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Ellie Shue Mr. Wimmer AP US History 1 February 2012

Colonial Success in the Revolution Men were more central to the colonists’ success in the American Revolution because they were ultimately the leaders of that era (1600s through 1800s). In the colonial days, women were not a part of political or governmental decisions. Their major contribution to the colonists’ success was sewing the uniforms and helping their husbands by caring for their home. Also, at this time, America had a strong group of intellectual and free-thinking men to lead their cause. It is our founding **fathers** that we credit the making of our country to. And, these male leaders came together in times of need to plan out the best course of action for the colonists as a whole. Their rebellions and collaborations helped pave the way to decide to escape Britain’s tyrannous grasp and then build their own government once free.

In the time of the Revolution, men were looked to as the leaders as well as women were expected to not speak their minds. So, it makes sense that men were more central in the colonists’ success. While the men were organizing their rebellions and committees, their wives were at home, watching over their children and land. Sure, you here the phrase “behind every good man is a great woman,” but the truth is that, though it may very well be true in some cases, the Revolution was almost solely handled by men. Some believe that Abigail Adams was very influential over her husband John and that he consulted with her over important matters involving the course of the colonies. But that is only one woman among many men.

A main factor in the success of the colonies in the American Revolution was the collection of brilliant men at their disposal. Things would have ended extremely different if some of these men had not been a part of the movement of the colonies towards independence. For instance, imagine what would have happened without George Washington. The Revolution would’ve needed another Commander in Chief to lead them in the war as well as another first president of their new country, the United States of America. If not Washington, picture the revolution without the level-headed John Adams. Remember that he, during the First Continental Congress, swayed the others in attendance onto a course towards independence by defeating a proposal for Americans to rule themselves under British direction. But, fortunately both Washington and Adams were on the Patriot’s side of the Revolution. And really, the truth is that I could make analyses such as those above for numerous other men helping liberate the colonies. Some other key people in this movement were Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. All of these men and more helped make colonists the victors in the Revolution. But also, there were some women that helped fight against Britain. Women like Mary Draper, who helped aid the soldiers from her own home and supplies, and Deborah Sampson, who cut her hair and dressed as a man to enlist in the war, also helped in the war. However, these names are not particularly remembered, and are few in comparison to all of the great men in the time of the Revolution.

None of these men would have had such an impact as they did if not for the committees and congressions that brought all of these great minds together. As independence crept into the minds of more of the colonists, when Britain began to tighten its grip on them, the intellects of the colonies got together to decide the best course of action for all. The first of these groupings was the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, created to speak of trying to get Britain to repeal the Stamp Act, which was later repealed. It was made up of wealthy, upper class men seen as the ‘rebel’ leaders of their respective colonies. Created around the same time was the Sons of Liberty, a group made up of mostly middle to upper class (male) colonists, two of which were Sam Adams and John Hancock, who chose to take action rather than write petitions. This helped guide rebellions in the colonies. There is also another small group to remember, the Daughters of Liberty. This group of passionate colonists led the women of the colonies to follow through with the colonies’ non-importation agreement. This helped the rebel movement grow within households, but nothing more than that. It was the Sons of Liberty that were really looked towards as enforcers of colonial decisions, but even they were small in comparison to groups made up of a collaboration of all the colonies. Two other examples of male-only groups that brought together all of the colonies and ultimately shaped the Revolution’s path were the Committees of Correspondence and the Continental Congresses. Both of these set precedent for America’s government as well as installing a ‘boys club’ attitude to politics that wasn’t change until a couple centuries later.

So, from an over-all look at the colonists’ success in the American Revolution, men were the main, and pretty much the only, contributors. However, it isn’t the women of this era’s fault they were not more a part of the Revolution, the time was that of male superiority where women’s thoughts and actions were meaningless. But still, the great men that came together to shape the outcome of the Revolution were the center of colonial success. If not for all of these different, brilliant minds coming together to sort out colonial America, we do not know how the Revolution would’ve panned out.

Works Cited
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 * "American Revolution: Deborah Sampson." //ThinkQuest : Library//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2012. Bailey, Thomas Andrew, David M. Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen. //The American pageant//. 11th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.
 * "The American Revolution - (Important People)." //The American Revolution - (Home)//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2012. <http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/people.aspx>.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">"The Men Behind the American Revolution." //18th Century History - The Age of Reason and Change//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2012. <http://www.history1700s.com/men_behind_the_american_revoluti.shtml>.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Zinn, Howard. //A people's history of the United States: 1492-present//. [New ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. Print.