The Revolutionary War Home Front

Question 1 Why were the Native Americans nervous about the Revolution? What side did many Native Americans fight for?

Answer A number of tribes feared the Revolution would replace the British - who had worked hard to protect their lands from the colonists - with the land-hungry colonials. As a result, these tribes fought for the British.

Question 2 What are 3 ways African Americans won their freedom?

Answer Because so much of the fighting in the last years of the war took place in the South, many slaves escaped to fight for the British.

Answer (Continued) The British, hoping to weaken the American war effort, emancipated (or freed) and evacuated thousands of ex-slaves.

Answer (Continued) A few African Americans also won their freedom by fighting in the Continental Army despite the prejudices of Patriot leaders.

Question 3 How did women impact the spirits of Americans during the war?

Answer Women whose husbands and other male relatives went to war had to assume many of their responsibilities, whether was running the farm or a small business.

Answer (Continued) Cities throughout the United States witnessed growing populations of poor women, and many women did not stay at home when their husbands went off to war. Instead, these women flocked to the army camps to join male relatives.

Answer (Continued) There they helped boost American spirits while doing traditional women's chores such as cooking, laundry, nursing, and so forth.

Note: Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, a member of Congress. She wrote to her husband: “I can not say that I think you [are] very generous to the Ladies, for [while] you are proclaiming peace and good will to Men, Emancipating (or freeing) all Nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over Wives.” - from Adams Family Papers

Abigail Adams Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, delegate to the Continental Congress. She had a close relationship with her husband, and the two wrote often about the political issues of the day. Abigail Adams famously argued for women’s rights in a letter to her husband, telling him, “If [particular] care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to [start] a [rebellion], and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.”

Abigail Adams

Question 4 What 2 reasons does the author give for the Revolutionary War also being called a Civil War?

Answer Most of the land war was fought on United States' soil. Somewhere between 20 to 30 percent of the population remained loyal to the Crown.

Question 5 What is inflation? Why was it uncontrolled during the American Revolution?

Answer The Continental Congress was unable to raise taxes to pay for the war, so it relied on the printing press to issue nearly $250 million in paper money (the so-called Continental.)

Answer (Continued) The paper money was backed only by the good faith of the Congress, and because of interruptions in trade and manufacturing, there was too much money competing for too few goods. The result was uncontrolled inflation. This is when it takes more and more money to buy the same amount of goods.

Inflation Example

Question 6 Imagine you are a woman, Native American, or African American during this time period. Describe what life is like for you and include 2 challenges that you are facing.

Possible Answer I am a woman living during the Revolutionary War. One of the challenges I face is that my family is very poor, and so I have had to go to camp to help out with the chores. I am frightened by the sounds of the battles, but I am glad I can help out my husband. I am tired from doing work all day, but I am happy to help out my family. My friend has a family business, and she has had to do work there since her husband is off at war. She does not have a lot of experience doing this, but she is brave and willing to take on the challenge.