This document provides an overview of the different factions involved in the American Revolutionary War. It discusses the strengths of the American Patriots, and profiles several important women Patriots like Hannah Arnett, Catherine Moore Barry, and Elizabeth Burgin. It then examines the roles and perspectives of other factions like Loyalists, women, neutrals, Native Americans, and African Americans. Key points are that women on both sides played important roles despite lacking recognition, and that the 13 colonies contained a diversity of groups with differing stances towards the war and British rule.

1. Lesson 6 (New Packet)
Bellringer: What were some of the
strengths the American patriots had?

2. Do you know these women?
• Hannah Arnett: convinced Patriots to remain
in the war through her persuasive speech
• Catherine Moore Barry: helped strategize at
Patriot victory at Cowpens, South Caroline
• Elizabeth Burgin: helped smuggle food to
Patriots and aided prison escapes
– Crucial members of the patriot cause
– Why haven’t we heard about them before???

3. Factions
• Women played a large role in the
revolutionary effort, despite gaining little
recognition
• Other Groups:
Patriots, loyalists, women, neutrals, Native
Americans, African Americans

4. Factions
• 13 colonies were very diverse
• Many different factions
• Faction: a group of people connected by
a shared belief or opinion within a larger
group

5. Patriots
• Patriots were those who rebelled against British
control during the Revolution; defend America’s
rights and fight for republicanism
• Rejected monarchies
• Patriots themselves were diverse, coming from
different social and economic background
• Most prominent Patriots are known as the Founding Fathers
today
• 45% of the white population in the American colonies were
Patriots
• Felt they had a moral obligation to fight

6. Loyalists
• Loyalists were American colonists who
remained loyal to the crown
• 15-20% of white colonists were loyalists
• Defining characteristics:
– Older, better established
– Felt the Crown was the legitimate rule and opposition was
morally wrong
– Did not like the Patriots’ use of violence
– Ties to Britain (family or business)
– Wary of mob rule by Patriots
• Joined British troops

7. Women
• Women contributed to both sides of the
Revolution
• Although politics did not allow women, they still had a
large role
– Participated in boycott of British goods; made cloth to keep
the boycott going
– Spied on the British, delivered messages, along side of the
soldiers washing, cooking, and tending to injuries
– Some even fought disguised as men
– Maintained life at home while the men were fighting
– Raised money

8. Women
• Women were also loyalists
– Women sided with the views of their husbands
– Aided loyalist soldiers
– Women were divided
• Women faced hardships, loyalist or patriot
– If their husbands were captured, they could loose their home

9. Other Factions
• Quakers were most outspoken neutrals
• Africans Americans fought on both sides; both
sides promised them freedom
• Many supported the king because they thought he
would abolish slavery
– British recruited the slaves of patriots
– Tried to turn the slaves against the colonists
• Many used the war as a time to escape

10. Other Factions
• Native Americans mainly opposed the
American Patriots, viewing them as a threat to
their land
• 13,000 fought with the British
• British recruited Native Americans promising them
rights to their lands

11. Who is King George
– Read biography of King George individually
• Write a two paragraph summary of it with your partner
• What do we think about him?
• Is he good or bad? Can we define people in history so
easily?
THEN: Read King George’s speech

12. Individually
–Choose 1 faction we discussed
–Write a one paragraph summary

13. Hypocrisy of the Founding Fathers
– Examine Declaration of Independence
• What is hypocritical about it?
• Are the Founding Fathers good or bad?

14. Homework
– Readings: History of blacks and women in the
military
– Be prepared to discuss them on Tuesday