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AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Before the Revolution: The Thirteen Colonies are in pink

The American Revolution was predicated by a number of ideas and events that,

combined, led to a political and social separation of colonial possessions from thehome nation and a coalescing of those former individual colonies into anindependent nation.

The American revolutionary era began in 1763, after a series of victories by Britishforces at the conclusion of the French and Indian War that ended the Frenchmilitary threat to British North American colonies. Adopting the policy that thecolonies should pay a larger proportion of the costs associated with keeping them inthe Empire, Britain imposed a series of direct taxes (later known as the "StampAct"), followed by other laws intended to demonstrate British authority, all of whichproved extremely unpopular in America. Because the colonies lacked electedrepresentation in the governing British Parliament, many colonists considered thelaws to be illegitimate and a violation of their rights as Englishmen. In 1772, groupsof colonists began to create Committees of Correspondence, which would lead totheir own Provincial Congresses in most of the colonies. In the course of two years,the Provincial Congresses or their equivalents rejected the Parliament andeffectively replaced the British ruling apparatus in the former colonies, culminatingin 1774 with the coordinating First Continental Congress.[3] In response to protestsin Boston over Parliament's attempts to assert authority, the British sent combattroops, dissolved local governments, and imposed direct rule by Royal officials.Consequently, the Colonies mobilized their militias, and fighting broke out in 1775.First ostensibly loyal to King George III and desiring to govern themselves whileremaining in the empire, the repeated pleas by the First Continental Congress for

royal intervention on their behalf with Parliament resulted in the declaration by theKing that the states were "in rebellion", and the members of Congress weretraitors. In 1776, representatives from each of the original 13 states votedunanimously in the Second Continental Congress to adopt a Declaration ofIndependence, which now rejected the British monarchy in addition to itsParliament, and established the sovereignty of the new nation external to theBritish Empire. The Declaration established the United States, which was originallygoverned as a loose confederation through a representative democracy selected bystate legislatures (see Second Continental Congress and Congress of theConfederation).


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IMPACT OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION ON EUROPE

The American Revolution had a profound effect on the European psyche. Itdemonstrated that the ideas of Enlightenment were not mere utterances, and thatit was possible to overthrow an oppressive government.

Be encouraged, all ye friends of freedom, and writers in its defense! The times areauspicious. Your labors have not been in vain. Behold kingdoms, admonished byyou, starting from sleep, breaking their fetters, and claiming justice from theiroppressors! Behold the light you have struck out, after setting America free,reflected to France, and there kindled into a blaze that lays despotism in ashes, andwarms and illuminates EUROPE!

Richard Price, British philosopher and preacher

What was the impact of American Revolution?

The American Revolution had a tremendous effect on Europe. It not only served asan inspiration for France, but also demonstrated that the liberal political ideas ofthe Enlightenment were more than mere utterances of intellectuals. The Revolutionhas been described by historian Eugene Weber:

Revolution you see is rather like a snowball on a slope. It is hard to get revolutiongoing but once on its way it is hard to stop it from rolling and growing until itbecomes an avalanche.

Three major events of the American Revolution had great influenceon Europe:

Signing the Declaration of Independence

Implementing the ideas of Enlightenment

Forming the U.S constitution

By declaring independence, America demonstrated that it was possible to overthrowold regimes. This was the first time a colony had rebelled and successfullyasserted its rights to self-government and nationhood. This inspired many Europeannations and colonies to revolt.

The United States had created a new social contract in the form of its Constitution,in which they realized the ideas of Enlightenment. The natural rights of man, andthe ideas of liberty, equality, and freedom of religion, were no longer unrealisticUtopian ideals. The framers of U.S Constitution rejected the Greek model of civicrepublicanism. They distinguished between the notion of democracy and their ownproposed system of representative democracy. This made the bourgeoisie of Europereconsider their own government and monarchic systems.


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How did the American Revolution influence the French Revolution?

The culmination of all these factors was seen in the French Revolution, where therevolutionaries formed their own slogan, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Europeansobtained information about the American Revolution from soldiers returning from

America. French soldiers returned to France with ideas of individual liberty, popularsovereignty and the notion of republicanism.

The French then revolted against their ineffectual monarchy, which they saw astyrannical.


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WOMEN AND REVOLUTION

The experiences of women during the American Revolution were as varied anddynamic as the women themselves. While the individual experiences of womendiffered, depending on various factors such as level of education, socioeconomic

status and physical location, the revolution affected women from all walks of life.

Further, since women made up approximately half the population of colonialAmerica, their actual participation made the war for independence a womens war.The historical record only contains bits and pieces of the story of most womenscontributions to the struggle for the independence.

Most of the information available concentrates on the elite women of the time, wholeft volumes of letters and other writings or women in the public eye. Women oflower classes are generally mentioned only in the passing by records.

It was men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin whoheld gain Americas independence. These key figures led masses of troops intobattle and composed instrumental documents. Therefore they receive the creditfor the countries freedom. However women also played a very significant role inthe war effort.

Women remained separate from the institutions of political life at a time whenAmericans proclaimed liberty and political participation as their birth right butindividual heroic acts broke the rules and astonished leaders. The public arenawhere political conflict and activity occurred was presumed to belong to men.Courthouse meeting days, taverns and gathering of the local militia providedopportunities for male--- not female--- socializing and the communication of

political ideas and information.

