Breaking Boundaries: Women at the Forefront of Revolution in America

This portrait is one of Phillis Wheatley, an American author, and heavily considered one of the first African-American authors to have a published book of poetry. Wheatley was born in West Africa in 1753, where she stayed until the age of 8 when she was kidnapped and enslaved. By the age of 9, Wheatley had learned to read and write, a knowledgeable fact to show the resistance that Wheatley had against the white man. 

The National Portrait Gallery states, "When her book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, appeared, she became the first American…

Molly Pitcher is a nickname given to a woman who fought in the American Revolutionary War. It is rather important to note, as Ushistory.org states, “‘Molly Pitcher’ was not a single historical figure, but composite folk heroes inspired by the actions of different people, most of them women who carried water to troops during the revolution.” These women helped lead the military in ways that many would not typically credit them for. However, if it were not for these women, there would have been an incredible increase in casualties for our people. 

Two real women are typically…

The pictured title page is that of Harriet Jacobs's autobiography Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Published in 1861, this narrative was an accomplisment that showed the strength that Jacob's possessed. At only the beginning of the Civil War, this black American women had the oppurtunity to share her story, which not many slaves, not many women, had the same oppurtunity. This just goes to show how women are able to succumb the hardships and produce what they feel the nation needs to hear. Sarah Way Sherman's "Moral Experience in Harriet Jacobs's Incidents…

Pictured is the cover page of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, a book that embodies feminism and the spirit of women. The book critiques the societal expectations imposed on women. Friedan's call to action ignited the second-wave feminist movement, inspiring women to challenge gender norms, pursue education and careers, and assert their equality. The Feminine Mystique remains a powerful work of literature for women's liberation and social change. 

Womenhistory.org states, “Her 1963 best-selling book, The Feminine Mystique, gave voice to millions…

Pictured is a portrait by John Singleton Copley of Mercy Otis Warren. Warren was a significant figure during the American Revolutionary period. Rightfully known for her writings that supported the American Revolution and criticized British policies. Her most notable works include plays, poetry, and political essays. She was also one of the earliest female historians in the United States, writing a comprehensive history of the American Revolution. Warren's contributions to American literature and history are widely recognized, and she is considered one of the prominent women of her time.…

Pictured is a photograph of Maya Angelou reciting her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. As an African American woman, her inclusion symbolized progress and inclusivity in American politics. By inviting Angelou to deliver a poem at his inauguration, President Clinton acknowledged the contributions of African Americans and women to American society, fostering a sense of unity and representation. 

Maya Angelou, through her evocative writing and powerful voice, became a beacon in the Civil Rights Movement. Her autobiographical works,…

Shown above is an original copy of Judith Sargent Murray’s “On the Equality of the Sexes.” Originally published in 1790 in The Massachusetts Magazine, it advocated for gender equality. The essay challenges the notion of female inferiority, arguing that women's intellectual abilities are equal to men's and should be cultivated through education. Murray states, “But, suffer me to ask, in what the minds of females are so notoriously deficient, or unequal” The questioning of why women are being told they are “unequal” compared to men dictates the willingness that women have to speak…

Pictured is a stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence from 1823. The Declaration of Independence, a hallmark of American history, y asserts the colonies' right to independence from British rule. Crafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on July 4, 1776, it proclaims the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The document galvanized support for the American Revolution and laid the groundwork for democratic governance. A notable quote from the Declaration of Independence is of follows, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…