A War of Difficult Choices: Native Americans in the Revolution
When we think about the American Revolutionary War, we often picture soldiers in blue coats fighting against soldiers in red coats. We think about famous figures like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson. However, there was another group of people caught in the middle of this conflict: the Native Americans. For the many different nations living across the continent, the war was not just a fight about taxes or a king. It was a struggle to protect their lands, their families, and their way of life.
Before the war began, thousands of Native Americans lived in organized nations with their own governments and laws. When the fighting started in 1775, these nations had to make a very difficult choice. Should they help the British, should they help the American colonists, or should they try to stay out of the fight entirely? This was not an easy decision because both sides wanted the Native Americans as allies. Native Americans were expert scouts, knew the land perfectly, and were brave warriors.
- Neutrality:
- The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or war.
- Confederacy:
- A group of people, nations, or tribes joined together for a common purpose or under a shared government.
- Expedition:
- A journey made by a group of people for a specific purpose, such as a military mission.
- Treaty:
- A formal, written agreement between two or more countries or groups to end a war or establish rules.
- allies:
- Groups or nations that unite to help and support each other, especially during a conflict or war.
- militias:
- Groups of everyday citizens who are trained to fight during emergencies rather than serving in a permanent, professional army.
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- 1Why was the choice of which side to support particularly difficult for Native American nations?
- 2How did some Native leaders describe the relationship between the British and the Americans at the start of the war?
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About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“A War of Difficult Choices: Native Americans in the Revolution” is a informational reading passage about Native Americans, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 5 minutes to read (754 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.