Day 29 of 110: American History Through the Eyes of Revolutionary Children

Each year, DAR sponsors an essay contest targeted at children in grades 5-8. This year's contest noted that the Revolutionary War dramatically changed the lives of children during the Revolution. Some actually followed their fathers into battle; others stayed home and assumed new responsibilities that were necessary for their families’ survival. The essay topic asked children to imagine themselves as a child during the Revolutionary War and to describe some of the changes that took place in their lives and that of their family as they faced this new situation.

What a fascinating topic. We often think of the adults that participated in the war, but not the children whose lives were also forever impacted with the beginning of a new nation. Consider the following 'spotlight' about children during the Revolutionary War.

Most Colonial schoolmasters were men and were about 16 years old. They did not make much money and boarded from family to family often receiving their room and board instead of a salary. During the Revolution many children did not attend school since their schoolmasters joined the Colonial Army and many schools had to close.