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Follow on Google News | Unsung Sheroes Who Made Revolutionary Contributions to U.S. HistoryDuring the birth of our nation Abigail Smith Adams had her husband, John's ear about a lot of things regarding business, running the farm, politics, and the Revolutionary War. But when it came to heeding her advice to "remember the ladies" John forgot. So did historians. With the possible exception of Betsy Ross creating the first U.S. flag, the contributions of women during the Revolutionary War have been largely ignored. In honor of our nation's 240th birthday, Royal Neighbors of America shines a light on a few of the unsung sheroes of American independence. Failing to acknowledge the significance of women was the prevailing attitude in the 1770s. While it may have been disconcerting to be so easily dismissed, many female patriots used it to their advantage - especially when it came to espionage. Many of the women who helped in the Revolutionary War effort served as spies. The British troops recruited women to cook and do laundry. Since women were perceived as being innocent and non-threatening, the British soldiers talked openly about strategic information. The women reported what they overheard to their own army. Some of these female sleuths reported directly to General George Washington who greatly valued their contributions.[ Espionage wasn't the only ammunition American women used against the Red Coats. Mary Draper proved to be a true woman of "mettle". When General Washington called for the need for lead or pewter to make ammunition, Draper stripped the decorative pewter from her home, threw in some of her platters, pans and dishes, melted it down and poured it into a mold for casting bullets. Some of the ammunition was used at the Battle of Bunker Hill.[2] Mercy Otis Warren used the power of the pen to drum up support for America's bid for freedom. She wrote passionate opinions about the war and politics that were printed, highly regarded and widely circulated. Her efforts were considered influential in shaping public opinion. Today she is known as America's first female playwright.[ Other contributions made by women may seem ordinary, but were vital none-the-less. For instance, numerous women boycotted British goods to help sever ties with the enemy.[4] This meant making sacrifices regarding everyday items such as drinking their beloved tea, and adding to their already full workload by creating their own cloth rather than importing materials from abroad. Provisions were not the only thing in short supply. The war effort was expensive and the cost was taking its toll. Esther de Berdt Reed organized fundraisers and raised $300,000 for the Revolutionary soldiers.[5] In 1895, some 119 years after the Revolution War, another group of women helped change history. They were patriotic and compassionate. However when these nine women saw how families suffered when the mother in a family died but that these women's lives were generally not insurable, they decided to take action. They created Royal Neighbors of America, an organization with a vision to protect women financially and empower them to improve their lives, families, and communities. Royal Neighbors became one of the first to insure women in the U.S., and later one of the first to insure children, too. Royal Neighbors continues its tradition of supporting women and offers a variety of programs, grants, and scholarships. Some of the outreach recently reached the descendants of many of our country's early patriots when a $500 check was given to the Sun Lakes chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for their literacy program. American patriot, Abigail Smith Adams, who was known for advocating for public school education for girls that was equal to boys,[6] would probably be pleased with this effort to improve literacy. Her husband may have seemed reluctant to heed her advice when it came to women's rights, women's suffrage, or the importance of educating women. But for Royal Neighbors, it is our part of our everyday commitment for life, liberty, and justice for all. [1] National Women's History Museum, Clandestine Women:Spies in American History, The American Revolution. Online article, https://www.nwhm.org/ [2] Founding Mothers, the women who raised our nation, Cokie Roberts, page 44, Harper Collins, published 2004. [3] Pamela Kline and Paul Pavao, "Mercy Otis Warren," 2010-1013, accessed October 7, 2013,http://www.revolutionary- [4] Source: Boundless. "Women in the Revolution." [5] National Women's History Museum, online site, https://www.nwhm.org/ [6] National First Ladies Library, First Lady Biography: Abigail Adams, online article, http://www.firstladies.org/ End
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