The Role Of The American Revolution In Berkin's Revolutionary Mothers

The American revolution was the colonist’s fight against their mother country for freedom. Most people think of the american revolution as a war that only had an impact on the men. However, women had just as big of responsibilities during the war. In the novel Revolutionary Mothers, Berkin recounts the involvement of women’s experiences on their home fronts and during the war through their involvement in protests and boycotts. Before the revolution took place women had nearly no rights. They were used to stay home and take care of the house and family. Although men were a big part of the revolution, Berkin’s focal point is on the women’s roles during the revolution. She specially fixates on the native americans, native americans, and the lower

These were the women who posed as men, so they could fight in the war, however this was not taken lightly. Berkin states that “women whose sex was discovered quickly were more likely to be punished severely, while women who saw combat before their sex was revealed sometimes drew praise”(60). For example, Margaret Corbin’s behavior was seen as nontraditional back then. Her husband was apart of the army and Margaret wanted to be by his side. She dressed in men’s clothing and at the heat of the moments stepped in for him when he got injured. Women were meant to stay at the house to cook or clean, not to fight in wars. Now, thanks to women like Margaret Corbin, women are fighting in wars overseas and allowed to be apart of the military or army without punishment. Women now have the right to be apart of any profession they choose and even have the same roles and responsibilities as

While their husbands were out hunting they would be farming. Molly Brant, born a Mohawk indian, married a rich landowner from New York named Sir William Johnson. Berkin shows that for two centuries“ Molly and Sir William represented the possibility of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between the two races”(110). This was however only while the British ruled the colonies. After twenty two years and all that Molly and the tribe had worked for, the American Revolution broke the harmony between the Indians and whites. She stayed a loyalist, helping her own people as well as the british, after her husband’s death. Molly was eventually granted land in Canada from the British for her assistance after their