Women's Rights: Before and After the American Revolution
Women’s Rights: Before and After the
American Revolution The American Revolution played a significant role in lives of nearly every person in America. Most men left their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters in charge of farms and businesses when they left to fight in the Patriot armies. There were many men, who had no farms or businesses, left their women with absolutely nothing to fall back on. This led to a significant increase in the population of impoverished women in several cities and towns. Due to the ongoing war, there were many price increases that these women simply could not afford. Some would riot and loot for food, while others would lead popular protests. “In New Jersey and Staten Island, women launched attacks on occupying British troops, whom they were required to house and feed at considerable expense.” (Brinkley, p150)
The letters from Abigail Adams to her husband, John Adams, gives an insight to how women may have felt about the many difficulties they faced when their men went off to war. Her letters speak of the struggles she faced while trying to run the family farm, raise and educate their children, and deal with many wartime issues. (Stuart, Secondary Source) Nearly every woman who stayed behind was faced with these issues. However, not all women chose to stay behind. Many flocked to the camps of Patriot armies to join their family members. “Sometimes by choice, but most often out of economic necessity or because they had been driven from their homes by the enemy (and by the smallpox and dysentery the British army carried with it” (Brinkley, pg 150) Though most men, including George Washington, saw female presence at camp as disruptive and distracting, there were many reasons that women were of great value to the new army, which had yet to develop an adequate system of supply and auxiliary services. For example, the presence of women had increased army morale. They would also perform the necessary tasks, such as
American Revolution The American Revolution played a significant role in lives of nearly every person in America. Most men left their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters in charge of farms and businesses when they left to fight in the Patriot armies. There were many men, who had no farms or businesses, left their women with absolutely nothing to fall back on. This led to a significant increase in the population of impoverished women in several cities and towns. Due to the ongoing war, there were many price increases that these women simply could not afford. Some would riot and loot for food, while others would lead popular protests. “In New Jersey and Staten Island, women launched attacks on occupying British troops, whom they were required to house and feed at considerable expense.” (Brinkley, p150)
The letters from Abigail Adams to her husband, John Adams, gives an insight to how women may have felt about the many difficulties they faced when their men went off to war. Her letters speak of the struggles she faced while trying to run the family farm, raise and educate their children, and deal with many wartime issues. (Stuart, Secondary Source) Nearly every woman who stayed behind was faced with these issues. However, not all women chose to stay behind. Many flocked to the camps of Patriot armies to join their family members. “Sometimes by choice, but most often out of economic necessity or because they had been driven from their homes by the enemy (and by the smallpox and dysentery the British army carried with it” (Brinkley, pg 150) Though most men, including George Washington, saw female presence at camp as disruptive and distracting, there were many reasons that women were of great value to the new army, which had yet to develop an adequate system of supply and auxiliary services. For example, the presence of women had increased army morale. They would also perform the necessary tasks, such as
Cited: 1. Adams, Abigail (1735-1826). Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 31 March - 5 April 1776. 4 pages Brinkley, Alan, American History: A Survey Vol. 1 13th Edition, New York City: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2009. Print 2. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society. Source of transcription: Butterfield, L.H., ed. Adams Family Correspondence. Vol. 1. Cambridge, Mass. :Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1963. Primary Source 3. Stuart, Gilbert. "A. Adams / from an original painting by Gilbert Stuart." 1 print : engraving. New York : Johnson, Wilson & Co. Publishers, [between 1830 and 1860[(?)]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, ID: LC-USZ62-10016. Original image number: 3a12454. Secondary Source 4. J. C. Armytage after Alonzo Chappel, "Molly Pitcher at the Battle of Monmouth. June 1778. Copy of engraving by J. C. Armytage after Alonzo Chappel., 1931 - 1932." Record Group 148: Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch, National Archives Still Picture Records LICON, Special Media Archives Services Division, NAIL Control Number: NWDNS-148-GW-923. Tertiary Source 5. “Republican Motherhood” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Motherhood, Wikipedia, web, last edited on 26 October 2011