1. Women In the Revolution Mary Beth Norton By: Ashley Willey, Robby Palmer, Casey Price, & Sara Betts

2. Thesis: “… many white women gained a new appreciation of their capacity and capability of their sex in general as they learned to handle un familiar tasks. For black women too the war brought changes.”

3. “ White women’s experiences with wartime disruptions varied according to where they lived.”

4. Similarities Northern and southern women responded similarly to things such as the looming threat of invasion by enemy troops, the incidence of disease, or the opportunity to accompany their husbands to the army.

5. Differences New England Colonies: New England Colonies: Had to cope with turmoil first. Had to cope with turmoil first. After the British evacuated Boston in 1776 the northern section of the country was relatively free of armed conflict. After the British evacuated Boston in 1776 the northern section of the country was relatively free of armed conflict.

6. Differences Cont. Middle Colonies: Middle Colonies: Many families had no respite from the dangers of warfare for several years. Many families had no respite from the dangers of warfare for several years. Continuing presence of the British Army in NYC from July 1776 – November 1783 Continuing presence of the British Army in NYC from July 1776 – November 1783 Redcoats in Philadelphia from 1777- 1778 Redcoats in Philadelphia from 1777- 1778

7. Differences Cont. Southern Colonies: Southern Colonies: Little touched by war before 1778 Little touched by war before 1778

8. Hardships All Women had to face

9. The choice of leaving their homes Some women chose to leave with their children. “…roads around Boston “filled with frightened women and children, some in carts with their tattered furniture, others on foot fleeing to the woods. Others decided to stay Elizabeth Farmar also decided to stay in her house despite the fact that it lay between the lines during the occupation of the city in 1777- 1778. Elizabeth Farmar also decided to stay in her house despite the fact that it lay between the lines during the occupation of the city in 1777- 1778.

10. Epidemic Disease “The unhealthy conditions of the besieged city had helped to incubate both smallpox and dysentery, and an epidemic of the latter had already swept the Massachusetts countryside.” “The unhealthy conditions of the besieged city had helped to incubate both smallpox and dysentery, and an epidemic of the latter had already swept the Massachusetts countryside.” Women had to make the choice of having or not having herself and her children inoculated. Women had to make the choice of having or not having herself and her children inoculated.

11. Rape “In addition to carrying small pox, the armies brought a specific terror to American women: the fear of rape.” “In addition to carrying small pox, the armies brought a specific terror to American women: the fear of rape.” Diver soldiers repeatedly raped 13-year-old Abigail for three days. Later she and her friend’s, 15 year old sister, Elizabeth was forced to go to the camp. They were repeatedly assaulted until rescued by a soldier. Diver soldiers repeatedly raped 13-year-old Abigail for three days. Later she and her friend’s, 15 year old sister, Elizabeth was forced to go to the camp. They were repeatedly assaulted until rescued by a soldier. “ Eliza Wilkinson [recounted that] the whole world appeared to me as a theatre, where nothing was acted but cruelty, bloodshed, and oppression; where neither age nor sex escaped the horrors of injustice and violence; where lives and property of the innocent and inoffensive were in continual danger, and the lawless power ranged at large.” “ Eliza Wilkinson [recounted that] the whole world appeared to me as a theatre, where nothing was acted but cruelty, bloodshed, and oppression; where neither age nor sex escaped the horrors of injustice and violence; where lives and property of the innocent and inoffensive were in continual danger, and the lawless power ranged at large.”

12. For slaves this time was a period of unprecedented opportunity. “The British soldiers held out to black men and women alike the prospect of winning their freedom from bondage.” “The British soldiers held out to black men and women alike the prospect of winning their freedom from bondage.” “ No sex or age restriction limited the offer to adult men alone, and so women fled to red coat encampments, often taking their children with them.” “ No sex or age restriction limited the offer to adult men alone, and so women fled to red coat encampments, often taking their children with them.” Out of 2,863 people whose sex is specified on the embarkation lists, 42.3 % were women and 57.7 percent were men. Out of 2,863 people whose sex is specified on the embarkation lists, 42.3 % were women and 57.7 percent were men.

13. Conclusion

14. The war dissolved some of the distinctions between masculine and feminine traits. “The realization that the had been equally affected by the war led some women to expect equal treatment thereafter, and, on occasion, to apply their own circumstances the general principles promulgated by the revolutionaries.” “The realization that the had been equally affected by the war led some women to expect equal treatment thereafter, and, on occasion, to apply their own circumstances the general principles promulgated by the revolutionaries.” Rachel Wells Rachel Wells Mary Willing Byrd Mary Willing Byrd Abigail Adams Abigail Adams

15. The End