Digital Learning Commons: American Revolution: Patriots

Resources

A Common American Soldier
Before the nineteenth century was more than a couple of decades old, certainly by the fiftieth anniversary of 1776, the United States had come to regard the veterans of its revolution with a sort of wistful romanticism. So who were these soldiers?

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Geist, Christopher. “A Common American Soldier.” Colonial Williamsburg, 2004, www.history.org/foundation/journal/autumn04/soldier.cfm.
Continental Army
The army was ragtag, barely trained, half-starving and woefully unequipped. The group was also hardly united for too much of the war and led by generals often squabbling, undermining, or fighting with each other. The victories, while qualified, are remarkable in this light.

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Kladky, William P. “Continental Army.” The Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington, The George Washington Presidential Library, www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/continental-army/.
The Continental Army
In-depth look at the formation, operation, and importance of the Continental Army. Published by the United States Army.

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Wright, Robert K. The Continental Army. Washington, D.C., Center of Military History, U.S. Army, 2000, www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-4-1/CMH_Pub_60-4-1.pdf.
Faces of the men who won America's independence
Amazing early photos of heroes of the Revolutionary War in their old age.

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“Faces of the men who won America's independence: Amazing early photos of heroes of the Revolutionary War in their old age.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 5 July 2013, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356524/Faces-American-revolution-Amazing-early-photographs-document-heroes-War-Independence-later-years.html.
Militia and Continentals
For most Americans the difference between militia and regular, or “Continental,” soldiers is hard to grasp. Both fought in the war. Both suffered casualties. Both have supporters who claim they won the war.

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Fleming, Thomas. “Militia and Continentals.” Journal of the American Revolution, 28 Aug. 2016, allthingsliberty.com/2013/12/militia-continentals/.
Minuteman Myth & Citizen Soldier of the American Revolution
Debunks many myths about the militia and minutemen who served in the American Revolution.

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Schenawolf, Harry. “Minuteman Myth & Citizen Soldier of the American Revolution.” Revolutionary War Journal, 15 Aug. 2016, www.revolutionarywarjournal.com/minuteman-myth/.
How to Pick a Soldier for the Continental Army (No Short Guys Need Apply)
This undated sheet, addressed to a “Col. Jackson,” issues instructions for enlistment of men in the Continental Army. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, which holds the orders, believes that the addressee was Henry Jackson, who commanded various Massachusetts regiments between 1777 and 1784.

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Onion, Rebecca. “How to Pick a Soldier for the Continental Army (No Short Guys Need Apply).” Slate Magazine, 7 June 2017, www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_angle/2017/06/modern_sexism_among_voters_bulls_vs_warriors_hypothetical_matchup_and_why.html.
Online Revolutionary War Indexes and Records
Contains links to over 100 websites containing information about Revolutionary War records. It includes websites sorted by state, rosters, pension records, and much more.

Highly Recommended | Primary Source | Multimedia

Infographic | Digital Maine Library | College Level

Dig deeper and search the Digital Maine Library databases for the names and vocabulary below.

Horatio Gates	Nathanael Greene	James Armistead Lafayette
Continental Army	American Whigs	George Washington
Militia	Revolutionaries	Benedict Arnold
Minutemen	Patriots	Henry Knox
Jack Sisson	Daniel Shays	Francis Marion

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