Events
1776
Thomas Paine writes Common Sense
1777
Vermont adopts a state constitution prohibiting slavery
Iroquois begin to raid colonial settlements in
western New York and Pennsylvania
Key People
-
George Washington
Commander of the Continental Army
-
Nathanael Greene
Aide to Washington; one of the highest-ranking and
most respected American generals in the war
-
Baron von Steuben
German commander who helped George Washington and Nathanael
Greene train the Continental army
-
Thomas Paine
Radical
philosopher who strongly supported republicanism; wrote 1776 pamphlet Common
Sense, which was a best-seller in the American colonies
-
Joseph Brant
Mohawk
chief who advocated alliance with Britain against American forces
in the Revolutionary War
Training the Continental Army
As the colonies prepared themselves for war, new militias
were formed throughout America, primarily to defend local communities from
British aggression. Other units, however, rushed to join their comrades
in Boston as soon as every man had a musket. Under the strict command
of George Washington, Nathanael Greene,
and the German Baron von Steuben, this ragtag collection
of undisciplined militiamen eventually became the well-trained Continental
Army.
Popular Support for the War
When the Revolutionary War began, Britain made a costly
and ultimately fatal error in assuming that opposition
to British policies came only from a core group of rabble-rousing
ringleaders such as Washington, Jefferson, and the Adams cousins.
The British believed, incorrectly, that if they arrested these men,
the revolt would collapse and the minutemen would return to their
homes. They failed to understand that a significant majority of
Americans disliked British rule and desired something better. Historians
estimate that the majority of eligible American men served
at some point in the Continental Army, the militias, or both.
Patriotic Women
Many American women supported the war effort as well.
Some particularly daring women chose to serve as nurses, attendants,
cooks, and even spies on the battlefields. Others, such as the famous “Molly Pitcher” (a
woman named Mary Hays McCauly, who fought in her husband’s place)
and Deborah Sampson (who disguised herself as a man)
saw action in battle. Most women, however, fought the war at home.
As more and more husbands and fathers left home to fight, more and
more wives and mothers took to managing the farms and businesses.
A majority of women helped by making yarn and homespun necessities
such as socks and underwear, both to send to militiamen and to support
the boycott of British goods.
Common Sense
The radical English author and philosopher Thomas
Paine helped turn American public opinion against Britain
and solidify the emerging colonial unity with his January 1776 pamphlet Common Sense,
which denounced King George III as a tyrannical “brute.” Paine,
reasoning that it was unnatural for the smaller England to dominate
the larger collection of American states, called on Americans to
unite and overthrow British rule so that they could usher in an
era of freedom for humanity. Inspiring and easy to read, Common
Sense stirred the hearts of thousands of Americans and
persuaded many would-be Loyalists and fence-sitters to fight for independence.
The pamphlet caused a huge sensation throughout the colonies and
sold over 100,000 copies
within a few months of its first printing.
The Loyalists
Although most Americans supported the decision to break
away from Britain and declare independence, about one-third of the
colonists did not. These Loyalists were heavily concentrated
in the lower southern colonies but could also be found in concentrated
pockets throughout other regions, including the North.
The Loyalists had several reasons for choosing
to support Britain. Some, including many wealthy merchants, Anglican
clergymen, and officials, disagreed with Parliament’s policies but
felt that it was not right to challenge British rule. Others were
political conservatives who preferred the status quo. Many ethnic
minorities, including blacks and Native Americans, also backed Britain,
fearful that victorious white Americans would trample
their rights.
