Brave Women Who Shaped Early America

Mary Katherine Goddard, Phillis Wheatley, and Mercy Otis Warren made important contributions to America during the Revolutionary period.

• Mary Katherine Goddard was a printer and the first female postmaster in Baltimore. In 1777, she printed the Declaration of Independence with all the signers' names, which was risky because the British could have punished her. As postmaster, she helped deliver important messages during the war. Despite her work, she was removed in 1789 because officials thought a man could travel more easily. She wrote to President George Washington, but was not reinstated.
• Phillis Wheatley was an African American poet. Born in West Africa, she was brought to America as a child and enslaved. The Wheatley family taught her to read and write, and she became known for her poetry. At 19, she wrote a poem asking for freedom and criticizing British rule. Her work supported the Revolution and highlighted the injustice of slavery. She became the first African American woman to have her poetry published.
• Mercy Otis Warren was an important political thinker. She wrote plays, poems, and pamphlets that encouraged independence and criticized British rule. After the Revolution, she opposed the Constitution because she thought it gave too much power to the federal government. She debated with leaders like John Adams and continued speaking out even when it caused personal problems.

These women showed courage, intelligence, and dedication. Their work in printing, writing, and politics helped shape America and made them key figures in the nation's early history.

Women Who Made History in Early America

Elizabeth Ellet, Elizabeth Freeman, and Deborah Sampson made important contributions to American history in different ways.

Elizabeth Ellet focused on recording the roles of women in the Revolutionary War. She published The Women of the American Revolution in 1848, a three-volume work highlighting women who supported the war through nursing, cooking, and helping soldiers. She traveled widely, interviewed families, and researched in libraries, making sure women's efforts were recognized at a time when most history books were written about men. Her work encouraged future historians to study women's contributions.

Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Bett, was born into slavery around 1742. She became the first enslaved person to gain freedom in Massachusetts. In 1781, she sued her owner, arguing that slavery was against the state constitution. She won her case and became free. Her legal victory inspired others and helped Massachusetts move toward ending slavery. She later worked in her community and became a respected figure, showing how one person's courage can bring change.

Deborah Sampson challenged gender rules by joining the Continental Army disguised as a man. Born in 1760, she enlisted as Robert Shurtliff and fought in battles, even treating her own injuries to keep her identity secret. After her service was recognized, she received a pension, one of the first women to do so. Her actions proved women could serve in combat and inspired future generations.

These women demonstrated determination, courage, and the ability to change society through research, law, and military service.

Women Who Fought for Change

Patience Lovell Wright, the Grimke sisters, and Charlotte Forten were women who challenged the limits set for them and worked for justice and equality.

Patience Lovell Wright (born 1725, New Jersey) became one of the first American women sculptors. She started by making wax portraits of family and neighbors. During the American Revolution, she made lifelike wax figures of important leaders like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Later, she moved to London and made portraits of the British royal family. Even abroad, she used her art to support the American cause and independence.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke were sisters from South Carolina who grew up in a slave-owning family but became strong opponents of slavery. They moved to the North and were the first women in the U.S. to speak publicly against slavery. They also worked for women's rights, saying that women, like enslaved people, were denied freedom and equality. Their speeches and writings challenged society and helped start the abolitionist and women's rights movements.

Charlotte Forten (born 1837, Philadelphia) was an educated Black woman who taught African Americans during the Civil War on the Sea Islands in South Carolina. She helped people who had been denied education under slavery and believed learning could improve their lives. Her letters show both the struggles and the strength of the Black community.

Pioneer Women Who Changed History

In 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention began the organized fight for women's rights in the United States. Led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, women met to demand equality and wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, based on the Declaration of Independence. It called for women to have the same rights as men, including the right to vote. Other key supporters included Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, and Mary Ann McClintock. Their efforts helped start the women's suffrage movement, which led to the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Women also made important progress in medicine. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree in 1849 and later opened a medical college for women. Her sister, Emily Blackwell, became the third woman to earn a medical degree in the country. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker treated soldiers during the Civil War and became the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.

Native American sisters Susan and Susette La Flesche worked for their community. Susan became the first Native American woman doctor, and Susette spoke out for Native American rights. Other women fought for justice in different areas:

• Anna Dickinson gave speeches supporting women's rights and ending slavery.
• Belva Lockwood overcame barriers to become a lawyer, joined the Supreme Court bar, and even ran for President, promoting equality.

These women showed that women could succeed in medicine, law, and leadership, breaking barriers and creating opportunities for future generations.

Trailblazing Women Who Changed History

Emily Warren Roebling, Katharine Wright, and Inez Milholland were women who made important contributions in engineering, aviation, and women's rights.

• Emily Warren Roebling (1843-1903) helped complete the Brooklyn Bridge. Her husband, Washington Roebling, was the chief engineer, but he became ill during construction. Emily learned how bridges are built, communicated with engineers and workers, and made sure the project kept going. Despite facing doubt from male colleagues, her work was essential for finishing the bridge in 1883.
• Katharine Wright (1874-1929) supported her brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, in developing the first powered airplane. She managed their letters, finances, and legal matters. When people doubted their work, she encouraged them and helped get funding. After the first flight in 1903, she traveled with her brothers to Europe to promote aviation and assist with international press and negotiations.
• Inez Milholland (1886-1916) fought for women's right to vote. She led the 1913 suffrage parade in Washington, D.C., riding on horseback in front, which made her famous. She was also a lawyer and spoke against child labor and the unfair treatment of women. Her efforts helped build support for the 19th Amendment, passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote.

These women show that dedication, intelligence, and support can lead to big achievements, even in fields where women were not always accepted. They played critical roles in engineering, aviation, and social change, leaving a lasting impact on history.

