Women's Role In The Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War was a time of political chaos among the 13 original American colonies. These colonies, still under British control at the time, had rejected the monarchy in order to create a country of freedom and liberty; as well as declare themselves as independent and rename themselves the “United States of America.” With notable men such as John Adams, Sam Adams, and John Hancock, we have the ability to remember how our country became independent and free. But the credit cannot be fully handed over to the men; the women of the Revolution also exist and play a huge role in making this country free from monarchy. Women such as Esther deBerdt, Abigail Adams, and Martha Washington all contributed their lives to creating independence.
But while the men enlisted and fought in the war, it was the women who faced managing on their own. Not only did these women have to provide their families with the roles of mother and father, but these women made sure that when their soldiers returned home, there would be a home to come back to and these women also had to improvise when materials ran out. The women stood together during their time alone. Women shared their secrets, helping other families out. Dealing with the household themselves was not all terrible. It was not completely new to some women to tend to the farmland, but many women obtained the feeling of more male roles as many women took on the duties and gained a sense of pride by extending outside of the home/garden and reaching out to the farm.8 Regardless of class status, the women had to keep what they owned alive as their duty. As these women were alone with their children, land and possessions were the least of their worries. Their children and their owns lives were at stake as well. The women knew that with the presence of the British military came the possibilities of rape or physical humiliation. The shame brought upon rape victims prevented them from speaking out even if unwanted pregnancies and venereal diseases could be used as evidence to the crime. It became noticed by an American officer that the British were
Reed published her “Sentiments of an American Woman” which called for a life of simplicity.11 With the start of Reed and Franklin’s fund-raising plan in which they produced a plan creating treasurers for each country. The treasurer would collect contributions given by women in the state of Pennsylvania who would then forward the money to “Mistress Washington.” The final step was for Martha Washington, who would then deliver the contributions to George Washington, the first soldier of the Republic.11 These women of Pennsylvania counties gathered together to support their troops when they themselves were struggling. After successfully carrying out their mission to provide their husbands and each other’s husbands, the Maryland Gazette carried a letter “describing the contagious enthusiasm for the project among Philadelphia women.”11 Seeing how Reed and Franklin put together the organization that provided money for the troops, they believed the money should be given directly to the troops so they can spend it how they desire, but Washington believed the money should be spent on shirts for the