The Role Of Women In The American Revolution

The American Revolution was a radical time in history that was best characterized by the efforts of the zealous patriots of the colonies; this included both men and women. The role of women in society is often neglected in historical accounts, and the Revolutionary War is no exception to this precedent. Women were indeed, directly involved with and impacted by the events leading up to and during the war in the colonies. In regards to the domestic life of women during this critical time, the daily-life of women was forever altered by the historic event that was occurring around them. An exemplary woman figure would be Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and Mother of John Quincy Adams.
Although Abigail Adams was directly involved in the politics …show more content…
Although this principal document was intended to represent the colonial population as a whole, it neglected to include the women of America as equal constituents that were deserving of these rights just as much as their male-counterparts. This sentiment is best represented in historical accounts of the American Revolution which often times neglect to incorporate the sacrifices and labor of women in the Revolutionary War. This evaluation of the life of Abigail Adams and the subsequent insight into the role of women in the war efforts will attest to the true influence that these women had on the events that led to the founding of the United States of …show more content…
Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren realized their roles as women in this time and stressed the importance of becoming an autonomous figure in the absence of their husbands; this is a sentiment that was echoed by many other women during the American Revolution. The two women also adopted a more firsthand involvement in the colonial government when, “[They were] appointed by the Massachusetts Colony General Court in 1775…to question their fellow Massachusetts women who were charged by their word or action of remaining loyal to the British crown and working against the independence movement” (First Lady). This more proactive role in the preliminary governments of the colonies was also replicated on numerous occasions by other women of the time. Take for example Martha Washington, who founded the Ladies Association in Pennsylvania which was responsible for raising money to assist in the war effort. Women of this time were not politically idle, and this is best represented by two of Boston’s most prominent women: Mercy Otis Warren and Abigail Adams. Serving as an exemplar for other women of the time, these two friends developed an influence on American politics that represents the quintessential involvement of women: educated and supportive of the American