When you think of the Revolutionary era, you probably picture brave minutemen, fiery pamphlets, and dramatic battles. Yet there’s a trove of 10 lesser known details that paint a far richer, sometimes wilder picture of life in the thirties of the 1700s. From unexpected physical traits to bizarre pastimes, let’s peel back the mythic veneer and reveal the quirks that shaped early America.
10 Lesser Known Insights Into Revolutionary‑Era America
10 Americans Were Taller Than The British
The colonial fighters are usually cast as scrappy underdogs battling a mighty empire, but they possessed a surprising physical edge: height. While the average Englishman of the mid‑1700s measured roughly 165 cm (5 ft 5 in), the typical American male tipped the scales about eight centimeters higher—roughly three inches taller. Scholars attribute this to the richer diet available in the colonies, where abundant food supplies allowed for better nutrition and, consequently, greater stature.
How much that extra height mattered on the battlefield is impossible to quantify, yet it’s hard to imagine a British officer confronting opponents who seemed to loom a few inches above him. Picture marching off to war expecting to face rugged backwoods men, only to discover they’re a bit taller than imagined—perhaps confirming the myth of the “big‑foot” colonist. Personally, I’d probably be the first to request passage back to London, assuming I didn’t get shot for desertion.
9 Americans Had A Higher Literacy Rate Than The British
One might assume that the sprawling British Empire boasted a literate populace, but the numbers tell a different story. In the 18th century, roughly 40 % of British men could read, while New England colonies enjoyed a striking 70 % literacy rate among males. This advantage helped the revolutionary cause, as pamphleteers like Thomas Paine could disseminate ideas through works such as Common Sense, reaching a populace capable of absorbing printed arguments.
The high literacy in New England stemmed from two main forces. First, Puritan settlers placed a premium on education to support biblical study, demanding regular reading of the Scriptures. Second, the colony’s prosperous agricultural economy meant families had surplus food, freeing children from relentless labor and allowing them more time for schooling.
8 One In Three Women Who Walked Down The Aisle Were Pregnant
Colonial America is often imagined as a realm of stern Puritans who shunned frivolity, but the reality was far messier. While religious strictures limited gambling, drinking, and mixed dancing, marriage customs tell a different tale. Over one‑third of women who married in the late 1700s were already expecting a child when they walked down the aisle, a statistic that surprises many modern readers.
One explanation lies in the practice of “bundling,” a courtship ritual where a man and woman shared a bed for a night to test compatibility. A board or sack separated them, intended to discourage intercourse. Ironically, the very act of placing two potential partners in close proximity often sparked the very desire it aimed to suppress, leading to pregnancies before the official wedding.
7 Americans Drank … A Lot
Today’s binge‑drinking headlines pale in comparison to the colonial era’s libations. In 1790, the average American consumed roughly 129 liters (34 gallons) of beer and cider, 19 liters (5 gallons) of distilled spirits, and 3.8 liters (1 gallon) of wine each year. By contrast, modern Americans sip about 8.7 liters (2.3 gallons) of alcohol per capita annually.
Alcohol wasn’t just a social lubricant; it was a practical solution to a public‑health dilemma. With limited knowledge of waterborne diseases and no modern purification, many colonists believed water was unsafe, while fermented drinks were considered safer and even health‑promoting. Consequently, booze appeared at breakfast, during work, and at the end of the day—John Adams famously started with hard cider and finished with Madeira.
Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride illustrates the pervasiveness of taverns. Rather than knocking on every door, he rode from Boston to spread the alarm by stopping at crowded taverns, where the patrons, already in high spirits, could quickly disseminate the warning that the British were coming. Without that communal drinking culture, the revolution might have taken a very different turn.
6 South Carolina: One Of The Most Tolerant And Cultured Of The Colonies
While New England’s Puritans and Pennsylvania’s Quakers often stifled artistic expression that didn’t serve religious ends—think bans on theater and secular painting—South Carolina fostered a surprisingly vibrant cultural scene. The colony’s religious mosaic included Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, Jews, Anglicans, and Presbyterians, each constructing churches that coexisted rather than competed.
This pluralistic environment encouraged tolerance and artistic growth. Methodist and Baptist congregations, in particular, were inclusive, even allowing Black preachers to take the pulpit. As a result, South Carolina became a haven for artistic endeavors and a rare example of cultural openness among the thirteen colonies.
5 The Peak Of Blood Sports
In a time devoid of television, video games, or even legal gambling in many colonies, colonists turned to decidedly more visceral entertainment. Blood sports surged in popularity during the 18th century, offering a brutal spectacle for crowds craving excitement.
Beyond the familiar cockfighting rings, colonists also indulged in bear‑baiting, where a bear was chained to a post and set upon by ferocious dogs. The gruesome contests drew large audiences, eager to witness the raw struggle.
Another unsettling pastime, imported from Dutch tradition, was “goose pulling.” In this sport, a live goose with a greased head was tethered to a pole, and a rider on a galloping horse attempted to seize and rip off the bird’s head. Both activities underscore the era’s appetite for blood‑soaked amusement.
4 Newspaper Editors Had To Carry Guns
Dueling was a common way to settle disputes among gentlemen, and the burgeoning press of the Revolutionary era was no exception. Editors, whose papers took strong partisan stances, frequently found themselves the target of personal attacks, prompting challenges that could end in a pistol duel.
Because duels could erupt at any moment, many newspaper men kept a firearm on their person—even while working at the press—to defend themselves against angry readers who might storm the office demanding a showdown.
3 Nova Scotia Could Have Been Considered The 14th Colony
Before the Revolution, the British North American territories were not yet divided into the familiar thirteen colonies. Nova Scotia, populated largely by New England migrants, occasionally flirted with the rebel cause, even attempting to supply the Continental Army with hay that was burned in Halifax before it could be shipped.
In a bold diplomatic move, a delegation of Nova Scotians traveled to Boston to petition the Continental Congress to authorize a George Washington‑led invasion of their own province. Washington declined, likely recalling his disastrous Quebec campaign. Nova Scotians later launched a few local uprisings—most famously “Eddy’s Rebellion”—but the effort ultimately failed.
2 Thomas Jefferson Consumed Opium Habitually
Opium’s presence in early American life predates today’s opioid crisis by centuries. Thomas Jefferson, famed for his advocacy of liberty and his horticultural ventures, also cultivated poppy plants for opium production on his Monticello estate.
Later in life, plagued by chronic diarrhea, Jefferson turned to laudanum—an alcoholic tincture of opium—as a remedy. He even described his use as “habitual” in correspondence, indicating a regular reliance on the drug to manage his ailments.
1 Politics Were Very, Very Uncivil
Modern observers often lament the perceived incivility of today’s politics, longing for a bygone era of courteous debate. In reality, the Revolutionary period was marked by a level of outright rudeness that would make contemporary pundits blush. Public arguments sometimes devolved into personal attacks, vulgar language, and even threats of violence.
John Adams once wrote scathing remarks about Alexander Hamilton, lambasting his “superabundance of secretions” and suggesting that Hamilton’s political machinations were born of “vile vapors.” Such vitriolic commentary illustrates how politicians of the day wielded language as a weapon.
Physical violence was not uncommon either; the infamous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton ended in Hamilton’s death. The culture of honor and personal affronts meant that political disagreements could quickly become deadly.
Kevin Klatman, a stand‑up comedian, writer, and actor from Colorado, has performed across the nation and will appear in the upcoming film The Wilderness Pilot. His work has been featured in publications such as The Hard Times and Savage Henry Magazine.