How did women help in the war effort?

Answer 1

The American Revolution 1775-1783

During the American Revolution thousands of women took an active role both for the American and British military forces. They were called 'camp followers'. They performed a multitude of necessary tasks such as cooking, laundering, sewing uniforms, mending, nursing, reading and writing letters for wounded or illiterate soldiers, caring for children, providing comfort and assisting wherever they could. They were paid a minimal sum and were given half rations.


There are a handful of women who impersonated men and served active duty. There were also several women who performed during battles when they took over to the best of their ability for injured and fatally wounded men.


Women also acted as spies and risked their lives carrying vital information on horseback. They also relayed important information by a very active system of letter writing, sharing and passing along information amongst themselves through regular correspondence and also acting as gatekeepers for correspondence from the men who were in the heat of the conflict and their commanders who were stationed elswhere.