Revolutionary War Hardships

Vocabulary

• Redcoats: British soldiers
• Minutemen: American colonial militia
• Militia: Army of citizens
• Continental Army: Colonial Army

Patriots

American colonists who believed that the colonists had the right to govern themselves.

Loyalists

• American colonists who were loyal to the British government

Neutralists

• Did not support either side. Thought both groups had good reasons but neither were strong enough to fight a war over. (The war was to far away so why bother)

Political Advantages

Americans

• Fighting to defend independence
• Democracy
• Help from France

British

• Well organized, respected gov’t.
• #1 power in the world

Economic Advantages

Americans

• Short supply lines
• Live off the land

British

• Benefits of empire – huge trading network
• Many industries to create supplies

Social Advantages

Americans

• Identity as “American” defined
• Women help out
• African Americans Join the War

British

• Loyalists help out

Military Advantages

American

• Guerilla warfare
• “Home field” advantage
• Goal – Independence
• Good leaders – Washington
• Help from others – Lafayette, von Steuben

British

• #1 military power in world
• Well-trained, well-disciplined troops,

Disadvantages

Americans

• MONEY!!! (limited)
• SUPPLIES (low)
• TRAINING (poor)

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British

• DISTANCE (England 2,000 miles away – difficult to communicate and coordinate.
• FOREIGN MERCENARIES (Fighting for a pay check, not their own homes/freedom)

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Economic Hardships

• Currency = Money
• To pay for the war congress created their own Currency – no longer using British Money
• Congress kept printing more and more money to pay for the war
• Congress overprinted money and over time the money became less valuable.
• Congress could not tax the colonies because each colony was independent.

Economic Hardships

• Shortage of Imported goods
• The British set up blockades preventing supply ships from reaching the colonies
• The lack of supplies caused prices to rise because products were harder to get
• Inflation – Increasing the prices of goods
• Prices for wheat and beef doubled
• Harder for colonists to buy goods

Economic Hardships

• Some people saw the war as an opportunity to get rich
• Profiteering – Charging higher prices because of limited supply
• Farmers and shopkeepers began charging more for their products to get wealthy from the war
• Laws established how much farmers could charge
• Laws were created and made it illegal to collect and hide large amounts of goods

African Americans in the War

• Some African Americans were freed after the American revolution
• Unfortunately, most African Americans returned to slavery
• They were denied the promises of liberty that were written in the Declaration.

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Native Americans in the War

• Colonists and British were fighting a war over land that the Native Americans considered theirs.
• At first, Native Americans remained uninvolved in the conflict
• Native Americas formed alliances with both Americans and British
• Who ever wins = Native Americans lose

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Women and the War

• As Men left their homes to fight in the war, women took on new roles
• They worked as carpenters, blacksmiths, wagon drivers, and ship builders
• Raised money for the war
• In army camps women cooked food, washed clothes, and nursed wounded soldiers.
• Some women went into the battlefield and brought water to the solders during battle

Women and the War

• Some women disguised themselves as men to fight in the war.
• Deborah Samson fought disguised as a man named, Robert Shirtliffe in the Continental Army.
• Deborah served for three years and was awarded a pension for her military service.
• Became the first woman war veteran to be recognized by congress

Women and the War

• Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, felt that the Founding Fathers should “remember the ladies” and extend rights to the women in America
• She offered rooms in her home for children who had become homeless during the war

Betsy Ross

Women and the War

• Once the war was over, women were demoted to their usual roles as home makers and mothers
• Their contributions to the war were ignored.

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African Americans in the War

• Declaration of Independence – “All men are created equal”
• 5,000 black men served in the Continental Army, and hundreds more served on the sea.
• Many were promised their freedoms as a reward for their service
• African American Patriots fought in every major battle of the Revolutionary War.
• James Armistead – A Virginia slave worked as a spy for George Washington