U.S. History Women in the American Revolution Notes

Lower Class women

-Some women took part in military combat where they fought by their husbands side but it gained little recognition. (devotion to following a man was admired) -Lower class women had no large estates and businesses to run while their husbands were away and they no provide for for their children without the husband. -These women became known as camp followers and they traveled with the army camps on both British patriot sides. there they could cook, clean and care for the wounded soldiers.

Jobs

-Women could be nurses, they did custodial work, fed and bathed patients, emptied chamber pots, and occasionally cooked. (Surgeons were typically men) -Women could be seamstresses, cooks or maids. these were one of the most common roles for women during the revolution. -The most common roles for women in the Revolutionary War were cooks, maids, laundresses, water bearers and seamstresses for the army. This was the first time women held these jobs in the military since these positions were usually reserved for male soldiers.

Upper class women

-Women in upper class and middle class had to take on the responsibilities of their husband while they were away at war. (Managing farms and businesses while also being able to take care of children) -Upper and middle class women wrote that they were less concerned about political equality. -For many wealthy women the war began at home with boycotts of British products -Wealthy women made homespun cloth to cut as many ties with England as possible -Middle and upper class women did not argue for redefinition of their role and status

Women in the American Revolution

-Women played vital role in the household economy -Women's roles were limited because of stereotypes during the revolution and some women were influenced by the revolution

Women and the Military

-Women were not allowed to join the military at that time but women still served as secret soldiers during the Revolution. These women usually disguised themselves as men by cutting their hair, binding their breasts with bandages and giving themselves masculine names. -These women were usually young, unmarried, and poor. They joined to earn money for their family and to fight for America's independence. -Women became spies and were usually working as cooks and maids for the British and American military camps where they eavesdropped on conversations about troop movements, military plans, and supply shortages and deliveries. -These spies usually carried the messages and supplies they gathered to neighborhood houses and farms without detection because the wars were usually fought on farms, city streets, and front yards of American's homes. Some of them were recognized and rewarded for their sacrifices with military pensions and pay, many were not.