The Lives of Women in the American Revolution
Throughout history, women have always had a set role society, especially in America during the beginning of the nation. Society viewed them as less than males and therefore they did not have the same rights or respect, politically or socially. However, America began rapidly changing during the American rebellion and revolution. Not only was America fighting for its freedom from Britain, the women of America were also fighting for the right to be equal to men and to redefine their roles in society. Socially, women of the gentry underwent changes during the revolution that involved them entering into politics and started pushing the boundaries on their traditional roles in society. However, they did …show more content…
This examination paved the path of feminist thought in future generations that would eventually lead to the women’s suffrage movement. However immediately after the revolution, women were not granted the right to vote or the right to leave the domestic field. Women’s main duties still revolved around household work and her husband and children, which was no longer appealing to the wealthy women who had taken over businesses while their husbands were fighting in the war, or the women who left the home to work as school teachers or clerks. During the revolution women also became interested in politics and actively sought ways to get more involved. However, now that the war was over their voices were silenced by the men who just returned. Abigail Adams wrote, “Deprived of a voice in Legislation, obliged to submit to those Laws which are imposed upon us, is it not sufficient to make us indifferent to the publick welfare? Yet all History and every age exhibits Instances of patriotic virtue in the female Sex, which considering our situation equals the most heroick.” Adams, like many other women, was outraged that women were beneficial to the wartime efforts, but now that the war was over they were not even allowed to
Throughout history, women have always had a set role society, especially in America during the beginning of the nation. Society viewed them as less than males and therefore they did not have the same rights or respect, politically or socially. However, America began rapidly changing during the American rebellion and revolution. Not only was America fighting for its freedom from Britain, the women of America were also fighting for the right to be equal to men and to redefine their roles in society. Socially, women of the gentry underwent changes during the revolution that involved them entering into politics and started pushing the boundaries on their traditional roles in society. However, they did …show more content…
This examination paved the path of feminist thought in future generations that would eventually lead to the women’s suffrage movement. However immediately after the revolution, women were not granted the right to vote or the right to leave the domestic field. Women’s main duties still revolved around household work and her husband and children, which was no longer appealing to the wealthy women who had taken over businesses while their husbands were fighting in the war, or the women who left the home to work as school teachers or clerks. During the revolution women also became interested in politics and actively sought ways to get more involved. However, now that the war was over their voices were silenced by the men who just returned. Abigail Adams wrote, “Deprived of a voice in Legislation, obliged to submit to those Laws which are imposed upon us, is it not sufficient to make us indifferent to the publick welfare? Yet all History and every age exhibits Instances of patriotic virtue in the female Sex, which considering our situation equals the most heroick.” Adams, like many other women, was outraged that women were beneficial to the wartime efforts, but now that the war was over they were not even allowed to