What were the different roles women played during the American Revolution?

Abstract

Purpose

Through the approach presented here, the authors created an investigation, utilizing the SOURCES Framework for Teaching with Primary and Secondary Sources, to allow their students to better understand that many people, specifically many dynamic women from diverse backgrounds, played vital roles, individually and collectively, in the fight for independence and, ultimately, the creation of the United States of America.

Design/methodology/approach

The SOURCES Framework for Teaching with Primary and Secondary Sources is a framework that was developed to scaffold the learning process for students to replicate that which is done by historians. This approach allows students in the classroom, in a structured manner, to analyze primary and secondary sources in authentic and engaging ways in pursuit of answers to an essential question, and others of interest to each student, regarding historical events, controversy, etc. This process empowers students to think critically, weigh various perspectives and accounts and to develop their own evidence-based response to an essential question that is central to guiding and driving inquiry.

Findings

Through the analysis of primary and secondary sources related to women’s roles and efforts during the American Revolution, students were able to develop their own evidence-based narratives to answer the essential question of “What were the different roles women played during the American Revolution?”

Originality/value

The authors of the manuscript outline a unique approach to teaching students about the importance of women to the independence efforts in the United States during the late 18th century. Teachers of all grade levels and various content can modify and adapt the methods and resources presented here.

Citation

Waring, S.M. and Forsyth, S. (2024), "What were the different roles women played during the American Revolution?", Social Studies Research and Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-06-2024-0030