Even when women had access to such public places or to political writings andpamphlets, their lower literacy rates ensured that few could read or fullyunderstand them. Yet despite their general exclusions from daily political life,women were stirred by the same revolutionary zeal. Like men, some supported thecrown while others proclaimed that they were born for liberty.

From the STAMP Act crowds in the 1760s, to the consumer boycotts in the 1770s,to the military conflict between 1776 and 1781, women were inescapably caught inthe revolutionary ferment regardless of whether they were patriots or loyalists ,

urban or rural , slave, free or Indian. At first, the only tradition of female activismwas associated with the lower sort and particularly mobs as their opponentswould call them, which had regularly protested throughout the eighteenth centuryin Europe and America

A more fundamental shift in perspective emerged as womens experience in therevolutionary era helped shape a new consciousness of womens political worth andcapacities; this made their official exclusion increasingly problematic.


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Women played many roles such as camp followers, solider, messenger,manufacturer, head of household, writer etc. during the revolutionary period.

The decade preceding the revolution were rife with passionate ideas about political;liberties. An outpouring of political pamphlets, news papers and sermons exploredthe history and meanings of political rights and freedoms and of just and legitimategovernment. Political writers charged that the imperial government threatened todestroy the true liberties of English men in the last strong hold of political virtue,North America.

The rhetoric and imagery of the revolution was strongly gendered in its explorationsof legitimate and illegitimate power. The very language reinforced the view thatpolitical activities and aims were male. The arena for politics was the public (Thepolis according to Aristotle) separated from the privacy of the household associatedwith women. Public virtues were male mainly even martial. Femininity anddepravity seemed to be effective symbols for the forces that could undermine suchvirtue.

There was a stark coexistence of contradictory images of women. The 17th centuryemphasis on the darker, powerful side female nature had begun to yield to the 18thcentury idealized, sentimentalized notion of femininity. Yet the difficulty of definingcitizenship and the place of women in a republic made the contradiction more andmore apparent during the course of revolution.

As the revolution geared up, one of the most important weapons the colonistsemployed was the boycott. England attempted to exercise its influences over thecolonies by imposing taxes on goods, so the colonists decided to rebel by refusingto import English commodities. The key to any boycotts success, however was the

women. Not only did women have to refuse to purchase English goods wares butthey also had to increase their own production of good to meet colonial demand.

Women organize themselves into such as the Daughters of Liberty which held allday sewing events in order to fill the need for cloth and other goods created bywomens participation in the boycott. The Daughters of Liberty actively participatedin the conflict against the British by organizing womens to spin cloth so as thecolonists could become independent of foreign made goods. DEBORAH FRANKLIN, awealthy woman also made her familys clothing in support of the colonies.

For the first time, women found themselves and their actions playing a role in alarger struggle. Women often came together and signed public agreements tosupports the patriot cause. Other women made public promises to be only countedby patriot soldiers. This politicization of women also turned unfriendly. Womenbegan to operate in social crisis dictated by political affiliation. Neighbors who hadonce been friends now shunned each other over differing political beliefs. Further,women who refused to sign manifestoes and agreements often found their namesin the local papers announcing their political, leavings to the whole community. Inthe worst cases, women and their families could be victims of mob protest.


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As mistresses of the home and hearth, women held a special form of influence overtheir men, i.e. shame. Since the social norm for men to be brave and courageousand above all to do their duty, women in a position to shame them into going off towar. Advertisements for men to fight bravely ever appeared in newspapers. Withthe mere suggestion that a man would be considered coward if he did not fightbravely, a women could shame men into doing their very best. As they set theirsons and husband off to fight, the women always reminded them to bring honor tothemselves and their families and expressed contempt for soldiers who were asource of embracement. They were told to fight till death if one must, but never letones country to be dishonored.

Doing what they did best, women found a number of ways to support the war effortfrom their homes. The revolution, more ever was not fought in a distant land but inthe cities, towns and neighborhoods and farms of colonist. Thus, for many womenthe war came right into their homes and affected them every bit as much as themen. A resident of Collecticut RUTHDRAPER and some of her neighbors bakedbread for several days. When the soldiers marched past their town, they were

provided with bread, cheese and cider. RUTHDRAPER came to the rescue again bydonating all of the metal items in her house to be melted and molded intoammunition. Women also formed various associations which included women fromall levels of society. They gathered to weave cloth for uniforms, Knit socks andcollect support funds. Some women even learned to make and repair guns fromtheir husbands and volunteered their services toward the war effort ANGELICAVROOMAN manufactured bullets by hand while men fought on the battle field. Inher tent, she molded the bullets using only some led and iron spoon.

More ever, legend tells us that BETSY ROSS designed and created the firstAmerican flag consisting of thirteen strips and 13 stars. It was BETSYs grandson

first told this story. However historian has not been able to find any historicalrecord or evidence of any such flag being petitioned by GEORGE WASHINGTON.There is however record of BETSY ROSS working as a seamstress making flags forthe women left behind at home by their husbands.

Not only did the women continue to manage all the aspects of the household, butthey were now confronted with the daunting task of completing the physicallydemanding work usually done by men. Chores such as making house repairs,chopping wood hunting and bringing in the harvest became the sole responsibilityof the women. Further, if the now absent men were involved in business ventures,the women had to step up and take care of those issues as well. In addition totaking care of their own families , women face the very real prospect of beingforced to quarter British or American troops as well as the possibility that actualfighting and bombardments might occurs on their property. The quartering ofsoldiers from either side meant housing them, taking care of their basic needs suchas food and supplies and the quartering and tending of any their horses or otheranimals.