Leaders Who Stood Up for Justice

Maggie Lena Walker, Mary Tape, and Zitkala-Sa were three women who worked hard to make life better for their communities.

• Maggie Lena Walker was born in 1864 and became the first African American woman to start a bank in the United States. She created the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, Virginia, in 1903. Her bank gave African Americans access to financial services that were usually denied to them. Maggie also worked with the Independent Order of St. Luke to help Black women and families, promoting education, equal rights, and economic independence.
• Mary Tape moved from China to California and wanted her daughter, Mamie, to go to a public school. Schools would not accept Chinese children, so Mary took the city to court. In Tape v. Hurley (1885), she won the case, showing that children should have equal access to education. Her actions helped highlight the unfair treatment of Chinese Americans and inspired future civil rights efforts.
• Zitkala-Sa, born in 1876 on the Yankton Sioux Reservation, faced challenges at a boarding school that tried to erase her Native American culture. She became a writer, sharing her experiences in essays and stories like Impressions of an Indian Childhood. Zitkala-Sa also worked with groups like the National Council of American Indians to improve education, health, and legal rights for Native Americans.

These women showed courage and leadership. They improved financial opportunities, fought for education, and protected culture and rights for their communities.

Women Who Changed History Through Work and Rights

During World Wars I and II, women made important contributions to the military and society, even when facing challenges and discrimination.

• Hello Girls in World War I: In 1917, the U.S. Army needed skilled telephone operators to connect military calls in France. They recruited 233 women, mostly bilingual in French and English, to handle these communications. These operators worked long hours in tough conditions and helped American and French forces communicate efficiently. Despite their crucial role, many men didn't see them as official military members. It wasn't until the 1970s that they were officially recognized and given veterans' status.
• Women's Right to Vote: Women fought for more than 70 years for the right to vote in the United States. Leaders like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul organized marches, protests, and petitions. World War I helped the movement gain support because women worked in factories, hospitals, and other essential jobs. Finally, in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed, giving women the legal right to vote. This was an important step toward equality and encouraged future activism.
• Agnes Meyer Driscoll and Codebreaking: During World War II, Agnes worked for the U.S. Navy as a codebreaker. She helped decipher Japanese codes, which was important for military strategies like the Battle of Midway. Even though she faced challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field, her skill and dedication made her a key figure in military intelligence.

These examples show how women's skills, determination, and work shaped history and opened doors for future generations.

Women Making Big Changes in Society

Margaret Sanger and Katharine McCormick worked to give women control over their own bodies through birth control. Margaret Sanger, a nurse, spoke openly about birth control when it was illegal in many places. She opened the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn in 1916, which authorities closed, but she kept fighting. In 1921, she started the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood. Katharine McCormick, a wealthy philanthropist, supported Sanger by funding research that led to the first birth control pill, approved in 1960. Their efforts made birth control widely available and gave women more freedom to plan their lives.

Mary McLeod Bethune focused on education and equality for African Americans. Born to parents who were former slaves, she started the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls in 1904, which later became Bethune-Cookman University. She wanted African American girls to have opportunities to succeed. Bethune also advised President Franklin D. Roosevelt and worked with civil rights leaders to fight racial inequality. Her work in education and politics helped improve opportunities for African Americans.

Eleanor Roosevelt used her role as First Lady to push for social change. She spoke out about civil rights, women's rights, and poverty, wrote a daily column, and traveled widely. Later, she helped write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and led the UN Commission on Human Rights. She showed that one person could make a big difference in politics, equality, and human rights.

Women Who Changed America

Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, played a key role in improving workers' rights and social programs. Born in 1880, she understood the struggles of working-class Americans and fought for better conditions, especially for women and children. As Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, she helped create important programs like Social Security, unemployment insurance, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, which set minimum wages and limited child labor. Her work helped protect millions of people and opened doors for women in government.

The Six Triple Eight, also called the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, was an all-Black, all-female unit in World War II. These women worked in England and France to sort millions of pieces of mail for soldiers, boosting morale during the war. They faced long hours, poor working conditions, and discrimination due to both race and gender. Despite this, they completed their work efficiently. Recognition for their contributions came decades later, in 2009, when members received awards for their service.

The New Orleans Four were the first Black women to attend the University of New Orleans in 1953. Lucille, Mildred, Leona, and Norma faced discrimination, threats, and hostility while attending a mostly white university. Their courage helped challenge racial segregation in higher education and inspired other African American students to pursue education.

Powerful Women Who Shaped the Country

Romana Acosta Banuelos, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Patsy Mink, Pat Schroeder, and Constance Baker Motley were all women who broke barriers and made important contributions in their fields.

• Romana Acosta Banuelos was the first Hispanic woman to serve as Treasurer of the United States (1971-1974). Born to Mexican immigrant parents, she worked hard to succeed in business and government. She managed U.S. currency and pushed for recognition of the Hispanic community.
• Babe Didrikson Zaharias was an exceptional athlete from Texas who excelled in basketball, track and field, and golf. She won multiple Olympic medals in 1932 and 10 major golf championships. Her success opened doors for women in sports.
• Patsy Mink was the first woman of color in Congress. She helped create Title IX in 1972, which made sure men and women have equal opportunities in schools and sports. She also supported civil rights, reproductive rights, and education reforms.
• Pat Schroeder served in Congress from 1973 to 1997. She focused on women's rights, children, and families. She introduced the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allowed workers to take unpaid leave for family or medical reasons.
• Constance Baker Motley was the first African American woman federal judge. She worked as a lawyer for the NAACP and helped with major civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education.

These women showed that determination and hard work can break barriers, create opportunities, and inspire future generations in government, sports, education, and law.