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History in the Making

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This research paper explores the overlooked yet pivotal contributions of elite patriot women had on the American Revolution. It argues that their participation in the revolution was instrumental in shaping its outcome through grassroots organizing, frontline support, and propaganda creation. While men like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton dominated popular narratives, women from influential families played critical roles by organizing boycotts, producing goods, delivering intelligence, and rallying financial and moral support for the Continental Army. This study investigates how elite women such as Mercy Otis Warren, Sarah Fulton, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and Martha Washington didn’t just support the revolution from the sidelines, but they helped drive it forward. Drawing from primary sources, historical analysis, and scholarly interpretation, this paper will first provide the historical context of the British colonial policies after the Seven Years’ War, then examine women's reactions through acts of protest and writing, and finally analyze their diverse contributions during the war. Ultimately, this work seeks to reframe the American Revolution in that it was not a war fought by men but a collective struggle that included women's sacrifices for the cause.

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