It s not surprising that many women refuse to submit tamely to British pillageCATHERINE SCHUYLER, wife of major General Philip Schuyler , burned her own


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wheat fields rather than have the British take what they could of hey crop beforedestroying the rest. In South Carolina REBECCA MOTT helped the patriots set fireher own house while it was occupied by a British troop, forcing a British surrender.Another defiant woman was TEMPE WICK from New Jersey, where Americansoldiers demanded that WICK surrender her horse, she refuse and raced home. Shecleverly hid the horse in a first floor guest bedroom in the family home until thesoldier gave up looking for the animal.

Women often moved freely in and out British lines and camps usually under thepretence of selling wares and goods unless they were known to be spies. NANCYMORGAN HART of Georgia called war women by local creeks was a formidablewomen a known spy. She is credited with taking a number of British prisoners andeven capturing an enemy spy. HART was just one of the many women who riskedtheir lives spying and delivering vital intelligence for the Americans.

Women also attempted daring acts of bravery to strip British couriers of theirpapers and a number of women also served as couriers for the American cause.

One of the more colorful patriot couriers was ANNE BALEY from Virginia, dressed inbuckskin and an expert with the rifle; she made numerous trips through theharshest frontier conditions from the eastern colonies to the remotest westernfrontier parts. She was so efferent at escaping capture that the local natives wereconvinced that she was possessed and called her a mad one. In south Carolina , ayoung girl named EMILY GEIGER volunteered to delivered a message from generalNATHANIEL GREENE to general THOMAS LUMTER, over a hundred miles away. Onthe second day of the trip, British scouts stopped ENILY. While waiting for a Britishwomen to come to search her, EMILY TORE the letter into pieces and ate themwhen the women found nothing EMIY was allowed to leave, but she had memorizedthe message and was able to successfully deliver GREENEs order to Lumter, thus

helping Greene defeat Rawdon. Similar stories from every colony are of womenrisking their lives and travelling hundreds of miles to deliver vital militaryinformation.

Women also played a role in army camps. Most women and children became campfollowers out of economic necessity. Women who were unable to make ends meetat home alone went with their family male family member into army camps. Somewomen, however, followed soldiers because they could not bear the separationwhile other women were refugees. Women generally took in laundry, cooked,foraged, carried supplies, nursed the sick and wounded and worked at whateverother domestic chores remained. There women were also hired by officers andofficers wives to complete their house hold chores as well.

Unfortunately, most of the patriots, both enlisted men and officers remained unpaidfor long periods of time and since they received no wages , they could only offerthese women army rations in return for their labor. Even though women helpedgather, produce and cooked food what they contributed never reached the amountthat they consumed.


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Aristocratic women were much better off than women from the middle and laborclasses. For instance, Washington was encamped in Middleton, the officers and theirwives enjoyed dances, dinner parties, and sleigh rides. They enjoyed the best foodand shelter available and usually hired one of the lower class women campfollowers to do the more menial tasks. Overall, women made up approximately 5-10% of the patriot camps population.

As the women who had stayed home , those who were with the soldiers oftenperformed services for the American army and the struggle for independence faroutside the normal sphere of traditional female activities. For instance, whereascarrying water to men or battlefields under fire was a common task, at least twowomen took over the actual firing of artillery when their husbands were wounded.MARGERET CORBIN at the battle of Fort Washington in New York sponged out theburse between firing and helped reload the canon. When her husband, John, aprivate in the Pellsylvania regiment of artillery was killed, she took over firing thecanon until she was hit with the grapeshot which injured her shoulder, jaw andchest and cost her the use of one arm.

The army sent her to the invalid regiment at West Point where she remarried.Corbin was awarded 50% of the soldiers monthly salary, one new outfit per yearand a monthly ration of liquor. In 1926, her remains were moved to west Pointwhere was buried with military honors.

MARRY HAYS, traditionally known as MOLLY PITCHER was another battle field wifewho engaged in actual fighting, she stayed with her husband, a gunner in the sameregiment as John Cabin during his 7 years of service. Hays also played an activerole in the battle, carrying water, tenting the wounded and helping with the canons.During the battle of Mormouth in New Jersey, Hays was assisting her husband with

the canon as she was stretching for a cartridge, and enemy canon ball passedbetween her legs, tearing off the bottom of her petticoat. She kept on loading thecanon despite the close call. Then letter when her husband was injured she stepinto his place and continue to fire the canon. She eventually received an armyposition of $40 a year.

A more usual activity for a woman was that of tending to the wounded and dead.Women not only work in hospital, nursing wounded and sick soldier back to healthbut also scourged battle fields searching for wounded soldier in need of help.Another grim task that women took charge of was burring the dead, both friend andfoe. In addition to the informal nursing that so many women did, Washington alsoassigned a number of American camp followers to be official nurses, although notraining was ever provided. The army was authorized to hire one nurse for every 10sick or wounded soldier.

