Home+Front

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Defining a "home front" in the Revolutionary War is difficult because so much of the thirteen states became, at one time or another, an actual theater of war. Even so, the war profoudly affected the domestic scene, and the domestic scene, in turn, greatly influenced the conduct and course of the war.

Most Native American tribes east of the Mississippi were uncertain about which side, if either, to take during the Revolutionary War, and many remained neutral. A number of tribes, however, feared the Revolution would replace the British--who had worked hard to protect their lands from colonial encroachments--with the land-hungry colonials. As a result, these tribes fought with the British or took advantage of the situation and acted against the colonists on their own. Patriots viewed the Indians as a threat throughout the war. The patriots' use of the term savages for the Native Americans gives a good indication of their overall attitude toward most tribes.

For some African Americans, the Revolution meant freedom. Because so much of the fighting in the last years of the war took place in the South, many slaves escaped to British lines. The British, hoping to weaken the American war effort, emancipated and evacuated thousands of ex-slaves. A few African Americans also won their freedom by fighting in the Continental Army despite the prejudices of patriot leaders. (This attitude changed somewhat during the course of the war.) For the vast majority of African Americans, however, the liberties touted by the American Revolution remained more promise than reality.

Women's lives were also profoundly affected by the Revolutionary War. Women whose husbands and other male relatives went to war had to assume many of their responsibilities, whether it be the farm or small business. Since Continental Army soldiers were typically drawn from the lower ranks of society, many women did not have farms and businesses to fall back on. Cities throughout the United States witnessed growing populations of impoverished women. Many women did not stay at home when their husbands went off to war. These women flocked to the army camps to join male relatives. There they helped maintain army morale while doing traditional women's chores--cooking, laundry, nursing, and so forth.

In many respects, the Revolutionary War was a civil war. First, most of the land war was fought on United States' soil. Second, somewhere between 20 and 30 percent of the population retained their loyalty to the crown. In some places, the loyalists actively opposed the patriots--through propaganda, spying, military service with the British, and sometimes insurrectionary activities. Loyalist propaganda continually planted seeds of dissention within the wider population. Patriots continuously perceived loyalist threats on the home front and actively worked to quiet the loyalists, arrest them, and confiscate their property.

Because the Continental Congress was unable to levy taxes to pay for the war, it relied on the printing press to issue nearly $250 million in paper money (the so-called Continental). The paper money was backed only by the good faith of the Congress; because of dislocations in trade and manufacturing, there was too much money competing for too few goods. The result was uncontrolled inflation. In early 1780, the Congress confessed that its money was worthless (something the people had known long before as evidenced in their popular saying "not worth a Continental").

For additional documents related to these topics, search American Memory using such key words as slaves, blacks, Indians (use "savages" and specific tribes such as Mohawk, Iroquis, or Six Nations), loyalists and tory, women, and economy (including paper currency, depreciation, and inflation), and use the terms found in the documents to the right of the page. Note that using these terms alone will produce thousands of hits each. Therefore, try to use these keywords in specific collections and with more specific modifiers, such as dates or places.

DOCUMENTS:

1. British Invasion of New York Encourages Loyalists and Indians, July 4, 1776

From George Washington's point of view, the invasion of New York by British forces would likely encourage loyalists and Indians to take up the British cause. In the following letter to the Continental Congress, written on July 4, 1776, what concerns does Washington raise about this prospect?

2. The Continental Congress Deals with the "Savages," 1776-1778

American-Indian relations were generally not good over the course of British colonization of North America. Recall that the reason for the British Proclamation of 1763 was conflict over settlement in the lands west of the Allegheny Mountains, which the British wanted to stop. Of course, the colonists' response to that edict was heated to say the least. After war broke out between the British and Americans, Indian tribes were in a quandary as to which side, if either, to take. Although some tribes did take sides, most attempted to sit out the Revolutionary War. Even so, Indian relations were ever on the minds of patriot leaders. In the following documents, what issues are raised? What does the Continental Congress attempt to do about some of these issues?

3. Two Continental Congress Addresses to the Six Nations, 1776-1777

The so-called Six Nations was a confederation of tribes living from northern New York through the Ohio country. The Six Nations comprised Cayugas, Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Senecas, and Tuscaroras. Because of their geographic location, these tribes became a focal point of both the British and Americans during the Revolution. The confederation, however, broke down during the Revolution, with some tribes supporting the British, and other tribes the patriots. In the following speeches to the Six Nations, what are the Americans trying to accomplish? Would you describe the tone of the speeches as threatening or accommodating? Why?

