The Impact of the American Revolution on Slavery and the Status of Women
...90 that U.S. citizenship would only be given to whites. Also, in 1792, the federal government allowed states to exclude blacks from their militias. Even though this did not forbid blacks from fighting, it opened the option, which more and more states began to take. The Fugitive Slave Law was also put into motion. This ordered that escaped slaves be given back to the owner upon request. The slaves were allowed no juries and sometimes they were not allowed to show proof of freedom. Finally, a technological advance put slavery back as a major industry. Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin made it necessary to have slaves to pick more cotton. Although many steps were taken after the American Revolution to weaken slavery, it proved a stronger and deep-seated institution in America. Women also gained some ground from the American Revolution. During the war the women helped the soldiers and sometimes even fought along with the men. They also stayed home and managed the property and sometimes even stores that their husbands owned. They took over many jobs around the house that the men used to do. Advocates for women’s rights began to voice their opinions louder and to a broader audience. Few advances were made in the relationship between men and women. It became easier for a woman to get a divorce from her husband. Another new trend was the choice of a husband. Judith Sargent Murray promoted women’s rights and wrote “On the Equality of the Sexes” which essentially said that each gender had equal intellectual ability and deserved equal chances at education. After this was produced, private schools for girls began being created and in 1984, Massachusetts implemented a law that said elementary schools were prohibited from banning girls from enrolling. These schools were opened up for girls, but few attended them and the government did not make school mandatory for girls. Even though they gained some ground, women were stuck at home and had few, if any, opportunities in the world. They also did not gain any voting or other political rights from their effort. They were still stuck in the shadows of their husbands, no matter how smart or savvy they were. Many steps were taken during these years to help ...