Revolutionary Mothers Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the romantic view of the American Revolution?

A story with noble generals, brave soldiers and the freedom-loving wives and daughters.

What did the Revolution leave undone, according to Berkin?

The idea of freedom, liberty, and equality was not yet wide enough to encompass women, men without property, African Americans, and Indians.

How have Revolutionary-era women been treated by the historical profession?

Not a lot of interest until around the 1970s when there were historians of women.

What does Berkin mean when she argues that English women's lives were 'dominated by negatives'?

Women faced restrictions on economic dependence, legal identity, and access to positions of formal authority. Signup and view all the answers

What skills were rural housewives required to master?

Housework such as cleaning, dusting, polishing, and decorating. Signup and view all the answers

What was bound up in the role of 'helpmate'?

Producing children, tending the household, the garden, the dairy, and the henhouse, wielding muskets and knives, and taking care of a shop. Signup and view all the answers

What role did women play in the boycott movement?

They opposed British goods by refusing to consume or sell them, and signed boycott agreements. Signup and view all the answers

What was homespun?

Clothes of your own make and spinning. Signup and view all the answers

How did efforts come to focus on tea, and how did women respond?

Following the Tea Act of 1773, women in North Carolina signed an agreement to boycott British-made goods including tea. Signup and view all the answers

How did the war come home to American women?

The war got closer to their homes and was no longer confined to battlefields. Signup and view all the answers

How did women manage household affairs during the war, and what factors worked against them?

Women managed households by taking care of infants and farms, but faced shortages and skyrocketing prices. Signup and view all the answers

What role did rape and sexual violence play during the war?

Increased incidents of rape and sexual violence occurred when soldiers were quartered in homes. Signup and view all the answers

How did women contribute to the 'public defense'?

Women aided by producing necessary supplies for the military. Signup and view all the answers

What did women do when they followed an army?

They cooked, sewed, and washed, with some serving as 'camp wives'. Signup and view all the answers

What was George Washington's response to camp followers?

Washington hated them and ordered them to travel away from the troops. Signup and view all the answers

What problems might be caused by camp followers?

Prostitution and disease were associated with camp followers. Signup and view all the answers

How did generals' wives' motivations differ from those of camp followers?

Generals' wives were treated as celebrities and followed the troops with social privileges. Signup and view all the answers

What was Martha Washington's camp experience like?

She was treated as a celebrity but faced personal tragedy with the death of her son. Signup and view all the answers

What was Caty Greene's camp experience like?

Caty found the war hard due to her separation from her husband. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Baroness von Riedesel's wartime experience like?

She was an eyewitness to battles and felt deeply fearful while trying to appear courageous. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Grace Galloway and what happened to her during the war?

A wealthy loyalist whose property was taken by local authorities, leaving her to live in rented apartments. Signup and view all the answers

What dilemma did the petitions of Loyalist women present American officials?

Granting petitions could boost loyalist moral while refusing them risked losing valuable intelligence. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Loyalist women go when they fled the Revolution?

Their destination was influenced by social class and regional factors, often leading to Canada or England. Signup and view all the answers

Why did most Native nations side with the British?

They sought protection for their lands and hoped to sustain trade relationships. Signup and view all the answers

How did Native ideas about gender compare with those held by Europeans?

Common gendered divisions of labor existed in both cultures. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Molly Brant and how did her life 'bridge two worlds'?

Born a Mohawk Indian, she was educated in a white school and influenced the British during the war. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Nanyehi, or Nancy Ward?

A Cherokee warrior and diplomat who urged restraint against white settlers. Signup and view all the answers

How did Mary Jemison experience the war years?

She was captured by the Senecas and later lived with runaway slaves after escaping. Signup and view all the answers

How did the war open possibilities for enslaved women?

It allowed some enslaved women to run away or join the British military. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the greatest push for self-emancipation occur in the Lower South?

The presence of British military camps facilitated the escape of runaways. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to freed people after the war?

They were left behind and were not free as they were promised. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to African Americans who remained in the United States at war's end?

They were enslaved again. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Phillis Wheatley?

She was a slave allowed to study Latin and published poetry, eventually gaining her freedom. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Deborah Champion?

She carried important dispatches for George Washington. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Lydia Darragh and how did she aid the Patriot war effort?

She was an American who spied on the British and provided intelligence to Washington through her son. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Mammy Kate?