These women earned $2 a month and a single ration per day. Other women helpedthe sick and wounded in the less direct ways. For instance, CATHERINE GREENE ofRhode Island allowed the army to use het house as a hospital for small poxinoculations. Other organized groups of women and made home remedies for theill, they also cared for patriot prisoners by bringing them various supplies and


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baked goods. There were examples of women organizing the prison breaks, for Ex.ELIZABETH BURGIN, Helped 200 patriot prisoners escape in 1779.

Despite the rigid and pre defined roles that society expected women to play, somefemale completely shattered societal woes and participated in the revolutions as fulltime soldiers. Since these women soldiers had to keep their gender a secret, fewrecords of their service exist, although there are few exceptions, one of the mostsuccessful soldier was DEBORAH SAMPSON of PLYMPTOM, MASACHUSETTS.Sampson enlisted in the 4th MASACHUSETTS regiment as Robert shurtleff in April1781. She was able to keep her secret for approximately 2 years, even though shewas wounded twice. In 1783, the ruse was discovered during a medical exam aftershe was admitted to the hospital with a high fever. Washington granted Sampson ahonorable discharge and the US government granted her a pension of $8 month.

A number of other women also tried to enlist with warring degrees of success. Forinstance, one woman enlisted to be with her boyfriend but she was killed in abattle. Another one was promoted to a sergeant before she was discovered and

discharged. A 3rd woman remained with her husband throughout the war 1st as acamp follower then as a soldier.

The revolutionary ideals of freedom and equality combine with the oftencourageous and selfless act of the women during the war for independence shouldhave brought about a shift in the expectations of women and in the value societyplaced on women, but few saw any connection. Women and men in the 18thcentury simply accepted the superior positions of men as a sign of civilization. Eventhough women contributed in every aspect of the struggle for independence andoften operated out site of their define and normal gender roles, once the revolutionwas over they went back into their normal spheres, with only a few exceptions.

The place and status of women did not change legally or within society. The wartime experience of women demonstrated that women could be as brave,courageous, independent and self sufficient as men, but it took years for thesewomen and their act of bravery to be acknowledged and recognized.


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The Involvement of "The Ladies"

Economic Support of Women during the American Revolution

During the American Revolution, several groups contributed to the needs of the

Continental Army, whether it was militarily, politically, or economically. In the lightof economics, one of the more influential groups that supported the army was

colonial women who, in a time in which women had few rights, rose victoriously

with their passion for giving.

Throughout the various states, there were a number of women's organizations

which stood for the gaining of independence from the British, and distributed

significantly to the cause. The women who participated in these groups produced

essential supplies, especially clothing, as well as monetary donations. Public

fundraising was crucial for them to be successful in raising money. This economic

realm of participation of women also created a sense of political involvement whichin turn, created an idea of female patriotism to erupt.

There are a few questions, however, that must be answered in order to get the full

effect of how women acted in this economic realm. First, how did the women go

about raising the money, and what rules applied? Secondly, how effective were the

women at this fundraising? Finally, how did their actions link them to an informal

life in politics? By answering these questions, the image of what some organizations

will call "American Women," can be illustrated.

Views of Women from Pre-Revolution to War

It is important to get a glimpse of the roles of women during this period. These

women typically had their decisions made for them by a male counterpart, whether

it was their husbands or fathers. These women did the basics of maintaining the

household, which consisted of cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children.

When the war came, however, this assumption of women having their decisions

made for them was modified. The jobs that men normally did in their homes and

other work places were then placed in the hands of women. This created a huge

increase in females being involved in articulating judgments for themselves, which

led to an increase in political participation. Since many males were out in the field

of battle, it was necessary for women to support the troops on the home front, from

their own communities.

There were also women, who spent their time with the men out in the field. Some

of these were the wives of officers and soldiers, and others served simply as


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prostitutes. Depending on who the commander of the unit was determined whether

women would be near the battlefield at all, because there was a general notion that

women and children were to be protected at all costs. With the new roles of women

during the war, the ideas of them began to temporarily change to views of strong

women who would be admired by both genders.

The Economics of War Support

To better understand the correlation between women and economic support, one

might consider supply and demand. In general, demand is the buyer's wanting to

buy a particular product, and supply is the willingness for the seller to sell the

product. In terms of the women involved in the American Revolution, it can be seen

that the demand was the Continental army's need for them to raise funds and the

making of other furnishings for them, and the supply was the women's enthusiasm

in doing this. In this process the army must first set forth that demand, which is

very prominent in many of the generals' letters to the organizations. The next step

is for the supplier to make efforts to provide for the demand. Once again, it is clear

that the women were very active in providing for this role.

Another approach is to see the demand as being American independence and the

supply for that being money and provisions for the army. From this perspective, the

women once again were essential because of their fundraising and logistical

support. In essence, the women seem to service a strong tie to the gaining of

independence in an economic sense, because in both studies the women have to be

involved for achievement to take place. Therefore, the women of these contributingorganizations can be connected with being a market, which in general refers to a

setting where trading transactions exist. The type of trade the women were

involved in was both visible, with physical items being transferred back and forth,

and sentimental, with the acts of patriotism being extended to attain independence.

The Development of Women's Organizations

Before the start of the War of American Independence, there developed a growing

need for women's involvement in the economic politics of the colonies. To be

sufficient to the cause, women formed organizations, such as one in Edenton, North

Carolina, that were prominent in the boycotting of British goods, a symbol of the

colonies petite tolerance with the English. In a continuation of this matter, women

during the American Revolution formed several groups in light of making the

difference by presenting themselves as patriots.


