Women and American Revolution - Essay Example

WOMEN AND AMERICAN REVOLUTION in APA Style Manoj George - Thomas Pulikkan 05 May 2009 A b s t r a c t American women played a vital role in the American War of Independence, also called as American Revolution. Women were of high demand during and after the American Revolution. Before the War broke out, certain limits and restrictions were made on young women from having education. But the American War of Independence gave absolute freedom to women and took away some of the taboos that stood in path of development.

Winds of changes began to blow after the invasion of the British; the religious developments give way to educational boosting also. The main distinction was on the basis of races; the blacks and the whites. Even though affected the educational and cultural development of the nation, the American Revolution resulted in the formation of the powerful nation in the world. In the midst of 17th Century the need of women education became prominent and activists began to write books and journals on women rights, and this showed the revolutionary ideology toward women Education.

Supporters like Catherine Beecher, established certain institutions to provide women education, when they were confined to work at home. She emphasized on women education by teaching women how to learn their children at home, rather than involving only on household works. The introduction of Oberlin College in 1833 and Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 are considered to be milestones in history of American Women Education. The Convention provided opportunity for women to get educated at home and also criticized the issues of suffrage.

For a better educated nation, as the children were first taught by their mothers, better educated women can only educate their children, so it arouse the need for women education. After all the country was in need of a lot number of teachers and male teachers couldn't be found to fill vacancies. The introduction of religious institutions was another main leap in women education. Religious endowments began to establish many institutions and facilities, to which a lot of educationally qualified people were needed.

The increase in such vacancies gave more opportunity to promote women education. Higher postings to some of those vacancies comes with higher educational qualifications, so women began higher studies to get filled in those seats. Thus the religious developments resulted in the increasing women educational opportunities. During the American War of Independence, racial discrimination existed in its worst phase. The whites and the blacks were the two main races existed in that period. The white dominated the blacks in most of the areas of life.

The blacks were denied from getting education and other facilities. The American Revolution put an end to such racial discriminations also. The existence of three main classes in the society was another drawback that stood in the path of American development. They were 1. The Upper Class, 2. The Middle Class and 3. The Lower Class. In this class discrimination the lower class were exempted from getting education or from other privileges of the society, they were mostly the natives and also slaves from Africa.

The Middle Class people were allowed to get some primary education and were given clerical jobs, and jobs in accordance to their educational qualification. The Upper classes were considered to be nobles and they mostly did the white-collar jobs. After the American Revolution the racial and class discrimination were removed and the process of slavery was abolished. Works Cited.1. //http:www.google.com//