4. Tories Spread Falsehoods in Canada, February 1776

Patriot leaders discovered that loyalists (also called Tories) created no end of problems with which they had to deal. In the following report to the Continental Congress, what loyalist activities does "the gentleman from Canada" describe? What course of action does "the gentleman" suggest? What difficulties might these activities pose to the patriot cause?

5. Continental Congress Resolutions Concerning Loyalists, 1776

Patriot leaders faced many dilemmas as they dealt with loyalists. In the following resolutions of the Continental Congress, what issues are being addressed? What dilemmas might these issues pose to the Congress and other patriot leaders?

6. Loyalists in Delaware and Maryland, 1777

While problems of loyalism and toryism were widespread throughout the colonies, loyalist sentiment and activities were more intense in certain localities. One such locality was in the maritime counties of Delaware and Maryland. In the following Continental Congress documents, what issues are discussed? What does the Congress attempt to do to suppress the loyalists?

7. Reverend Jacob Duche to George Washington, October 8, 1777

The letter below suggests that Reverend Duche had been a friend or acquaintance of George Washington. Duche, however, was a loyalist. What is he trying to persuade Washington to do? What arguments does he use to try to convince Washington? How would you judge the overall tone of Duche's letter to Washington?

8. An Address of the Congress to the Inhabitants of the United States of America, May 8, 1778

Shortly after the announcement of the treaty with France, the Continental Congress felt it necessary to address the people of the United States of America. From the excerpts below, what was the intention of the Continental Congress in making its address to the people? What difficulties does the address describe? What remedies does it propose?

9. To the Inhabitants of the United States of America, May 16, 1779

In May 1779, the Continental Congress again throught it necessary to address directly the people of the United States. One of its concerns involved war-time profiteering; that is, merchants, farmers, and others who traded in goods needed by the Continental Army and the public at-large were charging much higher than normal prices for their goods. In the following excerpts, what issues and concerns are addressed? What solutions does the Congress propose?

10. Proclamation by Brigadier-General Benedict Arnold, October 20, 1780

Only a month before the following proclamation was issued, General Washington discovered that Benedict Arnold had become a traitor to the patriot cause. Arnold had been under investigation for his behavior while commander of Continental Army forces in Philadelphia and passed over for promotion by the Congress. Resentments over these events apparently led, in part, to Arnold's defection to the British. Not only would the British use Arnold's undoubted military talents, but they would also ask him to try to persuade other American soldiers to abandon the patriot cause. In the proclamation below, how does Arnold try to recruit American soldiers to the British side? How does he play on religious prejudices and distrust of the French? How does he use problems on the home front to buttress his arguments? In what ways are his arguments effective, ineffective?

11. A Loyalist Tract, November 28, [1781?]

Historians estimate that between a quarter and a third of Americans maintained their loyalty to the British crown during the Revolution. Of course, loyalists had more freedom to express their views and openly support the British in areas under British control. The following tract was published in New York, which had been under British control since 1776. What is the general point the writer is trying to make? What arguments does the writer use?

12. George Washington to John Laurens, January 15, 1781

By early 1781, problems of all sorts had continued to accumulate, wearing on Washington. His friend John Laurens had just been appointed to a mission to France; Congress directed him to consult with Washington before he left. What is Washington's assessment of American affairs? Is Washington hopeful or discouraged by his assessment? What did Washington hope that Laurens would be able to get from the French?

13. "Exhortations to Renewed Vigor," 1780-1781

By mid-1780, General Washington had come to view 1781 as the critical year in the war. He believed that if the United States did not defeat the British in 1781, all might be lost. His greatest concern was the declining morale of the citizenry and increasing dissension among the populace. He was not alone in these beliefs. Leaders in both Pennsylvania and Connecticut, for example, issued broadsides designed to "exhort the populace to renewed vigor." What were the messages conveyed by the two broadsides below? What problems do the two broadsides address?

14. Recruiting African Americans into the Continental Army

Throughout the war, Washington, the Continental Congress, and the state governments struggled with the issue of recruiting sufficient troops to carry on the fight. In 1775, Washington recommended, and the Congress agreed, that the recruitment of African Americans for service in the Continental Army be discontinued. By mid-1777, however, the attitude of colonial leaders began to change. In the documents below, what evidence can you find concerning the patriot leaders' attitudes toward African Americans? What evidence can you find concerning why the patriot leaders changed their minds about recruiting blacks into the army? What limits would be placed on the use of black troops?

15. Alexander Scammel's Report on Negroes in the Continental Army, August 24, 1778

Adjutant General Alexander Scammel made the following report to General Washington. Based on this document, what generalizations might you make concerning the inclusion of African Americans in the Continental Army at this time?