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Starting in June of 1780, one month after the fall of Charleston, South Carolina to

the British, which may have served as a symbol of the possible failure of the

Americans due to a lack in supply for the soldiers, Esther Reed, the wife of the

President of Pennsylvania, formed the Philadelphia Ladies Association. The

organization was promptly started after George Washington relayed information to

Congress on the lack of rations and other supplies among the soldiers of theContinental army, which caused a stir in society because there was a great need to

win this war.

The purpose of the women's group in Philadelphia, as stated in their Sentiments of

an American Woman, was "to contribute as much as could depend on them, to the

deliverance of their country. To do this, the group employed volunteer women to go

out and display their commitment to the cause by collecting money from various

donors and making other supplies. After the establishment of their group, other

organizations similar to it began to spread across the states.

In New Jersey, for instance, women there established an organization much like

Philadelphia's. Like the Sentiments of an American Woman, the anonymously

written Sentiments of a Lady in New Jersey, established a point that is almost

identical to Esther Reed's. The basis, for instance, is for a stance for liberty to

emerge among those women there, so that they visibly support the army. To

express their point, the author reflected upon several actions of British that

endangered the Americans, such as the burning of Charlestown in New England.6

This may be considered a propaganda tool used to get women involved, but at any

rate, it does state the motives for that organization. Either way, the women of New

Jersey were to do the fundraising and participate in other activities to support theAmerican cause.

Other organizations were also inspired by Philadelphia's. One prominent example

was in Maryland. The Pennsylvania Gazette reported, "We hear from Maryland, that

the most liberal contributions have been made by the women of that state, for the

assistance of the army. From Maryland, some citizens had donated up to 15

guineas, which equaled about two British pounds, a very large sum of money for

the time. It is also reported that some of the communities, or counties, had

collected up to sixty thousand dollars in Continental currency for the army to

purchase supplies. These organizations became very important in the processes of

supporting the Continental army.

The Philadelphia Ladies Association was connected to these other smaller social

groups. For instance, whenever they collected their money, they shipped it to

Philadelphia. One instance is with a small sect of women that Sarah Bache was

working with, located just across the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania. Bache worked

with a Mrs. Gray, who she begged to use the "Cause of Liberty" to influence the


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women in her social network to raise money. Bache wrote, "I nowbeg you will

make use of it to collect the donations of the good women on that side of the water

or as many as you can conveniently call on. In return for these good deeds, Bache

promised her "many thousand of blessings."

These organizations were forms of political activism amongst women, which in itselfraised mixed emotions among both men and women. Their economic support

caused this transition, because they began to have a voice in what was done with

the money collected, as well as, having their own groups that functioned like

governing bodies, in the sense of decision making. Plus, their involvement in

military affairs, the war, was political in itself. Therefore, it can be stated that

women were indeed involved in politics and did become political activists in their

time.

The Process of Fundraising

The money that women collected to aid the Continental Army was often impressive.

On one occasion, the women of the Philadelphia Ladies Association collected several

thousands of dollars in Continental currency and nearly 181 British guineas.

Inflation of the Continental currency in 1778 caused the value of the money to

decline, making the usefulness of its worth debatable in terms of the women

making profit for the army on it. The value of a one hundred dollar bill went down

to around sixty-eight dollars.

At any rate, to be effective at raising the money, "the Ladies," as they were often

called, had to break up into smaller subgroups and scatter about the entire city.

This job was very organized, with certain groups covering certain areas. Forinstance Sarah Bache, Francis, Mitchel, Caldwell, and Mrs. Cleanaskan surveyed the

area of Philadelphia from Market to Chestnut Streets, whereas Mrs. Meade and Mrs.

Wilson traveled amongst Walnut and Spruce Streets in search of donors. This

process would ensure that every street in the city was covered efficiently.

Overall, in this report, there were eleven different small groups of women, and

more money was added by women who simply gave out of their own pockets. One

such example of this is Marchoness de La Fayette, who contributed 100 guineas.10

A common element among the women who gave these large amounts is that most

of them were wives of military generals.

After the fundraising, the ladies compiled the money, then transferred it to the

army, a largely informal process, but had a few rules attached to it. In order to get

the money to the army, selected women from each association counted the

donation and transported it to the wife of the governor or president of the state in

which they lived. For the case of the Philadelphia's Ladies Association, Esther Reed

acted as the unceremonious treasurer. From there, the money was moved from


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their hands to that of the wife of the commander of the Continental Army, who in

turn gave them to her husband, who would use it as he saw fit.11 Later, Gen.

Washington added a rule that all money from the states women's organizations

should be sent to Philadelphia's, and that Reed would take care of the transfer of

the money to his wife. In a letter to Mary Dagworthy, a member of the Trenton,

New Jersey group, Washington first of all congratulated them on developing anorganization that mirrored Philadelphia's association, and then asked for their

cooperation in sending their funds by way of the Philadelphia Ladies Association.

This decision by Washington seems to have put ladies' organizations under one

umbrella, Philadelphia. This in turn would make the transfer process to the army

easier, as it was not coming from several different locations.

