Women of the American Revolution

1
Women of the American Revolution

• Molly Pitcher
• Mercy Otis Warren
• Deborah Sampson

2

Think about these questions

• How was each womans life like yours?
• How was her life different?
• Would you have done the same things if you were
  her? Why or why not?

? ? ? ? ? ?
3
Molly Pitcher

• Molly Pitchers real name was probably Mary
  Ludwig Hays.

• She was probably born in 1754 in Trenton, New
  Jersey (or maybe she was born in Pennsylvania).

4
Molly Pitcher

• Because she was poor, Mary probably had no
  education. She may not have known how to read or
  write.
• When she was a teenager, Mary worked as a servant
  for a wealthy family.

5
Molly Pitcher

• When Mary was sixteen years old, she married a
  man named William Hays.
• Soon after, he went to war as a soldier on the
  Patriot side.

6
Molly Pitcher

• Mary followed her husband to war.
• She helped the soldiers by bringing them pitchers
  of water when they were thirsty.

7
Molly Pitcher

• At the battle of Monmouth, her husband was
  killed.
• Molly (Mary) took over his place at the cannon
  and fought alongside the men.

8
Molly Pitcher

• George Washington heard about Marys bravery
  during the battle.
• He gave her the nickname, Sergeant Molly.

Would you have been as brave as Molly?
9
Mercy Otis Warren

• Because Mercy was born into wealthy family, we
  know a lot about her life and even what she
  really looked like.

• She was born on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1728,
  one of thirteen children.

10
Mercy Otis Warren

• Mercys brothers were well-educated and she was
  allowed to be taught along with them. (But no
  college for girls in those days!)

11
Mercy Otis Warren

• In 1754, Mercy married James Warren. He was
  politician active in colonial government when
  England still owned the colonies.

12
Mercy Otis Warren

• Mercy and James home became a meeting place for
  citizens unhappy with British rule.
• The Sons of Liberty and the Committees of
  Correspondence met there.

13
Mercy Otis Warren

• Mercys talent was writing. She wrote several
  plays that criticized British control of the
  American colonies. At that time, plays were not
  performed, but many people read them.

14
Mercy Otis Warren

• Warren corresponded with many famous Patriot
  leaders including Samuel Adams, John Hancock,
  Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.

• In those times, it was unusual for men to listen
  to the opinions of women.

15
Mercy Otis Warren

• Mercy Otis Warren recorded the history of the
  American Revolution.
• In 1805, she published History of the Rise,
  Progress, and Termination of the American
  Revolution.
• Do you see yourself as a good writer? Do you
  feel strongly about political issues?

16
Deborah Sampson

• She was born in Massachusetts in 1760, one of six
  children.
• Deborahs family was poor, and she became an
  indentured servant at the age of nine.

17
Deborah Sampson

• She was able to attend school in the winter, so
  she was able to read and write.
• She also did farm work and became physically
  strong.
• Deborahs height was 57, tall for a woman at
  that time.

18
Deborah Sampson

• In 1782, Deborah disguised herself as a man and
  enlisted in the Continental Army. She used the
  name, Robert Shurtleff.

19
Deborah Sampson

• Deborah fought in several battles. In one, her
  head was wounded and there were two bullets in
  her leg.
• The head wound was treated at a hospital, and
  Deborah left soon after.

20
Deborah Sampson

• Doctors might have discovered that she was a
  woman.
• Deborah removed a bullet from her leg by herself!

21
Deborah Sampson

• Eventually, the army discovered that Robert was
  a woman.
• After serving in the army for a year and a half,
  Deborah was given an honorable discharge.

22
Deborah Sampson

• Later in life, Deborah gave lectures about her
  experiences as a soldier in the Revolutionary
  War.
• Was Deborah brave or foolish to join the army?
• Could you remove a bullet from your own leg?

23

• Images taken from (This may not be the correct
  format, but at least I tried!)
• Deborah Sampson
• www.sutlersgallery.co.uk/acatalog/Pamela_Patr...
• www.honorrollofliberty.com/Communities/sharon.htm
• www.honorrollofliberty.com/Communities/sharon.htm
• russell.gresham.k12.or.us/Colonial_America/De...
•  
• Mercy Otis Warren
• www.umt.edu/.../pictures.htm
• www.womenhistoryblog.com/2008/10/elizabeth-ti...
• dually.wordpress.com/.../
• cpscia.k12.ar.us/.../new-71.jpg
• www.earthportals.com/.../discharge.gi
• www.thecaptainsmemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2.
•  
• Molly Pitcher
• aestheticoctopus.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/.
• farm1.static.flickr.com/53/185716704_01e45ee1
• www.lyneart.com/MOLLY1.JPG