The Revolutionary War had a tremendous impact on the lives of women, just as women helped
shape the course of that conflict. As in all wars, women faced the fear and hardships brought on by
absent men, inadequate supplies, roaming enemy soldiers, and nearby battles. But at a time when
women were supposed to limit their activities to domestic concerns, the war also opened up new
opportunities. On the home front, they ran family farms and shops, raised money, and produced
homespun goods for the Continental Army, and they defended themselves and their homes. Women
also spied on enemy encampments, provided medical care for soldiers, and even fought alongside
men on the battlefield. Women gained new skills, felt pride in their independence and abilities, and,
like their male counterparts, gained satisfaction and sometimes fame in supporting the cause in
which they believed. They cast their everyday responsibilities in a political light, even as the war
generally failed to expand women’s legal or political rights.
The women represented in the following documents demonstrate a variety of experiences during
the war. Some women, like Christian Barnes (Document 6.6?), remained loyal to Great Britain and
suffered attacks by patriot neighbors and soldiers. As a Seneca, Mary Jemison (Document 6.10?)
sought to remain neutral during the war, but she also faced hardships brought on by pillaging
colonial soldiers. The other documents offer a window into the lives of patriot women who worked to
defend their new country and their families during the war. Even here, there were differences
between the activities of wealthy women (Documents 6.7? and 6.9?) and those of ordinary women
(Document 6.8?). In reading these documents, think about the extent to which being a woman
shaped how they experienced the war. Almost all women faced new challenges, but some were also
offered new opportunities. Still, even the innovative roles women played were often justified in
Why did the Loyalists act as they did? Were their arguments as valid as the rebels?
? How did women’s legal rights diverge from the way people (and women in particular)
actually lived? What outlets were open to women for political part