Using the Funds

After receiving the donations, the army was, sequentially, grateful for what the

women had provided. In a letter, General Marquis de La Fayette extended his

thanks to the ladies association at Philadelphia for their contribution. He wrote, "In

admiring the new resolution, in which the fair ones of Philadelphia have taken the

lead, I am induced to feel for those American Ladies who being out of the continent

cannot participate in this patriotic measure. La Fayette suggests a few concepts

about women during the American Revolution, despite the fact they are givers. One

of the major notions is that the women were not able to "participate in this patriotic

measure," meaning they could not participate in the military operations of the

army's duties, even though general histories regarding women of the AmericanRevolution indicate that there were a few that broke this rule and did participate

militarily.

There loomed the question, however, of what should the money be used for. Often

times, the women of the associations helped determine what was to be financed by

this money. Even after transfer, Reed was still very involved in asserting what the

money should be used for, mainly shirts for the soldiers. In July of 1780, she wrote

to General Washington in a very persuasive and assertive letter explaining her

thoughts on the armies need for the shirts. In response, Washington wrote, "It was

not my intention to divert the benevolent donation of the Ladies from the channel

they wish it to flow in, meaning that he would favor their request to use the money

for shirts.

Washington soon after called upon the women to make over one thousand shirts,

"eight hundredfor the [Pennsylvania] Linetwo hundred to Colonel Sherive for the

Jersey Line [and] the remainder to the deputy [clothing general] at Newburg."16

This desperate need of shirts was also expressed by other military leaders. General


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Anthony Wayne, for example, wrote to Joseph Reed around mid-October of 1780 in

a desperate letter asking for shirts for his soldiers so they would be more proficient

in doing their job.

In some cases, the ladies themselves used the money to buy materials to makeitems needed by the army, which was more efficient and led to greater

involvement. Sarah Bache wrote to her father Benjamin Franklin, explaining the

actions and efforts put into the shirt production. "I am very busily [employed] in

cutting out and making shirts, and giving them out to make to the good women of

my acquaintance, for our Brave Soldiers. The reason that Bache gives for the ladies

making the shirts themselves is so they will not loose money in the long run by

having someone else make them. Their idea was if they used the money to buy the

material and then made the shirts themselves, then their expenses would decrease

and the rest of it could go into some type of fund for the military. An alternative

reason for this activity could very well be linked to the decline in the value of themoney. If they were to raise one thousand dollars in the Continental currency to

buy the material, the spending value for them would only be around six hundred

and eighty. In theory, the women had to do this on their own, because they didn't

have the appropriate funds to pay someone else.

The Prominence of Esther Reed

Esther DeBert Reed died in September of 1780 at the age of 33, only about four

months after forming her organization. In that brief time, she displayed acts ofprominent leadership in the ladies association. Reed was the sole author of the

Sentiments of an American Woman, which she signed as "An American

Woman.Coincidentally, she had only been a so called American for ten years. Being

a native of England, she came to North America after her marriage to Joseph Reed,

who was studying law in London, even though some sources indicate that she was

simply his fiance when coming to America. Either way, they did settle in American

when Joseph Reed became a lawyer in New Jersey. Her family's connection with the

colonies, before actually moving to the area, was very strong, because of her

father's mercantile trading. One might say that she too had close ties to the

processes of economics, because of this, which would later make her a success inAmerica. Her husband, after the start of the war, enlisted in Washington's army,

and Esther had great hopes that he would soon be back home with her; but this

idea was shattered when he was chosen to be Washington's secretary, a job that

would keep him in the field much of the war. After his departure, she debated

whether or not to go back to London, in correspondence with her brother. She


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made the decision, however, to stay in America and soon would form her

organization.

Reed was indefinitely prominent, because her husband was exceptionally influential

in Philadelphia as its president, and thus she became, in effect, its first lady. She

remains particularly interesting to both historians and feminists because of hercommitment to gain American independence, even though she was a fairly recent

immigrant herself. Some sources indicate that the only reason she had waited so

long to form the ladies organization was pregnancy with her sixth child, whom she

named George Washington. Most women would have simply stayed at ease

adjusting to their newborn babies, but in an attempt to gain peace among the

states with their English parent, she formed the ladies group, which consisted of

several women of a prior informal social society. It could be speculated, that the

reason Ester Reed died at such an early age was complications from her quick

stride from child birth to stressful political work, but there is not enough evidence

to prove that this contributed to her death. It is only known from her obituary thatshe died from a few weeks of illness.

Women as Political Activists

Economic support of American troops ultimately led to political participation among

American women. So, whether they wanted to admit it or not for social purposes,

the women were tied to politics. Some modern women's historians imply "the

notion that politics was somehow not part of the woman's domain persistedeven

by women whose own lives weredirectly dependent on political development. Thissuggestion that some women didn't realize they were involved in politics was

practiced by many women because they feared a loss of reputation or even

retaliation by men who said politics was not the business of the women. Other

women, however, also became involved politically in prominent ways, in which they

directly knew what they wanted and how they were going to get it.

Abigail Adams, for instance, was very assertive with her husband John throughout

their marriage when it came to the political rights of women. In her famous letter to

John that coined the phrase "remember the ladies," she is very persistent when

asking him to do so and to "be more generous and favorable [to the ladies] thanyour ancestors." She continues to point out that all of the power should not be put

in the hands of the husbands. This example of Abigail Adams has more to do with

the coming of a new nation after the Revolution, but it does serve as an illustration

that women with this attitude were still involved in the achievement of American

independence.


