Episode
696. Who Was Deborah Sampson? The Girl Who Disguised Herself to Fight in the Revolution
- Published
- Jun 9, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 620
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Summary
When women weren't allowed to serve in the army, Deborah Sampson risked everything to fight for American independence anyway. Deborah Sampson was one of the most remarkable unsung heroes of the American Revolution. Born in Massachusetts and raised through hardship, she grew up strong, determined, and deeply committed to the cause of liberty. But because women were not allowed to serve as soldiers, she made a bold decision: she disguised herself as a man and enlisted under the name Robert Shurtleff. In this episode of The Way the World Works , we tell the incredible true story of Deborah Sampson's courage, sacrifice, and determination. She fought in combat, endured battlefield wounds, removed a bullet from her own leg to protect her secret, and served for more than a year before her identity was discovered. Even after being sent home, her bravery was honored — and she became the only woman to receive a full military pension for serving in the Revolutionary War. Her story reminds us that courage means standing up for what you believe in, even when the rules say you can't. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Who Deborah Sampson was and why her story matters Why women were not allowed to serve as soldiers during the Revolution How Deborah disguised herself and enlisted in the army What she endured while fighting for American independence Why her courage earned recognition after the war How her story shows sacrifice, bravery, and love of liberty Timestamps: 0:00 An Unsung Hero of the Revolutionary War 1:30 Who Was Deborah Sampson? 3:30 From Hardship to Strength 5:30 Why She Joined the Army in Disguise 7:30 Fighting as Robert Shurtleff 9:30 Wounded in Battle 11:30 How Her Secret Was Discovered 13:30 Deborah Sampson's Honorable Discharge 15:00 Her Life After the War 16:30 Why…