Women in the Struggle for Americas Independence - Essay Example

Carol Berkin, Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence The America revolution was fuelledby England attempt to institute coercive laws in America. In this law, England government proposed the closure of port of Boston, forcing colonist to house more troops in their country, and minimising self-governance in some regions like Mississippi. Consequently, America responded by attacking French troops as well as instituting Continental Congress. The war was as well enforced and motivated by the ever-increasing revolution ideologies that were castigated by United States of America female and male inhabitants. Although initially America women did not actively participate in political issues, they were forced by the prevailing situation to be in front line in the revolution. This was due to the fact that, this revolution affected all aspects of life including domestic life. Despite enthusiastically participating in the war, women were incredibly productive in forming organisations and movement that advanced the achievement of the revolution objectives (Berkin 23). Based on the role of women in America movement, the essay will seek to address the challenges and the contribution of women in United States of America revolution How Did Various Women In America Meet The Challenges Of And Participate In The American Revolution? During the American Revolution, United States of America legal standing was influenced by the existing marital status regulations. Women at this historical time had very limited basic fundamental rights. The existing legislation therefore tampered with the contribution of women in the revolution. Women lacked basic right of controlling and managing their biological reproduction. Despite of all these challenges, women aggressively participated in the entire revolution. To demonstrate their frustration and role in the revolution, women opted to wear locally manufactured clothing instead of imported British materials. Patriot women also engaged in their traditional weaving to make clothes for local consumption. Reduced market on imported products did not only interfere with local economic development but also forced local community to appreciate traditional values. Although women were not allowed to actively participate in country’s economy, Africa America and housewives utilised their purchasing power to support patriot women by cause through refusing to purchase British manufactured products. Refusal to purchase and consume British manufactured products was used to communicate a very critical political message to British government. In addition, to demonstrate their concern in United States of America affairs, American women formed the first women political Movement Edenton Tea Party. The formation of this movement resulted to the signing by 51 women an agreement to officially boycott tea and other products that were produced in Britain. Even through, it was an America policy to use local products in expense of international produced products; it was America women who enacted the initiative in their household. In 1778, a good number of women confronted merchant who were holding and selling British coffee and confiscated the coffee. Although, women role in the war was concentrated in family economic, the revolution witnessed women participation in broader economic perspectives. Women actively participated in lively revolution by being recruited in legislation bodies and in military. In addition, despite facing consistent hostility from British government, America women also instituted various organisations including Women Associations in Philadelphia. These organisations recognised and appreciated the role of women in the movement as well as their right to be active players in the revolution. Moreover, these groups contributed money and other valued stuffs that were very essential in the war. Despite consistent hostility from the society and their male counterparts, most of the America women refused to stay alone at their homestead. This was due to the facts that, most women lacked the ability of maintaining their families in absence of their husbands. Therefore, women who declined to be left back at home followed the Continental Army. In the war, women served as cooks, nurses, washerwomen, spies, supply scavengers, and as sexual partners. Even though these women were referred to as baggage or nuisances by commanding officers, they had a very essential role in facilitating smooth run of the army camps. In addition, some patriot women used their petticoats to hide letters and dispatches that contained very critical military information. Although a good number of women were killed in the war, the motivation towards helping united states of America military was highly fuelled by the support their acquired from their male counterparts. On the other hand, despite consistent hostility and rebellion from their families and communities members, most royalist women opted to leave their community and fight for revolution instead of living with their enemies. Therefore, most royalist women were moved to other countries such as Canada where they interacted with other royalists from Nova Scotia (Berkin 29) What did the Revolution mean to them and to their families? The revolution has incredibly significant meaning both to women lives and to the lives of the entire community. For a starter, women participation was meant to demonstrate their ability to fight for their basic and fundamental rights. Despite of all odds that barred women from participating in the wars, women from all segment of the population were actively involved in the war. On the other hand, the war was meant to demonstrate women impact and contribution to the country’s economy. Failure to purchase British manufactured products significantly affected British economy and as a result improvement America economy. Moreover, according to America women, the revolution was the only means of terminating discrimination and segregation that was based on sexual orientation and gender. Although women were previous underrated in the country’s social, political, and economic activities their active role in the revolution advanced their position in the society. After the revolution, women were allowed to actively participate in the country’s development through managing and running various economic and political institutions as well as in the formulation of the country’s policies and legislation. On the other hand, the revolution also meant that, the America communities could all unite irrespective of their gender, race or cultural background to fight for their basic rights. In the light of this, women played a very critical role in uniting people from various cultural backgrounds in rejecting British manufactured products (Berkin 37). What Was The Legacy Of The Revolution For American Women? Women contributions in the wars were felt in different ways and in diverse sectors. Although women were formally excluded from participating in the revolution, patriots’ women participated in the revolution irrespective of the persistent resistant. Women participated in the revolution by boycotting British manufactured products and services, undertaking spying activities on behave of America soldiers, storing and delivering essential information, cooking and washing to America soldiers, while few such as Deborah Samson actively participated in the war. Despite actively participating in the war, America women maintained their families in absence of their men by participating in agriculture activities. America women were very critical in facilitating successful boycott of British government. Most of the boycotted products were household goods. To substitute the British products, America women engaged in traditional activities such as weaving and spinning to meet the need of America residence. In 1769, the America women have succeed in producing over 20, 522 yards of woven clothes in Massachusetts and over 40, 000 skeins of yarns in Middletown. In addition, although American women were active participants in America revolution, they were very successful in maintaining their traditional commitment and respect to their husbands. They keenly participated in their marital chores despite of their role in the war (Berkin 69). Work cited Berkin, Carol. Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America's Independence. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 2006 Read More