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PHILLIS WHEATLEY

Phillis Wheatley was an African-American poet who struggled incolonial America because of slavery and discrimination. She wasthe first published black poet of her time.

Grant To America's united prayer/ A glorious conquest on the field of war!Phillis Wheatley

Who was Phillis Wheatley ?

Phillis Wheatley was a slave and a poet in colonial America. She was born in Senegal

in 1753 and was taken to America when she was seven years old. There, she was

taught English and Latin. At the age of thirteen, she wrote her first poem about

George Whitefield, the great Evangelist. In 1773, she published her first book,Poems

on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. This book became quite famous and iswell known even today. Wheatley died a paupers death on December 5, 1784.

What was her role in American Revolution?

Phillis Wheatley was a strong supporter of the Revolutionary War. In 1776, she wrote

a poem to George Washington, praising his appointment as commander-in-chief of the

Continental Army. She continued writing poems addressed to George Washington, to

which he never responded.

Phillis Wheatley was the first published African-American poet. She used her poetryto influence people and felt strongly that the issue of slavery separated whites from

true heroism. She had herself been a part of slave trade, and through her poetry she

tried to make people understand this inhuman practice.

Her views on slavery are clear in her poem On being brought from Africa to

America:

Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

"Their colour is a diabolic die.

Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,

May be refin'd and join th'angelic train.


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Wheatley's letter to Reverend Samson Occom, dated February 11, 1774, contains her

strongest anti-slavery statement:

I have this day received your obliging kind epistle, and am greatly satisfied with yourreasons respecting the Negroes, and think highly reasonable what you offer in

vindication of their natural rights: Those that invade them cannot be insensible thatthe divine light is chasing away the thick darkness which broods over the land of

Africa; and the chaos which has reigned so long, is converting into beautiful order,

and reveals more and more clearly the glorious dispensation of civil and religious

liberty, which are so inseparably united, that there is little or no enjoyment of one

without the other: Otherwise, perhaps, the Israelites had been less solicitous for their

freedom from Egyptian slavery; I do not say they would have been contented without

it, by no means; for in every human breast God has implanted a principle, which we

call ~ it is impatient of oppression, and pants for deliverance; and by the leave of our

modern Egyptians I will assert, that the same principle lives in us. God grant

deliverance in his own way and time, and get him honor upon all those whose avarice

impels them to countenance and help forward the calamities of their fellow creatures.

This I desire not for their hurt, but to convince them of the strange absurdity of their

conduct, whose words and actions are so diametrically opposite. How well the cry for

liberty, and the reverse disposition for the exercise of oppressive power over others

agree - I humbly think it does not require the penetration of a philosopher to

determine.

What are some of the major themes in her poetry?

Patriotism, piety, and death are some of the most important themes in Wheatley's

poetry. Wheatley drew from her own life experiences in her writing, demonstrated in

the poems about her religious and political beliefs, which were a large part of her life

and an influence in her poetry. Her poems often served as commentary about America

and slavery, expressed through the filter of Christianity.


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MERCY OTIS

Mercy Otis Warren wrote numerous plays, pamphlets and books reflecting her

views on politics during the Revolution. At that time, politics was supposed to be

only for men.

Democratic principles are the result of equality of condition.Mercy Otis Warren

Who was Mercy Otis Warren?

Mercy Otis Warren was born to Colonel James Otis and Mary Allyne Otis on

September 24, 1728. In 1754, she married James Warren, a prosperous merchant

farmer, who later became a distinguished politician. Mercy was the only woman who

published books during her times, initially writing under a pseudonym. In 1805, she

published the earliest histories of the war. She died at the age of 86 in October 1814.


Through her works, Mercy Otis Warren voiced her opinion on the politics of her

times. In some of her plays she depicted pro-British officers as greedy, tyrannical

traitors while she praised Boston radicals as noble heroes. She was unhappy with

America under the Articles of Confederation. She called America a- restless,

Vigorous youth, prematurely emancipated from the authority of a parent, but without

the experience necessary to direct him to act with dignity or discretion.

Warren's views on the government are illustrated through her famous quote:

Our situation is truly delicate & critical. On the one hand we are in need of a strongfederal government founded on principles that will support the prosperity & union of

the colonies. On the other we have struggled for liberty & made costly sacrifices at

her shrine and there are still many among us who revere her name to much to

relinquish (beyond a certain medium) the rights of man for the dignity of

government.

According to Warren, the British failed to understand the rights of the colonists andfelt that women could have more rights if the colonies were granted independence.

Both Warren and Abigail Adamsthe second First Lady of the United Statesurged

the leaders to remember the ladies when they spoke of equality and liberty. Warrenstressed the need for formal education for women and believed in intellectual equality

between men and women, though she did not push for political rights for women.


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MARTHA WASHINGTONMartha Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United

States. Martha is remembered for her assistance in the Continental Army camp and for the

role she played during the Revolutionary War.

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For Ihave learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our

circumstance but by our disposition.Martha Washington

Who was Martha Washington?

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the foremost First Lady of the United

States. She was born on June 2, 1731 on her parents plantation in the British colonialprovince of Virginia. During her lifetime, she was also known as Lady Washington.

She died on May 22, 1802, of a severe fever.


Like other officers wives, Martha Washington joined the army as a camp follower.Since she did not join the army immediately, some people thought she was against the

War, but those rumors were put to an end as she soon started serving in the

continental camp.

