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What About the Founding Mothers?
The 4th of July is a momentous occasion in the U.S.: Parades, barbeques, fireworks and political ceremonies celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which announced the American colonies separation and independence from Britain and King George IIIs tyrannical rule. We celebrate our founders, and the troops who sacrificed their lives for the creation of our nation. But in our commentary, there are some crucial people being left out: the women of the revolution. Women were an integral part of colonial society, and later, the Revolutionary War. Their place was usually in the home, where they took care of their husbands, raised children and carried out endless daily tasks: They were butchers, cleaners, candle makers, cooks, farmers, tailors. During the war they also became nurses, activists, camp helpers and even soldiers on the frontline. While we celebrate Independence Day this weekend, we should remember these brave women who fought for and helped to shape our nation.
Here are just a few:
Abigail_Adams
Abigail Adams (1744 1818). When Abigail married John Adams in 1764, she probably did not realize the impact she would have in the American Revolution. She frequently corresponded with her husband and influenced his political leanings and stance on equality. She famously asked her husband to remember the ladies in the Declaration of Independence (didnt happen, but at least she asked). Her letters serve as important historical documents which elaborate on the political climate and customs of colonial America. In 1775, she was appointed by the Massachusetts Colony General Court to question Massachusetts women who were thought to be loyalists, one of the first instances of women being involved in the U.S. government. Self-educated, she believed in the equality of women and supported their rights and education. In 1797 she became the second First Lady of the U.S. when her husband was elected the nations second president.
Molly Pitcher (?? ??). Although her existence has been hotly debated, Molly Pitcher was the nickname given to a woman known for bringing water to soldiers to cool down the cannons on the battlefield so that they could be reloaded and fired again. She has been identified as Molly Hays McCauley, who followed her husband John to battle. During a battle at Monmouth, N.J., on June 28, 1778, her husband was injured while crewing the cannon, and she immediately took his place. Another woman thought to be Molly Pitcher was Margaret Corbin, who also followed her husband to battle (he was later killed in the battle of Fort Washington in November 1776). She took his place, swabbing and loading the cannons, and was wounded in battle. She was granted a stipend of $30 and a lifelong pension, the first woman to be given a disabled soldiers pension. Regardless of the true identity of Molly Pitcher, these are only a few examples of women who not only assisted the soldiers, but were actively involved in combat.
Deborah Sampson (1760 1827). After years of indentured servitude and being a teacher in Massachusetts, Sampson cut her hair, wrapped up her chest, made some mens clothing and signed up for the Revolutionary War on May 20, 1782. She signed up using the name Robert Shurtlif, and although the last major battle occurred prior to her duty, she participated in guerrilla warfare for a few months. After receiving both head and thigh wounds at one skirmish, she visited a doctor for treatment of the head wound, but feared discovery of her identity if she showed her thigh wound. After leaving the hospital, she removed the musket ball from her thigh herself and continued fighting. She received a pension for her service and later became a praised lecturer. Her bravery and strength in battle was commended by many, including Paul Revere.
Mammy Kate (?? ??) Mammy Kate was a slave in Georgia under the possession of Stephen Heard. She was well known for her large stature, strength, and loyalty. When Heard was captured by Loyalists and set to be hanged by British forces at Fort Cornwallis at Augusta, Georgia, she followed him and, by charming the troops, became the laundress for the guards and for Heard. One day, carrying a giant laundry basket, the tall, strong woman was able to sneak him out under a sheet, with the guards thinking she was just doing her usual duties (Heard was a very small man). She was able to take him back to Fort Heard, where Heard granted her freedom and gave her four acres of land and a four-roomed home. She died on Heards land, immortalized by her loyalty and bravery.
Phillis Wheatley (17531784). Born in Senegal and kidnapped into slavery in 1761, Wheatley was purchased by Bostons John Wheatley as a personal servant for his wife Susanna. Due to the girls frail health, Susanna instead taught Phillis English, Latin and theology, and she learned to read and write at a fast pace. She published her first poem in 1767, and in 1773 she was the first African American, first slave and only third American woman to publish a book of poems, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. Some white colonists found it hard to believe that a slave was writing such fine poetry, so she had to defend her authorship in court. She wrote many poems about the Revolutionary War and dedicated some to George Washington. Although she never found support to publish a second volume of poems and died young, she forever has a place in U.S. history.
http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/07/04/what-about-the-founding-mothers/
I Abigail Adams
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)niyad
(113,556 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)niyad
(113,556 posts)MARCH 31, 1776
ABIGAIL ADAMS TO JOHN ADAMS
"I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.
"Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.
"Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.
"That your sex are naturally tyrannical is a truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute; but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up -- the harsh tide of master for the more tender and endearing one of friend.
"Why, then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity?
"Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the (servants) of your sex; regard us then as being placed by Providence under your protection, and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness."
http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/abigail.htm
freshwest
(53,661 posts)niyad
(113,556 posts)sheshe2
(83,900 posts)They are our unsung hero's, in our countries fight for Independence.
niyad
(113,556 posts)xtraxritical
(3,576 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)and NEVER on the Victories, the Courageous, the Brilliant, the women who change history??????
So different from how Black History Month is conducted.
I work at a top-grade college and it's like that here too!!
(and of course, I don't mean only Women's History Month...this neglect of female achievement is the status quo every day, year round.)
niyad
(113,556 posts)the yearly themes and the women honoured are all about talented, brilliant, and courageous and amazing women.
www.nwhp.org
BlueToTheBone
(3,747 posts)Each a story about how the Revolution could not have happened without a young woman being a heroine. I gave me such knowledge at an early age about the abilities I had as female.
niyad
(113,556 posts)"but where are the women?"
BlueToTheBone
(3,747 posts)Somehow that's where they all reside. I love Tamora Pierce. She has several series where the heroes are all young women. But, you could also look on Amazon and find the Little Maid series, I'm sure.
niyad
(113,556 posts)BlueToTheBone
(3,747 posts)but throw in some Hardy Boys and Annie Oakley and it made up for it. Tamora Pierce is so great, I love her books now and when I give them to young girls, I have to read them first! Carefully, so they think those pages are pristine, just for them.
niyad
(113,556 posts)one of the stories is available for free online:
"A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia"
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/curtis/philadelphia/philadelphia.html
BlueToTheBone
(3,747 posts)I think that the writer was trying to be historically correct and so they are really a treasure.
LisaLynne
(14,554 posts)"Well, how come there are no women who did ..." whatever, just remember that there WERE and ARE women who did all sorts of things and made all kinds of important contributions to the world, despite huge obstacles being placed in their way because of their gender. We are just generally not taught about them.
Thanks for posting this!
niyad
(113,556 posts)woefully short of what it should be.