A slave who rescued her captured master and was rewarded with land and a house. Signup and view all the answers

What sorts of clandestine acts did women commit during the war?

Young women fought behind enemy lines and hid important documents to keep them out of enemy hands. Signup and view all the answers

How did intellectuals debate the effects of the war on American women?

Debates focused on the needed changes in women's roles in a republican society. Signup and view all the answers

What changes occurred as a result of women's wartime experiences?

Increased education and political awareness among women. Signup and view all the answers

What did Abigail Adams mean when she wrote to John to 'Remember the Ladies'?

She urged her husband to consider women's rights in the new government. Signup and view all the answers

How did women participate in politics after the Revolution?

Ballots were predominantly male-dominated, with only New Jersey allowing women to vote briefly. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument of the book?

To show how women were involved in the revolution, including slaves, wives of soldiers, and more. Signup and view all the answers

What kinds of sources does Berkin use and how does she approach them?

She uses discussions, newspapers, and books to explore women's roles. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Revolutionary Women

Romantic view depicts noble generals, brave soldiers, and devoted women, portraying an idealized version of the American Revolution.
This appealing narrative overlooks the complexities of freedom, liberty, and equality, which did not extend to many groups including women, propertyless men, African Americans, and Native Americans.

Historical Treatment of Women

Historical interest in Revolutionary-era women emerged significantly in the 1970s with a rise in women historians uncovering women's contributions and experiences during the Revolution.
Women's roles were often overshadowed by men's narratives.

Women's Roles and Responsibilities

English women faced economic dependence, restricted legal identity, and limited authority, which dominated their lives regardless of wealth.
Rural housewives were responsible for household tasks including cleaning and maintenance.
Women's responsibilities included managing homes, child-rearing, and supporting family businesses, alongside occasional engagement in defense roles.

Boycotts and Home Manufacturing

Women contributed heavily to boycott movements against British goods, including signing agreements and making their own clothing to support the cause.
"Homespun" refers to clothing made at home, symbolizing resistance against British textiles.

Impact of War on Women

The war encroached into domestic life, with women managing households while men went to fight, resulting in increased challenges such as food shortages and rising prices.
Reports of sexual violence against women by soldiers increased, compounding the hardships faced during the war.

Camp Followers and Their Experiences

Women who followed military armies often took on roles such as cooks and washerwomen but faced stigmatization and challenging living conditions.
George Washington disapproved of camp followers, associating them with issues of disease and prostitution.

Experiences of Generals' Wives

Generals' wives experienced elevated social status and privileges amid the war, such as attending social events and hosting dinners, contrasting the experiences of camp followers.
Martha Washington, while enjoying celebrity treatment, endured personal losses during the war with the death of her son.

Loyalist Women

Grace Galloway faced dispossession after her loyalist husband abandoned her, highlighting the precarious lives of loyalist women during the conflict.
Loyalist women's petitions to American authorities reflected complex dilemmas, influencing both military morale and intelligence.

Native American Women's Roles

Many Native nations sided with the British, seen as a means to protect their lands.
Women like Molly Brant and Nancy Ward played critical roles in bridging cultural divides and influencing respective communities during the war.

Enslaved Women and Emancipation

The war period offered enslaved women opportunities to escape and join British forces, pushing for self-emancipation particularly in the Lower South where British military presence was notable.
Despite promises of freedom, many freed individuals post-war were left disenfranchised and returned to slavery.

Notable Women Contributors

Figures like Phillis Wheatley, Deborah Champion, Lydia Darragh, and Mammy Kate exemplified critical contributions to the Patriot cause, whether through intelligence gathering or direct action during the war.
Women undertook clandestine actions, including fighting enemy forces and smuggling information.

Changes in Women's Societal Roles

Post-war discourse examined women's roles in a republican society, challenging traditional boundaries and advocating for female education and political engagement.
Abigail Adams famously urged her husband John to "Remember the Ladies," highlighting the need for women's legal identities to be considered in new governance.

Overall Argument of the Text

The text argues for a reevaluation of women's critical roles in the American Revolution, emphasizing their involvement across various societal levels, including among enslaved populations and soldiers' families.
Berkin's analysis draws from diverse sources including discussions, newspapers, and literature to highlight these women's stories.

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Description

Explore the critical roles women played during the American Revolution with these flashcards. Discover both the romanticized and the overlooked aspects of the era through engaging definitions and questions. Perfect for students of American history looking to gain deeper insights into the revolutionary period.