Marthas main role was to take care of her husband, General Washington. General

Nathanael Greene wrote this of his commander: Poor man, he appears oppressedwith cares and wants some gentle hand free from deceit to soothe his cares. Inaddition to this, Martha Washington was a hostess at the army camp, and looked after

the soldiers enlisted in the War.

In a letter to Mrs Elias Boudinot on January 15, 1784, Martha Washington stated:

The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war mustnow be forgotten. We must endeavor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness, and

all our paths Peace.

What were Martha Washingtons views on slavery?

Slaves played an important role in Martha's life. They did most of the housework and

were considered an asset. When one of her slaves, a girl, fled the house, Martha tried

her best to bring her back, which shows how vital she considered slaves to everyday

chores. Although George Washington freed many slaves after he became the

president, he stipulated that their household slaves would not be freed while Martha

was alive.


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What distinctions did Martha Washington receive?

As the First Lady of America, Martha Washington received numerous honors.

The USS Lady Washington was named in her honor, which was the first U.S. military

ship to be named after a woman. In 1902, she became the first American woman to behonored on a U.S. postage stamp. She is also the only woman whose portrait has

appeared on a U.S. currency note.


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MOLLY PITCHERMolly Pitcher has become a legend and a symbol of the contributions of women to the

Revolutionary War. Her real name was Mary Ludwig.

Well, that could have been worse.Molly Pitcher, on narrowly escaping being hit by a British musket ball.

Who was Molly Pitcher?

Molly Pitcher was a nickname for Mary Ludwig Hays. She was born on October 13,

1774, in New Jersey, and was the daughter of a German settler. She was hired by

Anna Irvine of Pennsylvania to be a servant in the Irvine house. There, Mary met

William Hays, a local barber, whom she married later.


In 1777, William Hays enlisted in the Continental Army. Following her husband, that

winter, Mary Ludwig Hays joined the armys winter camp in Pennsylvania andbecame a camp follower like another Revolutionary woman, Martha Washington.

During the training of the troops, Mary and other women served as water girls,carrying drinking water for the troops. Mary Ludwig Hays got her nickname during

this time. Since Molly was a common nickname for Mary in the eighteenth century,the troops would shout Molly! Pitcher! whenever they wanted water. Mary also

took care of the wounded, and acted as a gunner when necessary.

What is the legend of Molly Pitcher?

During the Battle of Monmouth, on June, 28, 1778, Molly Pitcher risked her life on

the battlefield to bring water to the troops. When her husband was wounded in the

fight, Molly took her husband's gun and fought in his place for the rest of the battle.

This story became the Legend of Molly Pitcher, and Molly became a symbol to

represent all the women who fought bravely and volunteered their assistance during

the Revolutionary War. Some historians believe that there may have been thousandsof women on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War, who collected weapons

and ammunition and assisted the troops


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ABIGAIL ADAMS

Abigail Adams is remembered for her correspondence with her husband, John

Adams, during the American Revolution. The letters contain her views on

government, politics, and the rights of women.

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and

attended to with diligence.Abigail Adams, 1780

Who was Abigail Adams?

Born on November 11, 1744, to a well-known political family, Abigail Adams was

the wife of the second president of America, John Adams. She was also the second

First Lady of the United States. Her letters to her husband serve as an eyewitness

account of the Revolution. She died of typhoid fever on October 28, 1818.

What was her role in the American Revolution?

Abigail Adams is remembered for the letters she wrote to her husband during the

Revolution. Her letters and ideas give perspective on the condition of women in

America during the eighteenth century. Her political views were radical and

progressive. She advocated property rights for married women and called for more

opportunities for them. She believed that women should not serve merely as a

decorous companion to their husbands, and wanted women to recognize their

intellectual capabilities. She stressed female education because she knew that aneducated woman could influence the lives of her husband and children.

In one of her letters to her husband, she wrote, Remember, all men would be tyrants

if they could. 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.

In addition to her views on womens rights, Abigail Adams was also against slavery.Adams believed that slavery was a threat to the American democratic experiment. In

her letter dated March 31, 1776, she wrote that Virginians passion for liberty wasdoubtful since they deprive[d] their fellow creatures of freedom.

What was the condition of women and slaves in America in the

eighteenth century?


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Women in America were relegated to the domestic sphere. They were taught to read

the Bible, but formal education was not available. They were expected to be

subservient to their husbands.

The condition of slaves was even worse. Slave trading was rampant and legal. During

the decade of the Revolution, an anti-slavery movement started in the northern

colonies. Thomas Paines pamphlet, African Slavery in America, begins with thesewords: That some desperate wretches should be willing to steal and enslave men by

violence and murder for gain is rather lamentable than strange. But that many

civilized, nay, Christianized people should approve, and be concerned in the savage

practice, is surprising.

Excerpts from letters written by Abigail Adams:

March 31,1776

To John Adams

I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new

code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would

remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.

Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.

Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the (servants) of

your sex; regard us then as being placed by Providence under your protection, and in

imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness.

May 17, 1776

To John Adams

I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies; for, whilst you are

proclaiming peace and good-will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon

retaining an absolute power over wives.

But you must remember that arbitrary power is like most other things which are very

hard, very liable to be broken; and, notwithstanding all your wise laws and maxims,

we have it in our power, not only to free ourselves, but to subdue our masters, and

without violence, throw both your natural and legal authority at our feet.

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