Jim McMahon
When most people think of the heroes of the American Revolution, icons such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Adams usually come to mind. But many of the colonists called on to fight the battle for independence were unsung teenagers.
In 1774, fed up with the taxes imposed on the American Colonies by Britain’s King George III , colonial leaders held their first Continental Congress in Philadelphia to challenge Britain’s rule. The following year, the Congress approved the formation of a Continental Army and named Washington as its commander. But who would fight? Half of the 2.8 million people living in the 13 Colonies then were 16 or younger, so young people were needed to fill the ranks.
Officially, soldiers had to be at least 16, but boys as young as 10 sometimes enlisted, either with their parents’ permission or by hiding their age. Young girls aided the cause too, taking care of and defending farms and delivering messages across enemy lines. For some young people, especially the poor, the war offered an opportunity to display their patriotism and forge a new life in a new nation.
There are many heroes of the American Revolution. When most people think of them, icons such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Adams usually come to mind. But many of the colonists who fought for independence were teenagers.
In 1774, colonial leaders were fed up with the taxes Britain’s King George III put on the American Colonies. They held their first Continental Congress in Philadelphia to challenge Britain’s rule. The following year, the Congress approved the formation of a Continental Army. It named Washington as its commander.
But who would fight? Half of the 2.8 million people living in the 13 Colonies then were 16 or younger. That meant young people were needed to fill the ranks.
Officially, soldiers had to be at least 16, but boys as young as 10 sometimes enlisted. Younger soldiers either got their parents’ permission or hid their age. Young girls aided the cause too. They took care of and defended farms and delivered messages across enemy lines. For some young people, especially the poor, the war offered an opportunity to show their patriotism and forge a new life in a new nation.