ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of women in war in the United States, Pre-1945

Before 1945, girls and women in America were not allowed to go to war or fight in battles like boys and men. However, they still contributed to war efforts in many ways.

During the American Revolution, girls and women helped make clothes and blankets for soldiers and collected resources like food and medicine for the army. They even disguised themselves as men so they could fight in battles, like Deborah Sampson who dressed up as a man and served as a soldier for three years.

In the Civil War, women worked as nurses and helped care for the injured soldiers. They also worked as spies, carrying important information across enemy lines. Some brave women, like Harriet Tubman, went undercover and helped lead slaves to freedom.

During World War I, girls and women served in the military as nurses, telephone operators, and clerks. They also worked in factories, making weapons and supplies for the war.

In World War II, many girls and women joined the military and served in non-combat roles as nurses, mechanics, and cooks, but some even went into combat zones to help. The Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) were a group of female pilots who flew planes for the military during the war.

Overall, even though women were not officially allowed to fight in wars before 1945, they played important roles in supporting war efforts and contributed to the success of American military actions.