The efforts of revolutionists is often thought of the men who drafted the Declaration of Independence, led the troops, or commanded the war. Often what are disregarded are the efforts of the women or African-Americans. An article named, "Women's Service with the Revolutionary Army" called women who followed the Army "Camp Followers" and goes on to explain the role that women had during the Revolutionary War. Some soldiers would ask for furlough to take care of their wife or family because of certain situations and recognizing that all soldiers would not be able to leave the war, some of those soldiers were allowed to bring their wives with them. They would do a multitude of tasks from laundry to nursing. Regiments were ordered to ensure that the women that were among their men were productive and to report their marital status. Those who were not productive and were solely burdens were sent away. Women were preferred as nurses so that the men would remain available to fight. Few women during the War have been documented fighting whether it was because they dressed and tried to pass themselves off like men or in the case of Margaret Corbin who in November 1776, when her husband who was an artillery man was killed, stepped up to fill in for him. She was injured and paralyzed from an injury on that day and would become the first American women to receive disabled veteran's pay. Women also served on the home front along with taking care of the house and children, many women filled in for their husband's to keep the business and farms running. Although women played a critical part in the families of soldiers and some on the battlefield themselves, according to New World Encyclopedia, women’s children, property, and earnings belonged by law solely to their husbands, and various legal and social barriers made divorce almost unthinkable. In most respects American women were legally on a par with criminals, the insane, and slaves. Despite their active participation in the Revolution, women gained few new political or legal rights as a result.
African Americans served on both sides of the revolution. Brought to