fbpx

KidsKonnect

Women During the American Revolution Facts & Worksheets

During the American Revolution, women had different roles based on their social status, race, and what they believed politically. Although they were not allowed to be part of formal politics, they still made a big impact in everyday life.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /Women During the American Revolution Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

During the American Revolution, women had different roles based on their social status, race, and what they believed politically. Although they were not allowed to be part of formal politics, they still made a big impact in everyday life. Women showed their support for the Patriot side by boycotting British goods, helping with the economy at home, and even secretly spying or joining the military disguised as men.

See the fact file below for more information about Women During the American Revolution, or you can download our 25-page Women During the American Revolution worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HOME AND COMMUNITY

  • Women during the American Revolution had important jobs running households and helping their communities since many men were off fighting in the war.
  • They worked together to make clothes and medicine for soldiers and helped raise money for the war by organizing events and protests.

HOMESPUN MOVEMENT

  • The homespun movement began in 1767 in Boston, Massachusetts, led by Quakers.
  • Its goal was to support buying goods made in the American Colonies, especially clothes.
  • This movement started because of laws from Britain called the Townshend Acts in 1767 and 1768, which angered colonists.
  • Back then, England wanted the colonies to buy textiles from them and not make their own.
  • They even passed a law in 1698 to stop colonies from exporting wool.
  • So, Americans began making their own clothes using materials like flax and hemp, calling them “homespun.”
  • Wearing homespun clothes became a way to show support for America’s fight against British rule.

OPPOSING BRITISH TAXES

  • Americans opposed British taxes through nonimportation and nonconsumption as a way to refuse British goods and oppose taxes.
  • Women played a vital role by making their own clothes and boycotting fancy items.
  • Women refused to buy British goods for their homes, like during the tea boycott, which was a way for women to show support for the Patriots.
  • They opted for American-made products instead.

WAR EFFORT AND SPYCRAFT

  • During the Revolutionary War, women who fought faced mixed feelings; some admired them, while others did not like what they were doing.
  • These women showed that they were just as important to the Revolution as the men fighting on the battlefield.
  • The famous “Molly Pitcher” was a mix of stories about women who helped soldiers, like Mary Ludwig Hays and Margaret Corbin. 
  • Some women, like Anna Maria Lane and Margaret Corbin, were respected for helping out in battles, while others, like Anne Bailey, were criticized for joining up just for money.
  • Anne Smith and other women got in trouble for trying to enlist.
  • Others, like Nancy Hart and Martha Bratton, protected their homes from enemy attacks, while Rebecca Brewton Motte helped the Patriots by letting them destroy her home.
  • And there were brave women who worked as spies, hiding messages and even risking their lives to help the Patriot cause. 
  • People like Deborah Sampson, Harriet Prudence Patterson Hall, Lydia Darragh, and Sybil Ludington are remembered for their courage.

CAMP FOLLOWERS

  • Some women called “camp followers,” went with the Continental Army to help soldiers in different ways, such as washing clothes, cooking, and nursing.
  • They were important for keeping the army camps running smoothly, even though some officers saw them as a bother. 
  • There were also prostitutes around, which worried leaders because of diseases.
  • The wives of top officers, like Martha Washington, visited the camps, showing support for the cause.
  • But unlike poorer women helping practically, their presence was more about symbolizing sacrifice.
  • Some women joined because they were afraid of starving, being attacked, or ending up poor. 
  • They faced the same rules as soldiers and could be kicked out for whatever reason.
  • Camps in really tough areas with enemies had more women, probably because they thought the army could protect them better.

POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT

  • Instead of fighting on the battlefield, some women went beyond traditional forms of protest. 
  • They used poetry, literature, and speech to capture the struggles they faced for true equality and the fears they had for their husbands and family members who were in danger fighting.
  • Through words, they advocated for liberty.
  • Influential women such as Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren sparked political discourse, while poets like Annis Boudinot Stockton wrote about the war.

