...In the book Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence, Carol Berkin has discussions about the various roles women had during the American Revolution. As we see the fight for independence was not fought alone by men. The actual fight was with the women. They went to almost exhausting attempts to do their part as well. These women overlooked their own welfare as well as the safety of their children. While being strong and breaking free of beliefs and stereotypes about what was conceived to be behavior that a woman portrays. Although it was not at all for the women. The women in the book did indeed struggle, different groups of women struggled in different or more forceful ways. Berkin talks about different major...
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...In her book, Revolutionary Mothers, Carol Berkin addresses readers about the major role of women throughout the American Revolution and how much of an impact they had. Berkin argues that not only did women do a lot in the war effort but were horribly mistreated as well, moreover, she calls out the “gender amnesia” (Berkin, 3) many historians have shown in regards to the American Revolution. The book states in the beginning that, “women could hardly have been passive observers” (Berkin, 7) because the war was so close to home. Women participation began immediately, during the British goods boycott they “became crucial participants in the first organized opposition to British Policy,” (Berkin, 13) without their assistance the boycott would not have worked. They continued to be part of the war effort when many would accompany soldiers into battle, “as cooks, washerwomen, seamstresses, nurses, scavengers for...
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...Contrary to the popular belief of men contributing the biggest part to the American Revolution, women have made significant impact in our history as well. Unfortunately, most of our history books minimize the impact of women on our history, and when it is mentioned, it is often belittles or even romanticized through the authors eyes. Carol Berkin attempts to portray a more accurate representation of these influences in her book Revolutionary Mothers, Women in the Struggle for American Independence. Berkin discusses the Colonial white women, Native American, and African American women and how they have helped to construct and shape our history. By basing her position in this book on the various socioeconomic statuses such as the high and low classes, as well as those who supported Loyalist and Patriotic causes during this lengthy battle for Americas Independence. Overall, Berkin has constructed a piece of literature that attempts to depict the real influence of both average common folks as well as famous women have had in our history and how they were affected by the Revolutionary war. By using many different sources and numerous footnotes throughout her 120 page book , Berkin defends her stance on the roles of many women throughout history and their influences. Berkin position is backed up by using diaries from numerous women written during the days of the Revolution, memoirs, legal opinions, law books as well as news paper articles. Also to discredit any other possible...
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