As we celebrate the 4th of July let's take a moment to reflect on the enormous cost, in lives and treasure, that it took us to earn our independence.


•8.37 years was how long the war lasted

•80,000 militia and Continental Army soldiers served at the height of the war

•56,000 British soldiers fought at the height of the war

•30,000 German mercenaries known as Hessians

•55,000 Americans served as privateers

•25,000 Revolutionary Soldiers died during the war

•8,000 Revolutionary Soldiers died from wounds inflicted during battle

•17,000 Revolutionary Soldiers died from disease during the war

•25,000 Revolutionary Soldiers were estimated to have been wounded or maimed

•1 in 20 able bodied white free males living in America died during the war

•24,000 British Soldiers were killed during the war

•100,000 Loyalist fled to Canada, the Bahamas and England during the war

•45% of colonists fully supported the war

•20% of colonists were outright loyal to Britain

•3 million is the estimated population of America in 1776

•1 million is the estimated population of London alone during the same period

•$8 is the monthly salary of a teenage drummer in the Continental Army

•5 feet is the length of a standard Continental Army Flintlock Musket

•10lbs is the weight of a standard Continental Army Flintlock Musket

•1oz is the the weight of a standard musket ball

•1,547 known military engagements occured during the Revolutionary War

•10 was the age of the youngest member of the Continental Army

•57 was the age of the oldest member of the Continental Army

•6.5% is the population participation rate during the war, higher than any American war since WWII

•$151 million was the total American cost of the war

•$600 was roughly how much the war cost each American in 1990 dollars

•$0 was the amount George Washington was paid for his military service

•26 original copies of the Declaration of Independence are known to exist

Image credit via AP, for additional metrics please click here, here, here and here.


Tyler Rogoway is a defense journalist and photographer that maintains the website Foxtrot Alpha for Jalopnik.com You can reach Tyler with story ideas or direct comments regarding this or any other defense topic via the email address Tyler@Jalopnik.com