Women contributed significantly to the Revolutionary War effort in various ways. Martha Washington supported the army by cooking, visiting wounded soldiers, and making clothing. Mary Hays, nicknamed Molly Pitcher, brought water to soldiers on the battlefield and helped fire cannons. Other women collected food, raised money, wrote letters and poems supporting independence, and disguised herself as a man to fight in battles.
4. George Washington was having trouble getting
enough men to fight the battles. This was not the
only problem he had. There never seemed to be
enough warm clothing, equipment or food.
It was a joyous occasion when women drove 10 carts
into camp. This meant they were bringing food.
5. The Patriot women helped throughout the war. They
collected food, raised money and made clothing for
the soldiers.
One of the most active was Martha Washington. She
often traveled with the army. She cooked in the
morning, visited wounded soldiers and in the
afternoon she knitted socks and mended uniforms.
6. Mary Ludwig Hays contributed in a different way. She
endangered herself and brought water to the
battlefields. The soldiers nicknamed her Molly Pitcher.
She even helped fire the cannons.
7. Another woman was 21 years old and her name was
Deborah Sampson. She put on men’s clothing and
entered the Continental Army as Robert Shurtleff. No
one knew she was a woman. She fought in several
battles and was wounded twice before her identity
was discovered.
8. Other women helped with their talent for writing.
Mercy Otis Warren helped with the boycott against
tea.
Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, wrote bold
letters supporting American independence. She
spoke out for women’s rights.
9. A young African American woman named Phillis
Wheatley published poems supporting the
Revolution. She also wrote opposing slavery. She was
a very intelligent woman.
She became the first African American to have a book
of poetry published. She was released from slavery.
She was a strong supporter of the colonists’ struggle
for freedom from Britain.
10. Though the victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the
war it was far from over. Late in 1777 Washington and his
army marched into Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It was
another difficult winter with little food and warm clothing.
Many soldiers did not even have shoes. During that winter
at Valley Forge more than 2,500 men died of hunger, cold
and disease. Washington worked to find the things his
soldiers needed.
11. December 1776: General Washington surprised the
Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey and
captured the town.
October 1777: The American victory at Saratoga, new
York, was a turning point of the war.
1777-1778: Short supplies, the Continental Army
suffered through winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
In Summary
12. Name 2 women that provided support during the
Revolutionary War and the way in which they
provided support.
Homework
