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Political aspects of the American Revolution
Impacts of the american revolution
Women's roles in revolutionary war
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As previously stated, the most important reasons as to why people supported the American Revolution was to secure political and legal rights and improve the state of the economy. However, the true rationale for a revolt often differed depending on the person or group. For example, African-Americans and other minorities supported the Revolution because they wanted to create a future for themselves, whether it was by finding a job or fighting for independence (Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 63). In addition, the Revolution created opportunities for African-Americans to make social and political relationships that were previously unattainable. To elaborate, due to their participation in the war, whites were somewhat less apprehensive …show more content…
of African-Americans, and “. . . Black veterans could make new alliances with whites concerning their status in society” (Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 94). Slaves also supported the Revolution because they believed that if the country was earning its freedom from British rule, then they should “. . . Demand for the restoration of inherent rights unlawfully wrested from them” (Nash, Race and Revolution, 59). Basically, the American Revolution established a sense of hope in those who had suffered from violence and discrimination. Another group of people that was heavily impacted by the Revolution but often supported the success of the patriots were women from both the North and South.
Although women could not directly influence the outcome of battle, they could still contribute to the protest of British control and help their communities. According to Kierner, “Women could tend crops, make homespun fabric, and secure the home front, their patriotism fortifying the courage of their "dear husbands [who] are nobly struggling in the army for [American] freedom” (Southern Women in the Revolution, 1). Unsurprisingly, women were essential to the patriot cause due to their efforts to support their families and the American military. The rationale behind women’s participation in the war was to provide for their families, secure finances, and even increase the rights of women. To elaborate, women wanted independence from the British but also aspired to be free from a male dominated society. The possibility of political involvement, ownership of land and businesses, and improved legal rights all inspired women to support the patriots because if there was a new government, women would therefore have a chance to take part in its formation. Many women, such as Mary Sansum and Anne Armstrong, lost property, money, and even the lives of their husbands and sons to the Revolution, but still aspired to win the War and earn their independence (Southern Women in the Revolution Documents 13 & 16,
36-41).
The American Revolution had a significant impact on parts of society that included women, slaves, and Indians. Women actually played a significant role in the American Revolution, even if the proper place for a lady during that time was the home. The Cult of Domesticity agreed with this statement, believing women belonged in the home doing the chores and caring for the children. However, women were beginning to prove that they had a purpose beyond the home. Someone once made a woodcut statue of a patriot woman who was holding a gun and wearing a hat similar to what the men wore during the war (Doc A). Women were involved in the war as nurses, spies and aids. Some even cut their hair short and pretended to be
During the War for American Independence, 78 men were commissioned as general officers into the Continental Army by the Continental Congress. Many of these generals commanded troops with differing levels of competence and success. George Washington is typically seen as most important general, however throughout the war a number of his subordinates were able to distinguish themselves amongst their peers. One such general was Nathanael Greene. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Greene would become Washington’s most important subordinate, as demonstrated by Edward Lengel’s assessment of Greene as “the youngest and most capable of Washington’s generals.” Washington and Greene developed a strong, positive and close relationship between themselves. Greene began his life in the military after having been raised a Quaker. With limited access to literature and knowledge in his younger years, Greene became an avid reader which equipped him with the knowledge necessary to excel as a general during the war. Through his devoted study of military operations, firsthand experience and natural abilities as a soldier, Greene became an excellent military commander. He would become known for his successful southern campaign, during which, he loosened British control of the South and helped lead the war to its climax at Yorktown. Throughout the war, he was involved in a number high profile battles where he built a reputation of being an elite strategist who also understood unconventional warfare, logistics, and the importance of military-civil affairs and had a natural political/social acumen. The thesis of this paper is that Greene’s proven reputation of being a soldier, strategist and statesman would cause him to become the second greates...
Often historical events leading up to the twentieth century are dominated by men and the role of women is seemingly non-existent outside of reproduction. When one thinks of notable and memorable names and events of the Revolution, men are the first to be mentioned. The American Revolution was mainly dominated by men including George Washington, Samuel Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. There is no denying that men were vitally important to the American Revolution, but what were the women doing? Often overlooked, the women of the Revolution played a key role in the outcome of the nation. The women of the American Revolution, although not always recognized, were an influential society that assumed risky jobs like soldiers, as well as involvement
The boycott of British goods was an important factor in the lives' of many patriotic women during the Revolution. The women's' boycott of British goods helped back the economy of the colonies as well as create jobs for many women in the workforce. Many women were hired in factories where they would create clothing goods for soldiers. This point in the article is backed by Wendy Martin's use of examples of women who obtain jobs in factories and become the main income for the family. The weakness of this point within the article is that many women actually did not work in factories most women stayed home and created clothing on hand looms. Women during the American Revolution were left behind to tend to the children and the homestead while the men went to fight. This was vital during the war since women were the ones who created and supplied the clothing to soldiers, tended the fields which produced food for soldiers and families, and worked in the factories which kept up the economy. The strength of women maintaining the homestead during the war was that many were able to make the decisions about what their families, which was
The American Revolution provided many opportunities for women to break gender barriers. With so many of the men lending their time to the cause, the women of the American Revolution found themselves in unchartered territory. The men were away for days, weeks, months at a time fighting or building and rallying the nation, leaving women
The American Revolution was the cause of America trying to become independent from British grasps. People rebelled while some were pro and others were anti the main group of people that were uniquely affected were slaves and women in this great time. Rebellions were going as the revolution took place causing vivid changes in the aspects of women and slavery. It gave a new light to the women who had been looked down on the predominately controlled man society and hope for slaveries who helped fight the cause. These two groups were favorably affected by the changes brought by this war by furthering women rebellions as well as giving them many benefits from the ideals of the revolution, and not to mention slave’s role being a main factor in the war as they try to find freedom and with the lasting results from the revolution.
