Women played a major role in securing the independence of the United States of America. They acted as political strategists, battlefield combatants, spies, and fundraisers. They managed farms and businesses, supplying troops and supporting the fight for independence. They could be found both behind the scenes and on the front lines.
Can you match the names of these women to their patriotic contributions?
1. Margaret Corbin: _____
2. Esther De Berdt Reed & Sarah Franklin Bache: _____
3. Nancy Morgan Hart: _____
4. Abigail Adams: _____
5. Lydia Darragh: _____
6. Mary Katharine Goddard: _____
7. Mercy Otis Warren: _____
8. Martha Washington: _____
9. Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley (Molly Pitcher): _____
10. Sybil Ludington: _____
11. Deborah Sampson: _____
12. Phillis Wheatley: _____
A. An enslaved woman in Boston who gained fame as a poet, writing celebrated verses in support of George Washington and the American cause.
B. A 16-year-old who reportedly rode 40 miles through the night in New York to rally militia forces against advancing British troops.
C. Assisted her husband at the artillery cannon and took his place in combat during the Battle of Fort Washington, making her one of the first women wounded in action.
D. Formed the Ladies Association of Philadelphia, raising immense funds and organizing women to sew thousands of shirts for the Continental Army.
E. A Patriot fighter in Georgia who is credited with holding off and capturing a group of Loyalist soldiers in her own cabin.
F. A Quaker woman who used her home's proximity to British headquarters in Philadelphia to eavesdrop and pass critical troop movement intelligence to George Washington.
G. Fired a cannon at the Battle of Monmouth after her husband was injured, and later received a formal pension for her wartime bravery.
H. A fierce advocate for women's rights, she famously advised her husband to "remember the ladies" in the new nation's laws, and provided him with vital political intelligence from the home front.
I. A prolific writer, poet, and political satirist whose works advocated for independence and criticized British rule.
J. Traveled to winter camps to boost troop morale, hosted meetings and dinners, and petitioned for better conditions for the soldiers.
K. A printer for the Continental Congress who risked her life and livelihood to typeset and print the very first broadside of the Declaration of Independence that included the signers' names.
L. Disguised herself as a man to enlist in the Continental Army, fighting in the Hudson Valley until she was wounded and her true identity was discovered.
If you found this quiz challenging, I'm sure you are not alone. Women were great defenders for the cause of liberty - yet are given very little recognition. Perhaps you will not remember their names, but by completing this quiz, you will come to know some of the contributions of our early American female patriots and honor them along with their patriot male counterparts.
ANSWER KEY:
1 - C 7 - I
2 - D 8 - J
3 - E 9 - G
4 - H 10 - B
5 - F 11 - L
6 - K 12 - A
NOTE: The DAR Genealogical Research System has a free online database for Revolutionary War Patriots and their descendants.
REMINDER: The Declaration of Independence scavenger hunt is posted on the walls of the FamilySearch Center for you to test your knowledge of this great American document.
The Burley FamilySearch Center will be closed on Sunday, July 5th
for the 4th of July Weekend!
