ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of women in warfare in Colonial America

Alright kiddo, let's talk about women in warfare in colonial America. Back then, people had different opinions about whether women were supposed to fight in wars or not. Some people thought it was okay for women to fight, while other people thought it was only for men.

At first, women didn't really fight in wars. They mostly stayed home and took care of things like cooking, cleaning, and raising children. But as time went on and more wars happened, some women started to get involved in fighting too.

During the French and Indian War in the mid-1700s, some women disguised themselves as men so they could join the army. They cut their hair short and dressed like men so nobody would know they were women. One famous example is Deborah Sampson, who fought for the Continental Army and even got injured in battle.

In the American Revolution, some women also helped out in different ways. They might have worked as spies, delivering secret messages between military leaders. Some women even set up businesses that supported the war effort, like running shops or making uniforms.

But despite all these contributions, women still weren't officially allowed to serve in the military until much later. It wasn't until the early 20th century that women were allowed to enlist in the army, and even then they were mostly limited to non-combat roles.

So, in short, women in colonial America did participate in warfare, but it was often through more covert means or by disguising themselves as men. It took a long time for women to be able to officially serve in the military like men could.