Broad History
Broad History
Isabelle Roughol
American Revolution | Part 1 | The political awakening of American women (with Carol Berkin)
58 minutes Posted Jul 4, 2026 at 11:00 am.
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S2 Ep01 Carol Berkin
Meet Carol Berkin
The three principles of colonial America's patriarchal society
The permanent childhood of women
The roots of revolution in the French and Indian war
Boycotts, liberty cloth and the political radicalisation of women
Loyalist women
Break
The revolution was the real Civil War
The South bore the brunt of the fighting
War is everywhere and women can't sit it out
The heroism of ordinary people
Riders and Spies: how women used being underestimated to serve the revolution
Sybil Ludington
Lydia Darragh
Valley Forge and the army's instant cities
Camp followers
How laundresses saved Washington's army
Molly Pitcher and women in combat
Deborah Sampson
Women Everywhere Except Politics
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58:19
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Show notes
The most radical thing about the American Revolution? The sudden politicisation of colonial women, argues Dr Carol Berkin, author of "Revolutionary Mothers" and one of the preeminent historians of women in the early United States. Women were the main organisers of the boycotts of British goods, which fanned the flames of revolution. They were involved in every aspect of the war – except in high politics, from which they were barred.Sign up for the newsletter at www.broadhistory.com. Listen early and without ads. Become a member at www.broadhistory.com/membership.On this episode:
Isabelle Roughol - Host
Carol Berkin - Guest
What do you think?Read & comment at broadhistory.comEmail me: [email protected] to: (
00:00) - S2 Ep01 Carol Berkin
(
04:18) - Meet Carol Berkin
(
04:24) - The three principles of colonial America's patriarchal society
(
09:05) - The permanent childhood of women
(
11:50) - The roots of revolution in the French and Indian war
(
17:00) - Boycotts, liberty cloth and the political radicalisation of women
(
24:03) - Loyalist women
(
26:32) - Break
(
28:38) - The revolution was the real Civil War
(
30:50) - The South bore the brunt of the fighting
(
33:42) - War is everywhere and women can't sit it out
(
36:39) - The heroism of ordinary people
(
38:08) - Riders and Spies: how women used being underestimated to serve the revolution
(
38:47) - Sybil Ludington
(
40:48) - Lydia Darragh
(
43:12) - Valley Forge and the army's instant cities
(
44:34) - Camp followers
(
46:17) - How laundresses saved Washington's army
(
49:08) - Molly Pitcher and women in combat
(
52:17) - Deborah Sampson
(
55:39) - Women Everywhere Except Politics
Get the bookπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Buy the book in the US: https://bookshop.org/a/79408/9781400075324πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Revolutionary Mothers is unavailable in the UK, but you can browse for other books on Women in the American Revolution(Affiliate bookshop.org links support Broad History and indie bookstores.)Click here to view the episode transcript.
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