Women in the American Revolution

Quick Write

What do you know about women in the American Revolution?

• What were their roles at home?• What were their roles in the war?

Education• Most girls did not go very far in

school• It was thought that a woman did not

need much education to do their jobs around the house– Cooking, cleaning, sewing, working on

the farm

Marriage• Girls could get married as young as

13– Not uncommon

• Many married for money; not for love• Women did not have control over

money, property, etc. • Most women did not have wedding

rings because they were too expensive.

Family Roles• Women are the

caretaker, cook, nurturer among many other jobs– Women are taught as

children how to become these roles

• Families often had many kids to have extra hands to help on the farm.

Women and the Home• The wife, the mother, the nurse, the

head of the household• Daily Duties:– Cooking– Cleaning– Entertaining – Sewing– Teaching

Mount Vernon Home Tour

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Women & Fashion

Many products were boycotted by American consumers, but not fabric. Why?

Women & Fashion

Many products were boycotted by American consumers, but not fabric. Why?

Fine cloth showed how much money you had.

Women & Fashion• Undergarments were used to improve posture

and shape. • Women were more modest during this era and

wore a fichu or a handkerchief around their necks which was tucked into their blouse. – The only time they didn't wear this is when they were at

a formal affair.  • Women also wore a hoop skirt

tied around their waist under their dresses to show off their hips and butt.

Women & the War

Deborah Sampson

• From Massachusetts • Disguised herself as a man to fight in

the war.• Enlisted in 1778 under the name

"Robert Shurtleff Sampson“, which was the name of her deceased brother

• Served for a year and a half before she was discharged

Betsy Ross• Created the first

American flag in 1776• Her husband, John,

fought in the war with the Pennsylvania militia, and later died from battle wounds after Betsy tried to nurse him back to health

Abigail Adams• She is the wife of John

Adams. • Her opinions are seen in

Adams’ work during the revolution.

• She is famous for rounding up the women to support the war, and for frequently uttering the words “remember the ladies” to her husband at the Continental Congress of 1776.

Mary Ludwig Hayes• Was known as “Mary the

Pitcher” because she carried pitchers of water to soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth in 1778.

• She is also known to have operated her husband’s cannon when he fell in battle.

• After the war, George Washington named her a sergeant and gave her a pension for her work.

• When she died, she was buried with full military honors.

Esther De Berdt Reed• Woman from Philadelphia who

organized fundraising, purchasing of materials, and the making of shirts for the American Continental Army.

• She and the women she led raised $7,500 in a few weeks for their projects, which was and unheard of amount during the 1700’s.

• When she died, Ben Franklin’s daughter, Sarah Franklin Bache took over her cause.

Martha Washington

• Stayed at Mount Vernon (Washington’s home) for much of the war

• Gave $20,000 of her own money to the war effort

• Visited campsites when husband was ill to care for him

African American Women in the Revolution

• Women served both British and Americans– Nurses– Laundresses– Cooks

• War did not change the lives of African Americans too drastically because they were slaves and not given the right to citizenship.

The most notable women of the Revolution were the wives of

affluent and prominent. Why is this?

The most notable women of the Revolution were the wives of affluent and

prominent. Why is this?

• Have the money and power to help fundraise for the war effort

• Their husbands have a lot of power, which makes the opinions and actions of their wives easier to spread

What are some things that the average woman could do to support the war effort?

What are some things that the average woman could do to support the war effort?

• Boycott:– By not purchasing British products, women

helped to support the colonists.

• Revolt: – There were many instances of female revolts

against the British by burning fields of crops. By doing this, women were keeping the British from harvesting them and using them for food.

Lesson Activity