250 Years Ago - What Was He Fighting For?
With the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026, I was motivated to revisit this blog. The DAR Plaque sits atop the box grave. It reads: "Revolutionary War Soldier, James Franklin, Corporal & Private, VA, Born in Maryland, Died Dec. 29, 1828, in TN, Marker Placed by General Jethro Sumner Chapter DAR October 2016." I wonder what James was fighting for? Motivations were complicated. No social media was screaming for attention. It took real courage and conviction to decide to fight. But it was also a pay-to-play gig in times when money and feeding a family motivated participation. PATRIOTS Political Independence: They fought to break free from British rule, rejecting what they saw as taxation without representation and "oppressive imperial policies". Community and Home: Militiamen primarily fought to defend their specific local communities and homesteads from British raids and occupation. Economic Incentives: Many working-class men enlisted i...
