The American Revolution was many revolutions, argues Professor Berkin, transforming the lives of Native Americans while the colonists fought for independence. For many Native Americans, victory meant increased pressure from white settlers. Native American women shared their peoples’ struggles for independence and autonomy. Professor Berkin highlights the story of Molly Brant, a Mohawk woman who assisted New York Loyalists and negotiated with the British on behalf of the Iroquois—and one of the few Native American women of the period whose name is more familiar today.
Part 1 of 4: Cultural Misunderstandings (7:57)
Part 2 of 4: Native Preference for English Over Americans (2:51)
Part 3 of 4: Molly Brant’s Efforts to Preserve Her People (4:52)
Part 4 of 4: Captivity Narratives: White Women Who Prefer Native Life (5:16)