Revolutionary Women

Women of the American Revolution

The roles of colonial women were very important during the
American Revolution. Many women became their family’s only
provider as their husbands fought for either the British or the
Patriots. Some women became spies. Others published patriotic
letters, poems and plays. Some organized protests and
boycotts. Some even disguised themselves as men so they
could actually fight as
soldiers. Still others
became “camp followers”
following the Army and
doing the cooking,
cleaning, and medical
work for the soldiers.
Molly Pitcher was a
nickname for women who
carried water to soldiers

on the battlefield.

Multiple Choice

Women could help in the Revolutionary War by

• becoming spies.

• organizing protests.

• publishing patriotic letters, poems, and plays.

• all of these.

Multiple Choice

Women could only join the Continental Army if they disguised themselves as men.

• True

• False

Abigail Adams was the wife of John
Adams, the second president of the United
States. Her letters to her husband showed
her concern for women’s rights and her
opposition to slavery. A famous line of one
of her letters to John is “Remember the
ladies….” When she is trying to convince
him to grant women more rights.

Her cousin, Mercy Otis Warren wrote
plays making fun of the British. She and
many other women, used their pen to
“fight for freedom from Britian”.

Phillis Wheatly was an African woman
who wrote excellent poetry supporting the
fight for independence during the
Revolutionary War. She even appeared
before George Washington for her poetry
and support of independence.

Multiple Choice

Abigail Adams tried to convince her husband to grant _________ more rights.

• dogs

• children

• women

Multiple Choice

Mercy Otis Warren wrote plays making fun of

• the Patriots.

• the British.

• slaves.

• Gould School.

Multiple Choice

Phillis Wheatly was an African women who wrote excellent__________ supporting the fight for independence during the Revolutionary War.

• poetry

• prose

• fictional stories

• comics

Some women spun yarn into fabric so they wouldn’t have to
buy British goods. They helped boycott the British fabric imports.
Others, like the Ladies of Edington, North Carolina organized
and implemented British Tea boycotts.
Still others took care of their family farms so they wouldn’t
have to buy food from markets where Loyalists sold their goods.
Many women became farmers to help feed the soldiers.
Even young people like Sybil Ludington helped support the

fight for independence by becoming messengers, spies, and

“camp followers”. Young and old alike worked together to gain

freedom from Britian.

Multiple Choice

Young people could support the fight for independence in many ways besides actually fighting on the battlefields.

• True

• False