When most people think of heroes of the American Revolution (1775-1783), icons such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton usually come to mind. But many of the Americans who stepped up to fight the battle for independence were regular teens.
In 1774, many Americans were fed up with the high
But who would fight? With half the population of the 13 Colonies under age 17, many young people would have to take part.
Officially, soldiers had to be at least 16 to fight. But some boys as young as 10 joined up, either with their parents’ permission or by hiding their age. Girls aided the cause too, delivering messages across enemy lines and defending and taking care of farms. For some young people, especially those who were poor or enslaved, the war offered an opportunity to forge new lives in a new nation.
These are the stories of three of the many teens who helped fight the American Revolution.