Women, African Americans, and the Home Front

The war was not just fought by white men. African Americans fought on both sides—some for the British who promised freedom, and others (about 5,000) for the Patriots hoping for equality.

Women played crucial roles, too. They ran farms and businesses while men were away. Some, like "camp followers," traveled with the army as nurses and cooks.

Legendary figures like Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hays) even took their husband's place at the cannon during battle. Women also served as spies, passing British secrets to General Washington.

Civilians back home faced severe economic hardship. To pay for the war, Congress printed too much paper money (Continentals), leading to massive inflation—where money lost its value and prices skyrocketed.

British blockades caused shortages of basic goods like salt, tea, and cloth. Families had to be self-sufficient, making their own clothes ("homespun") and growing their own food to survive the long war.