Analyzing the Role of Women Under British Colonies and 1812 War

This essay delves into the multifaceted roles women played in the British colonies and during the War of 1812. It examines how British colonial rule influenced gender roles and limited women's rights, while also highlighting their significant contributions to the war effort. The essay discusses various aspects of women's involvement, including their work in laundry, tailoring, nursing, and providing support to soldiers. It also explores the challenges women faced, such as harassment and threats, and their resilience in supporting their families and communities. The essay emphasizes the importance of women's contributions in challenging societal norms and ultimately gaining greater recognition and respect, thus changing the perception of women's physical and mental abilities and setting the stage for victory.

Running Head: Role of women Under British Colony and 1812 War
Role Of Women Under British Colonies And War Between US And Britain In 1812
Essay
System04104
3/5/2020

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Role of Women under British Colonies and War between
US and Britain in 1812
Role of women in British colonies varied greatly from colony to colony and it is also
varied in different ethnic groups. In early period of 17th century, female were not known for
their contribution in the professional work and neither were they participating in the fields
with their husbands. However, in the late 17th century and in the war with Britain for their
interference in United States, the contribution of women cannot be ignored or forgettable.
During the British rule in US, it has been assumed by the people that men can dominate over
women and husband were natural rulers over their wives and that is why women continued to
have very few rights in US as well because of the British influence and mind sets for the
women (Buckley, 2015). The article describes how women played a great role in the war
between US and Britain over the interference of British rule in 1812.
It has been found that Britishers forced the women to have limited legal and social
rights and they also avoid them in political events as well. Women were treated as physical
and mentally weak while deciding the societal views. The concept of pre-marital sex was also
prevailing in the society that directly affects the health and wellbeing of women in the
country (Sjolander, 2014). However, even in the modern time the role of women in the 1812
war generally overlooked by the people and even the war if 1812 frequently overlooked as
well in the country. There were women involved in the war of 1812 in both American and
British sides and because of their contribution through reminisces, journal articles, newspaper
articles, and journals people can get the glimpses of 1812 war and provide information how
the war spanned in many acres and took more than two years to arrive at a conclusive result.
The letters and journal articles written by the women in that particular period gives the
glimpses of the 1812 war and shows the sacrifice of American people against Britishers and

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their cruel colonial policies (Trautsch, 2013). There were many other fields under which
women were contributing in the war of 1812. The major contributions can be categorised
such as in laundry work, tailor work, and giving companion to the soldiers in their fight
against British government. Apart from this, women were also working as a servant and
nursemaids in the house of officers. The female workers and servants cooked food for the
family members, when the officers were away at war. It was really painful when women left
their children in the houses and worked for the soldiers and their family members. The people
in US also known about the cruelty of Britishers on Indian people ad massacres took place in
this Asian sub-continent. The people including women were in fear of being the victim of
random street violence in US under the British rule in those days (American Battlefield Trust,
2019).
In 1812, US citizens including men, women, young, and old all decided to raise a
revolution against the British rule and this was the beginning of the great 1812 war in
American history. There were very few women who contributed in the battlefield but many
of the women were stayed at home and support their husbands or son in their participation in
the war. The women were facing a high level of threat from the white men people and also
they protect their property and house from the robbers in the country (Heidler & Heidler,
2020). There were number of girls who married with US soldiers and supported them with
their contribution in the house and in the business in the family. Rebecca Bates, Abigail
Bates, Lucy Brewer, Besty Doyle, Mary Pickersgill, Mary Ann Cole, Dolley Madison some
of the big names who were known for their contributions in 1812 War (Moore, 2013). The
contribution of women in 1812 war was unforgettable because they participated directly and
indirectly in the war. Women were facing a high level of threat and rough behaviour under
the British rule because a large number of women were harassed by the British rule. Despite
being the threat of British army and their poor behaviour against the women in the US,

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women like to follow their husbands in the continental army and make a remarkable
contribution in the war (Bickham, 2012). These types of women were known in the camp as
“camp flowers” because they often involve in washing, cooking, mending clothes for the
soldiers and even they were able to provide medical assistance to the soldiers and their
husband as well. However, the women in America were very much influenced by the India
people because they are fighting with same cruel British rule and Company rule (Butts,
2013). However, it is really difficult to analyse the role of every women and their
contribution in the war of 1812 because every women were participating in the war by
directly or indirectly involved in the war. Some of them were fighting in battlefield, some of
them were in camp, while some of the women were working in houses and managing the
families from poverty and Britishers. Even the situation of women in late eighteen century
and early nineteenth century was not very well in the society neither they were equally
treated by the men to participate in the politics or in war. However, their contribution in the
war of 1812 enhanced their importance in the country and people started to give respect to the
women and appreciate their contribution in the war. It was really difficult to fight with British
army during the war because they were well equipped and organised (Bickham, 2012).
In conclusion, it can be said that until the starting of 19th century, the lack of equality
in the society ignores the importance and roles of women in the country but the contribution
of women in the war of 1812 gave a huge respect to them and people started to appreciate
their roles in the important 1812 war. The contribution of women also changed the perception
of people about them that women are physically and mentally weak and could not participate
in social work or in war with men. It was really a great time for women and for their
contribution in the country and people must memorise and give respect to their roles in the
1812 war because it set the base of victory.

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References
American Battlefield Trust (2019). Women in the American Revolution: On the homefront
and on the battlefield. Retrieved from:
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/women-american-revolution
Bickham, T. (2012). The Weight of Vengeance: The United States, the British Empire, and
the War of 1812. OUP USA.
Buckley, A. (2015). Gender Oppression, inequality and Gender Roles In India and
Southwestern United States: How British Colonial Rule and American Internal
Colonialism Perpetuated Gender Roles and Oppression. Retrieved from:
https://people.smu.edu/knw2399/2015/04/30/gender-oppression-inequality-and-
gender-roles-in-india-and-southwestern-united-states-how-british-colonial-rule-and-
american-internal-colonialism-perpetuated-gender-roles-and-oppression/
Butts, E. (2013). War of 1812: The women of the war. Retrieved from:
https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/08/18/war_of_1812_the_women_of_the_
war.html
Heidler. T. J. & Heidler, S. D. (2020). War of 1812. Retrieved from:
https://www.britannica.com/event/War-of-1812
Moore, J. (2013). Women in the British Colonies. Retrieved from: https://networks.h-
net.org/node/2295/blog/teaching-womens-history/3693/women-british-colonies
Sjolander, C. T. (2014). Through the looking glass: Canadian identity and the War of
1812. International Journal, 69(2), 152-167.

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Trautsch, J. M. (2013). The Causes of the War of 1812: 200 Years of Debate. Journal of
Military History, 77(1), 273-293.