Women In the RevolutionWomen In the RevolutionMary Beth NortonMary Beth Norton

By: Ashley Willey, By: Ashley Willey,

Robby Palmer, Casey Price, & Sara BettsRobby Palmer, Casey Price, & Sara Betts

Thesis:Thesis:

“… “… many white women many white women gained a new appreciation of gained a new appreciation of their capacity and capability their capacity and capability

of their sex in general as they of their sex in general as they learned to handle un familiar learned to handle un familiar tasks. For black women too tasks. For black women too the war brought changes.”the war brought changes.”

“ “ White women’s White women’s experiences with wartime experiences with wartime

disruptions varied according disruptions varied according to where they lived.”to where they lived.”

SimilaritiesSimilarities

Northern and southern women Northern and southern women responded similarly to things such responded similarly to things such as the looming threat of invasion as the looming threat of invasion by enemy troops, the incidence of by enemy troops, the incidence of

disease, or the opportunity to disease, or the opportunity to accompany their husbands to the accompany their husbands to the

army. army.

DifferencesDifferences

New England Colonies:New England Colonies: Had to cope with turmoil first. Had to cope with turmoil first. After the British evacuated Boston After the British evacuated Boston

in 1776 the northern section of the in 1776 the northern section of the country was relatively free of country was relatively free of armed conflict.armed conflict.

Differences Cont.Differences Cont.

Middle Colonies:Middle Colonies: Many families had no respite from Many families had no respite from

the dangers of warfare for several the dangers of warfare for several years. years.

Continuing presence of the British Continuing presence of the British Army in NYC from July 1776 – Army in NYC from July 1776 – November 1783November 1783

Redcoats in Philadelphia from 1777-Redcoats in Philadelphia from 1777-17781778

Differences Cont.Differences Cont.

Southern Colonies: Southern Colonies: Little touched by war before 1778Little touched by war before 1778

Hardships All Women had to Hardships All Women had to faceface

The choice of leaving their The choice of leaving their homeshomes

Some women chose to leave with their Some women chose to leave with their children.children.

“…“…roads around Boston “filled with roads around Boston “filled with frightened women and children, some in frightened women and children, some in carts with their tattered furniture, others carts with their tattered furniture, others

on foot fleeing to the woods. on foot fleeing to the woods.

Others decided to stayOthers decided to stay

Elizabeth Farmar also decided to stay in Elizabeth Farmar also decided to stay in her house despite the fact that it lay her house despite the fact that it lay

between the lines during the occupation between the lines during the occupation of the city in 1777- 1778.of the city in 1777- 1778.

Epidemic DiseaseEpidemic Disease

““The unhealthy conditions of the The unhealthy conditions of the besieged city had helped to besieged city had helped to incubate both smallpox and incubate both smallpox and dysentery, and an epidemic of the dysentery, and an epidemic of the latter had already swept the latter had already swept the Massachusetts countryside.”  Massachusetts countryside.”  

Women had to make the choice of Women had to make the choice of having or not having herself and having or not having herself and her children inoculated.her children inoculated.

RapeRape

““In addition to carrying small pox, the armies In addition to carrying small pox, the armies brought a specific terror to American women: the brought a specific terror to American women: the fear of rape.” fear of rape.” 

Diver soldiers repeatedly raped 13-year-old Abigail Diver soldiers repeatedly raped 13-year-old Abigail for three days. Later she and her friend’s, 15 year for three days. Later she and her friend’s, 15 year old sister, Elizabeth was forced to go to the camp. old sister, Elizabeth was forced to go to the camp. They were repeatedly assaulted until rescued by a They were repeatedly assaulted until rescued by a soldier. soldier.

“ “ Eliza Wilkinson [recounted that] the whole world Eliza Wilkinson [recounted that] the whole world appeared to me as a theatre, where nothing was appeared to me as a theatre, where nothing was acted but cruelty, bloodshed, and oppression; acted but cruelty, bloodshed, and oppression; where neither age nor sex escaped the horrors of where neither age nor sex escaped the horrors of injustice and violence; where lives and property of injustice and violence; where lives and property of the innocent and inoffensive were in continual the innocent and inoffensive were in continual danger, and the lawless power ranged at large.”danger, and the lawless power ranged at large.”

For slaves this time was a period For slaves this time was a period

of unprecedented opportunity.of unprecedented opportunity. ““The British soldiers held out to black The British soldiers held out to black

men and women alike the prospect of men and women alike the prospect of winning their freedom from bondage.” winning their freedom from bondage.”

“ “ No sex or age restriction limited the No sex or age restriction limited the offer to adult men alone, and so women offer to adult men alone, and so women fled to red coat encampments, often fled to red coat encampments, often taking their children with them.” taking their children with them.”

Out of 2,863 people whose sex is Out of 2,863 people whose sex is specified on the embarkation lists, 42.3 specified on the embarkation lists, 42.3 % were women and 57.7 percent were % were women and 57.7 percent were men. men.

ConclusionConclusion

The war dissolved some of the The war dissolved some of the distinctions between masculine distinctions between masculine

and feminine traits.and feminine traits. ““The realization that the had been equally The realization that the had been equally

affected by the war led some women to affected by the war led some women to expect equal treatment thereafter, and, expect equal treatment thereafter, and, on occasion, to apply their own on occasion, to apply their own circumstances the general principles circumstances the general principles promulgated by the revolutionaries.” promulgated by the revolutionaries.”

Rachel WellsRachel Wells Mary Willing ByrdMary Willing Byrd Abigail AdamsAbigail Adams

The EndThe End