REMARKABLE WOMEN

  • Abigail Adams supported her husband, John Adams, during the Revolutionary War. 
    • She wrote letters advocating for women’s rights and education.
  • Martha Washington stood by her husband, General George Washington, during the war. 
    • She visited him at camps, helped wounded soldiers, and sewed clothes for the troops.
  • Sybil Ludington, at 16 years old, rode through the night to warn American militia of British movements.
  • Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley) carried water and even fired a cannon during the Battle of Monmouth.
  • Deborah Sampson disguised herself and pretended to be a man to join the Continental Army.
    • She fought bravely until her gender was discovered.
  • Mercy Otis Warren wrote plays and essays criticizing British rule.
    • Her work inspired others to join the fight for independence.
  • Esther de Berdt Reed raised funds for the Revolutionary cause through the Ladies Association of Philadelphia.
  • Phillis Wheatley was the first African American woman to publish poetry in the United States.
    • She advocated for freedom and equality.
  • Mary Katherine Goddard printed the Declaration of Independence.
  • Nancy Hart spied on British soldiers and fought back during a raid on her home.

FREEDOM SUITS

  • Between 1716 and 1783, fourteen black women in the northern states went to court to fight for their freedom.
  • They had different reasons, such as if they were sold dishonestly or if their mothers were not enslaved.
  • One famous case was Elizabeth Freeman’s in 1781, where she challenged the legality of slavery in Massachusetts.
    • She won her case.
  • Another enslaved woman, Belinda, asked for compensation in 1782 for the fifty years she spent as an enslaved person.
  • Even though Massachusetts started to change its laws, other northern states were slower.
  • In the years before the war, Britain saw slavery as a weakness for the American colonists and even talked about freeing all slaves to weaken the South.

ROLE OF NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN

  • Before the war, the Catawba people and settlers didn’t get along, mostly because of land disputes.
  • But during the war, the Catawba helped the Patriots, providing food and support.
  • Catawba women played big roles in farming and talking with neighbors.
  • After the war, pressure from settlers and government rules made the Catawba give up their land.
  • They struggled to survive as a people, but they didn’t give up.

Women During the American Revolution Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Women During the American Revolution across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Women During the American Revolution. Women showed their support for the Patriot side by boycotting British goods, helping with the economy at home, and even secretly spying or joining the military disguised as men.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Women during the American Revolution Facts
  2. Vocabulary Review
  3. Incomplete Thoughts
  4. Concise Timeline
  5. Who Am I?
  6. 4 Roles, 4 Pictures
  7. Turn Into Truth
  8. Women Then & Now
  9. War Collage
  10. Reflective Essay
  11. Insightful Interview

Frequently Asked Questions

What roles did women play during the American Revolution?

Women during the American Revolution played diverse roles, ranging from managing households and farms while men were away at war to actively participating in espionage, nursing, and even fighting disguised as men.

How did the American Revolution affect women’s lives?

The American Revolution provided opportunities for women to take on new roles outside the traditional domestic sphere. They gained some degree of independence as they managed businesses and farms in their husbands’ absence and took on responsibilities typically assigned to men.

Were there any notable female figures during the American Revolution?

Yes, several notable women made significant contributions during the American Revolution. Examples include Mercy Otis Warren, who was a political writer and advocate for independence; Abigail Adams, who famously urged her husband, John Adams, to “remember the ladies” when drafting laws; and Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army.

Did women participate directly in combat during the American Revolution?

While it was rare, some women did participate directly in combat during the American Revolution. Deborah Sampson, for instance, enlisted in the Continental Army under the guise of a man named Robert Shurtliff and fought in several battles before her true identity was discovered.

How did the American Revolution impact women’s rights and perceptions of women’s roles in society?

The American Revolution laid the groundwork for discussions about women’s rights and their roles in society. While the revolution did not immediately lead to significant changes in women’s legal status or rights, it did spark debates about equality and the role of women in a democratic society, ultimately contributing to the early women’s rights movement in the United States.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Women During the American Revolution Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 24, 2024

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources