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Essay / The roles of women and African Americans after the American Revolution...
Many people's roles began to change after the American Revolution in terms of what could be done and who was able to do it. It was the beginning of the revolution of people who now had a taste of what the future might hold for them and the importance of their role in ensuring it was better for all future generations. Particularly women and African Americans, two groups of individuals who, for very different reasons, were considered inferior and couldn't do much in the grand scheme of things. These two groups were able to break preconceived roles; however, they resulted in completely different results. Women, in general, were expected to be able to manage their households, caring for their spouses and children in whatever way was necessary at the time. They were considered uneducated, incapable of understanding the most complex knowledge of politics and business management of all kinds. They had no other rights than those they received from the grace of their husbands. Their opinions didn't matter, in the long run, and they were treated as inferiors, expected to stay in their place without question or pretension. African Americans were brought in as slaves with no rights, only doing what their master wanted, it didn't matter. what that implied. Depending on their master and how he chooses to treat his slaves, the conditions could be horrible, leaving many doubting that their lives would be any different than the ones they currently live. Did this mean there was no hope for the future of women or African Americans? Didn't they want change? Weren't they willing to push the boundaries and try to improve their lives? Women had to take on more and more roles during the Revolution... middle of paper ... kept around. Even free slaves did not have the same freedoms as whites or even women, with all their stipulations against them; although they were able to start businesses and practice their religious beliefs with like-minded people. It will be several years before what began after the American Revolution for the rights of women and African Americans comes to fruition, but it cannot be done. argued that the roles began to change at this point. The future would be different thanks to those brave enough to fight for their inalienable rights as human beings. //www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/education/1700s_2.htmGail Collins, America's Women (New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.., 2003), 106.