The American Revolution was a political revolution that separated England’s North American colonies from Great Britain and led to the formation of the United States of America. The Revolution was achieved in large part by the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which was fought between England against America and its allies (France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic). The American Revolution embodied and reflected the principles of the Enlightenment, which emphasized personal liberty and freedom from tyranny among other ideals. The American revolutionaries and the Founding Fathers of the United States sought to create a nation without the shackles of the rigid social hierarchy that existed in Europe. Although the American Revolution succeeded
Previous to their rights movement, women, by law, were declared inferior to men, had no separate existence from their husbands and every one of their possessions, acquired or inherited, would be passed on to the ownership of her husband. The children in a marriage belonged to the father alone and the custody of the children if one was to get divorced, was usually given to him. If a woman's husband died, she would receive only the use of one third of his real estate. They could be beaten as long as the stick was no bigger than a man's thumb and single women were excluded from earning a living, with the exception in a few poorly paid trades. They wanted to feel useful to society so during the American Revolution, women, who did not usually participate in the war, actively participated on the home front. They knitted stockings and sewed uniforms for the soldiers. They also had to replace men out in the factories as weavers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and shipbuilders. Other women also volunteered out on front to take care of the wounded, become laundresses, cooks and companio...
What significant outcomes of the American Revolution help shape our ideas or principles of government?
Women in the revolutionary war played an important role, they couldn’t even fight. If opinion and manners did not forbid them to march to glory by the same paths as the men. The women had to raise money for the soldiers’ clothing during the American Revolutionary war. The women were like stay at home wives. All they do is stay home and work for their husbands.
The Revolutionary War had a major effect politically on the Colonists, mainly the women. Prior to the war, women lacked all rights; they were expected to cook, clean, and raise families. However, after the revolution, women began to gain more rights. Women gained the power to be able to divorce their husbands if they chose to, something they never could have done before. “The expansion of the public sphere during the era of the Revolution offered women an opportunity to take part in political discussions, and read newspaper¬”(On The Equality of the Sexes (1790), 154). After the revolution women were allowed to join conversations that had to do with politics, they were given the right to educate themselves about the government by reading the daily paper. During American Revolution, some women fought alongside the men while other women helped injured soldiers regain their health. The actions taken by the women caused the ideas about women to change after the war, even The Revolution was accompanied by dramatic changes in the lives of women. Before the Revolution, many women were involved in campaigns to boycott British imports. During the war, many women made items for the war effort and ran farms and businesses in the absence of their husbands. After the Revolution, American women, for the fir...
Carol Berkin states that women were “critically important” prior to and during the Revolutionary War. Not only were women instrumental in the effectiveness of the boycotts of imported goods such as cloth and tea, they also raised money for Washington’s army and made clothing for the soldiers. While the men were away, women were responsible for farming, businesses, and maintaining the home.[1] Were the capabilities of women an intimidation to the white male dominated society, thereby creating a
“Sentiments of an American Woman” by Esther Reed suggests the role of women in the Revolutionary War weren’t just minor acts of submission to men. But, a major act of service to a cause and what they considered a young country that they so courageously work to defendant establish. “Sentiments of an American Woman” is a message to the women of the colonies to stand for freedom and the future it offers for them and their loved ones, for once there is justice for men e. She says “ if opinion and manners did not forbid us to march to glory by the same paths
During the American Revolutionary War, women began to inherit additional responsibilities. While husbands and sons were away fighting in the war, women stayed behind to care for families and run family businesses and farms. Women also contributed to the war effort by work in hospitals, fund raising, and weaving clothing for soldiers in the Continental Army. Some women even spied on the British and delivered secret messages, while a select few disguised themselves as men and fought as soldiers. Once women inherited these greater roles, they began to speak out regarding their rights. The 1790’s brought the concept of Republican Motherhood and the status of women began to rise. Women had the role of instilling morals and values in their children and producing virtuous citizens. Advocates for women’s rights argued that an educated woman would make a better mother, which in turn would produce better children and citizens. Opponents of women’s equal rights argued that there would be no end to it if they started granting rights to women as Slaves and Indians would start demanding rights as well. Even though the advocation for women’s rights was becoming more prevalent, it would be approximately 30 years before the issuance of variations to the Declaration of Independence proclaiming rights for
The Revolutionary War, however, did not contribute to the progression of women’s rights at all. In general, women’s roles in society were to be mothers and caretakers of the home. Their rights remained forgotten, despite the alleged revolutionary changes, failing to give them equality. Abigail Adams even brought this point up to her husband, John Adams, asking him to remember the ladies in their new code of laws. “ 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” (Adams). Abigail’s personal letter to John Adams highlights the increasing desire for independence and equality for women in the colonies, which remains unanswered for a very long time. Adams’ sharing of her personal beliefs in a letter to her husband emphasizes the gravity of her statement, the unheard voice of women desiring equivalent rights. In fact, voting rights for women are only granted in 1920 by the 19th amendment of the United States Constitution (U.S. Constitution, Amendment XIX). In the end, women’s rights are not touched upon by the Revolutionary War, and only improve slowly as many decades pass, completely unrelated to the Revolutionary