US History I HH
September 9, 2010

As the saying goes, “a woman’s work is never done,” but today’s women live a far different life than their predecessors. The women of the revolution were courageous and brave-hearted. The obstacles of their time were far more difficult to overcome than those faced by women in this day and age. Whether it was slavery, war, or racial prejudice, these women kept their heads held high and worked to break down these barriers and create change for the future. On top of having to deal with these hardships, the women of the revolution had families to take care of, mouths to feed, houses to clean, and wounds to heal. For many women of the revolution it was all about taking a stand for their rights and being
It meant keeping them from chasing what they believed in. Slavery made their liberty a far off dream that only seemed more distant with each passing day. Mary Jemison is an Indian woman who exemplified the effects of racial prejudice in her world. Mary was born into a white family and lived contentedly for fifteen years of her life. When she was just fifteen years old, she was kidnapped and used as ransom resulting from a Seneca raid. When the time came for her family to help her return home and pay the ransom to her kidnappers, Mary declined the offer because she felt that living as a Seneca Indian was a more exhilarating life than her life in New England with her white family. Mary lived with the Cherokee tribe and experienced all of the hardships that came along with being an Indian woman. When an American raid was eminent on her tribe, the women and children were sent into the nearby woods to hide themselves. Upon their return they saw the awful sight of their destroyed village and homes that they had put so much time and effort into building with each other. Americans saw the Indian society as run of the mill. They looked down upon the women and children especially. Indian women did not have much of a say in society or politics, either, but these determined women worked hard in the fight for their rights. A prime example of a Native American woman struggling