American Revolution
Though the American Revolution may have been fought on the context of greater equality and rights, the rights of several groups of American colonists were compromised by the rest in their fight for independence, including women, slaves, British Loyalists and the lower-class of the society.
WOMEN
Most colonists who led the revolution, including New Englander John Adams, believed that most women lacked the necessary intellect or emotional make-up to deal with complex political issues, and were not worthy enough to be considered citizens of the new country of America.
Though many women such as Mary Wollstonecraft and John Adam’s wife Abigail Adams considered the Revolution to be the perfect opportunity for freedom and equal rights for American women, their calls for equality for women were ignored. Abigail implored Adams in her letter dated March 31st 1776 to “Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors,” as the founding fathers debated forming a new nation and prepared to draft a code of laws. Despite this, the founding fathers failed to make codifying women’s rights a priority as the Declaration of Independence in 1776 states ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ thus excluding women from these rights. Women in America were not granted the right to vote until 1919. As women made up about half of the population, the fact that they were not granted equal rights in the decision-making of the country shows how the American Revolution did not result in equality, and when it was taking place, the rights of women were neglected.
LOYALISTS
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution. Between 15 and 20 percent of the 2.5 million whites in the colonies were Loyalists. Many Loyalists were threatened with public
WOMEN
Most colonists who led the revolution, including New Englander John Adams, believed that most women lacked the necessary intellect or emotional make-up to deal with complex political issues, and were not worthy enough to be considered citizens of the new country of America.
Though many women such as Mary Wollstonecraft and John Adam’s wife Abigail Adams considered the Revolution to be the perfect opportunity for freedom and equal rights for American women, their calls for equality for women were ignored. Abigail implored Adams in her letter dated March 31st 1776 to “Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors,” as the founding fathers debated forming a new nation and prepared to draft a code of laws. Despite this, the founding fathers failed to make codifying women’s rights a priority as the Declaration of Independence in 1776 states ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ thus excluding women from these rights. Women in America were not granted the right to vote until 1919. As women made up about half of the population, the fact that they were not granted equal rights in the decision-making of the country shows how the American Revolution did not result in equality, and when it was taking place, the rights of women were neglected.
LOYALISTS
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution. Between 15 and 20 percent of the 2.5 million whites in the colonies were Loyalists. Many Loyalists were threatened with public