Native Americans and Revolutionary War

Native Americans and Revolutionary War

Personal firearms were vitally important for the success of the American Revolution. The brunt of the initial fighting during the war was borne by state militias, composed of citizen-soldiers who carried their own hunting rifles and personal weapons into combat. However, ultimate victory over the British rested on the ability of the Continental Army to acquire heavy military weapons, including artillery. Nonetheless, the importance of a well-armed citizenry in the struggle for independence would continue to impact American politics as debate over the role and necessity of firearms in society continues into the twenty-first century (Barnes, 2000).

In many ways, the American Revolution was an anomaly. Compared to people in Europe and other areas of the world, the white citizens of the British colonies of North America had greater political freedom and higher standards of living. Since their initial establishment, the various colonies had been granted considerable political latitude by the British Crown. In fact, the colonies were left essentially to run themselves, with the exception of trade with foreign nations. However, this tradition of “benign neglect” came to an end following the French and Indian War (1756-1763). The colonial militias had not been able to defend the thirteen colonies and London had been forced to send troops to North America and spend considerable sums on the defense of the colonies. Following the war, London attempted to recoup some of the funds it spent, but the British met considerable resistance from the colonies. Because the colonists had no direct representation in the British Parliament, many felt that it was unfair for them to be subject to “taxation without representation (Hoffman, 2008).” The colonists undertook sporadic acts of civil disobedience against the new tax measures, including the famous Boston Tea Party.

In response to British actions, the colonists established a Continental Congress in 1774 to organize their resistance efforts and coordinate their policies toward the Crown. The colonies had several significant advantages in their conflict with the British. The most obvious was the great distance between Great Britain and the colonies. In addition, since their formation, the defense of the colonies had rested on the white male population, rather than the regular British army. During instances of conflict with Native American tribes or when there were bandit gangs or pirates in operation or during episodes of civil disturbance, it usually fell to each colony's individual ...