Revolutionary Barbies Podcast 2

The Revolutionary War was a fight for American independence, but the role of women is often overlooked. Women were seen as housewives, but during the war, they boycotted British goods and served as cooks and nurses. After the war, women's lives changed significantly. Abigail Adams, though not viewed as a feminist, advocated for women's rights. Sybil Ludington, a teenage girl, rode through the rain to warn of British attacks. Women's contributions in the war are often forgotten, but they played an important role and should be recognized. The Revolutionary War was a well-known battle caused by the American Revolt against the Free For All, a fight for independence in the country. Men were generally known as the soldiers bravely fighting against the enemy, like famous generals George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and so on. But how many people bring women into the equation when discussing this famous war? Welcome to the Revolutionary Barbies podcast. Today we will be discussing American teenager Sybil Lincoln and the second First Lady of the White House, Abigail Adams, diving deeper into the role they played in this famous aspect of American history. But before we go into that, let's go over what the Revolutionary War was and how it affected women. The Revolutionary War, an eight-year battle from 1775 to 1783, was our country's fight for freedom from Britain. The King of Britain, at the time of the war, did not want to give up control over the American colony. Eventually, the war proved victorious for the Americans and gave us the power to make our own laws and self-government. Before and during this historical war, women were widely regarded as delicate housewives who stayed home with their children and attended to all of their house chores. When the war came to an end, women were finally seen as independent and were recognized for all of their efforts in society. Women were also allowed by society's expectations to have jobs that had seemed reserved to men in the past. However, they were restricted to only a few options due to the perspectives that the government retained. But if society held women to such low standards, how could they have any influence on the war? Well, most women stayed home to carry on with their day-to-day tasks at home, but many took action by boycotting British goods or following their men into war as cooks, nurses, and caregivers. Women who took action often followed their husbands in the Continental Army. These women, known as tip followers, often tended to the domestic side of army organizations. This included washing, cooking, mending clothes, and providing medical help when necessary. After the Revolutionary War, women's lives looked drastically different from those that came before. Women were educated in increasing numbers, they were more involved in politics, motherhood more respected, and many women continued to produce goods rather than purchase them, a trend that began before the Revolution. While these changes may initially appear large, many of them took place within the privacy of the household. Abigail Adams was one of the many women who had a very useful and effective impact in the Revolutionary War. Born in 1744, Abigail Smith grew up in Williammouth, Massachusetts, a village some 12 miles from Boston. Her father, William Smith, was minister of the First Congregational Church there, and also made a living as a farmer. Abigail later married John Adams and gained her well-known last name. Even though people didn't view her as one of the most feminist advocates, she still had concerns with the greater protection of women under many new laws, and wanted them to have access to formal education and much more. If Adams had such a large sense of justice, she would obviously want to aid in the war, but how could she have helped off the field? Throughout the Revolutionary War, she was viewed as a political influence, and she is remembered for the many ways she had liked to exchange with her husband during the Continental Conquest. Her famous words were advising her husband to remember the women of the country while representing his colony at Congress, so that the women wouldn't start a rebellion of their own during the war. But let's address another subject. Did any women in the war actually aid on the field? Well, some women did participate first-hand. Some were good spies or fought in the war disguised as men. One woman who decided to aid on the field was Sybil Ludington. Have you ever heard of Paul Revere? The man who supposedly rode along on his horse through many towns warning people of the British arrival? Well, the female equivalent of him is Sybil Ludington. Sybil Ludington was born April 5, 1751, and was a young teenager at the time of the Revolutionary War. She rode twice as far as the famous Paul Revere in the middle of a rainstorm, along with her horse, and managed to warn many people across the 13 colonies of various British attacks on nearby towns. Overall, even though women were underestimated by society, they were still able to provide help in the war, as George Harrison said our nation wouldn't have won the war if it weren't for women's efforts on and off the field. But this is hardly ever mentioned when discussing the Revolutionary War. It is part of the reason we chose to research this subject for today's episode. The untold stories of women are simply just untold. But by remembering all men accomplished in the war, the historical women of the American Revolution can finally be recognized for the important role that they played in the war. That concludes this day's episode, and remember girls who are beautiful, ambitious, rebellious, brave, influential, empowered, and successful girls.