I'm On Your Side Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mercy Otis Warren

Warren and her husband were friends with many well known Patriots, such as John and Abigail Adams, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson, and all of them knew about her writing. She had been anonymously publishing poems for years that encouraged women to boycott British products and pointed out the Loyalists who lived in the colonies.

Her article, "Observations on the New Constitution", was against the ratification of the document without the addition of a Bill of Rights. She later published articles using her own name, including one of the first histories of the American Revolution, "History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution" in 1805. Although she had traveled with her husband and served as his secretary during the war, her book was not accepted by all. Thomas Jefferson called it a "truthful account", while John Adams commented, "History is not the province of the ladies".

Answer: Abigail Adams

There aren't any records that credit Abigail Adams with working at the war front during the American Revolution. In 1775 she became a member of the Massachusetts Colony General Court, which questioned women who appeared to be Loyalists. Besides that she appears to have successfully run the family farm, cared for her children, and corresponded with her husband about the politics of the time.

While John Adams admitted that he sought Abigail's advice and needed her approval, her advice to "remember the ladies" fell upon deaf ears. Why? The Continental Congress was busy trying to break away from England and form a new government. The idea of giving women the same rights as men, even though one would agree that not doing so would create a situation similar to what the men were experiencing at the time, was a bit too revolutionary. Nevertheless, it must be noted that Abigail's opinion was so important to her husband, that after he became president she was known as "Mrs. President".

Answer: Molly Pitcher

Did you know that Molly Pitcher is not believed to be a real person? Molly was a common nickname for Mary, and the water carriers carried pitchers; it's a name used for the women who selflessly carried water to soldiers on the field of battle during the American Revolution. Nevertheless, there are historic women who are believed to have inspired the story.

Mary Ludwig Hays was one of the women who stayed at the Valley Forge camp during the winter of 1777-78 and cared for the sick and wounded men there. The following June she became well known as a water carrier on the battlefield, bringing water for the men to drink and use to wet the sponge that cleaned the cannon after each shot. Hayes took the place of her husband, William, who served in the 4th Artillery of the Continental Army, after he was either wounded or overcome by the heat.

There is a similar story about Margaret Corbin. She took her husband's place at the cannon after he was killed while defending Fort Washington in New York. Historians agree, however, that there were many women who served in a similar capacity during the Revolutionary War.

Answer: Martha Custis Washington

During the other seasons Washington's skill as an estate manager was needed to run the couple's property. When winter came, however, she was at her husband's camp, giving whatever food could be spared from the stores at Mount Vernon, making clothes, and aiding and comforting the soldiers when needed.

She was even in camp during the miserable winter at Valley Forge (1777-78). Although there was some concern for her safety, sources estimate that she spent about half of the American Revolution on the front lines.

Answer: Deborah Sampson

Calling herself Timothy Thayer, Deborah Sampson first tried to join the Continental Army in Middleborough, Massachusetts, in 1782. Although she was able to enlist, Sampson was recognized and forced to return what was left of her signing bonus and shunned at her church as punishment.

A few months later she took the name Robert Shirtliff and tried again to enlist at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. She joined the Light Infantry Company of the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, a group that was considered to be elite because its soldiers were taller and stronger than the average man - and so was Sampson! After she was wounded in her first battle, she removed a musket ball from her leg with a penknife rather than risk revealing her true identify. Sampson served for 17 months before falling ill with a fever, after which she was discovered and nursed back to health by a doctor's wife and daughters. She was honorably discharged - most of the women who attempted such as deception were not - and later received back pay and interest, along with a pension.

Answer: Paul Revere

In April 1777 Sybil Ludington, according to her family folklore, rode for forty miles in the pouring rain to warn leaders that the British had learned of a store of supplies for the Continental Army near Danbury, Connecticut. Although the British raid ultimately was somewhat successful there, she was able to rally approximately 400 troops who repelled the British the next day at the Battle of Ridgefield.

Like many others, Ludington's family told about her heroism a long time after the war was over. Modern historians are unsure of her contribution; while say there isn't enough evidence to prove that her ride took place, others, like the DAR chapter near her home, continue to honor her service.

Answer: Daughters of Liberty

Although the Daughters of Liberty was formed by Patriot ladies who wanted to protest the Stamp Act, they continued their work by boycotting British goods, especially British tea. Members of the group included Sarah Bradlee Fulton, who is known as the Mother of the Tea Party because she suggested that the Sons of Liberty use Mohawk dress in order to disguise themselves.

Other members of the group were Martha Custis Washington, the wife of General Washington, and Sarah Franklin Bache, who was Benjamin Franklin's sister.

There were many chapters of the group that existed throughout the colonies.

Answer: False

It is known that Betsy Ross made U.S. flags for over 50 years, and that she knew many key Patriots of the American Revolution, including George Washington, because they attended the same church. But after that the history begins to get as bit hazy, which is a shame because many school children learn incorrectly that Ross made the flag.

Many historians believe this story was fabricated by Ross's grandson in 1870, when he said that Ross was asked by George Washington to design a flag. Some believe that her only contribution might have been suggesting the shape of the star.

Unfortunately, the true story may never be known.

Answer: Ester De Berdt Reed

Ester De Berdt Reed was a British woman who was married to an American lawyer who knew many of the key figures of the American Revolution. She formed The Ladies of Philadelphia in 1778, an association to help raise money for the war effort, mostly by asking the women, who could be Patriots too!) to quit buying luxury items, and instead, donate the money to the war effort.

Backed by several famous ladies of the time, including Martha Custis Washington, the group is credited with raising $7,000, which is calculated to be close to an amazing $300,000 in today's currency. When confronted with the money, General Washington asked that it be used to purchase linen for uniforms rather than dividing it among the men. He was afraid they would use it to buy liquor. The ladies bought linen and made about 2,000 shirts!

Answer: Margaret Catherine Moore Barry

Commonly known as Katy Barry, Margaret served as a scout for the Continental Army because of her extensive knowledge of the back trails near her home in South Carolina. When the British were approaching, the story is she tied her young child to the bedpost and rode to spread the news to the local militia that was hiding in the backcountry that it was time to muster.

The Battle of Cowpens in 1781 was a decisive victory for the Continental Army, and is considered to be a turning point of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina.