“Farmers, tradesmen, and preachers are some who volunteered to gain a better life after the war is over.” (American Revolution: Life as a Revolutionary War Soldier) Many people did not have much money, so this would be the only way that could help them out. Another group of people were slaves who joined the Continental Army to fight in promise of their freedom. This was a great way for the slaves to get away from their masters. “Most of the army was young adults and not even mature adults but mostly of the young boys were messengers, water carriers, and drummers.” (American Revolution: Life as a Revolutionary War Soldier) Every soldier had to sign a document to have proof that they would serve in the war. “The enlistment is a promise every soldier who signed up would receive a bounty which is either money or land.” (American Revolution: Life as a Revolutionary War …show more content…
The two most common diseases were smallpox and typhus. Fighting was not the leading cause of death in the Revolutionary War. Both of these diseases were the two main causes for all the deaths. Much of the provided medicine had little to no effect. Sometimes soldiers would just try allow their bodies to heal naturally instead of asking one of the doctors to help them. The doctors actually decreased their chances of surviving because all the medical instruments they had available to use were dirty. “The hospitals were dark and unsanitary.” (American Revolution: The Hard Life of a Soldier)
For some of the soldiers, in each battle, Americans would get captured by the British and taken as prisoners. “The British were not great at all with their prisoners and more than 8,500 Americans died in captivity.” (American Revolution: The Hard Life of a Soldier) That was almost half of the Americans who lost their lives as being a prisoner. “They were barely fed, and they were kept in crowded, disgusting conditions.” (American Revolution: Life as a Revolutionary War Soldier) Also, some Americans were sentenced to death to a boat filled with diseases in New York