by Suzanne Dombrowski

Created on: March 05, 2009

Women for centuries were considered the "weaker" sex. That sentiment is the opposite of the truth. Women have consistently been able to pick up the pieces after the men have gone to war.

During the Revolutionary War, women were not only raising the children (many were pregnant) but taking care of the farm, while the men went off to fight for freedom from England. Molly Pitcher was a name given to the women who would bring water to the men on the field, not for drinking but for the cannons. Abigail Adams, the wife to the 2nd President of the United States was a self educated woman who pressed her husband for more rights for women. However, John Adams dismissed most of his wife's suggestions.

During the United States Civil War the majority of women were far from commanding any forces; however there were a few stand outs. Louisa May Alcott is a name that most people know from her novel, Little Women. It is a wonderful story of four sisters growing up in post Civil War Virginia. During the Civil War, Louisa spent her time as a nurse in a hospital in Virginia. Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross in the United States, was the only woman given accessibility to the worst battlefields during the Civil War. She attended to the wounded on the battlefield during and after battle. Both of these women and countless others gave up their time, on both sides of the war, to tend to the needs of the battle scarred and wounded.

Harriet Tubman is also a name synonymous with the Civil War. She created the Underground Railroad. The "railroad" saved countless African-American men, women and children from the nightmare of slavery. Harriet was an escaped slave and risked her own freedom to save others.

The next war where women really start to make a significant impact is World War II. All over the world, women were helping the Allies from the French resistance to the United States factories.

In the United States, women worked in a variety of jobs from factory workers to taxi drivers to professionals. These were jobs historically held by men. In order to make ends meet and contribute to the war effort, women went to work making airplanes, ships, guns and tanks. Women that worked in these positions became known as Rosie the Riveters. Rosie the Riveter was a powerful representative of women who entered the workforce to fill the spots left open in the factories by the men.

Women also wanted to do their part and serve in the Second World War and they were given the opportunity with

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