbols of the women who contributed to the American Revolution” because of her heroic actions at the Battle of