Following the Revolutionary War, the former British American colonies created a republic absent of British influence. This new republic greatly changed the political and social opportunities of white males because it enabled them to have social mobility. However, the rights of women, Native Americans, and slaves continued to be very limited. This continuity was a result of the fact that colonial men stilled viewed these groups as dependent and/or inferior. Women continued to be viewed as dependent and inferior due to the continuance of patriarchal dominance in colonial society. Native Americans continued to be viewed as inferior, so colonists did not consider them entitled to the same rights as the "freeborn Englishmen" like them. Finally, …show more content…
Overall, the American Revolution was a partial Revolution because while the creation of the new republic changed white males rights for the better, the rights of women, Native Americans, and slaves remained limited because they were viewed as dependent, inferior, and property in the eyes of patriarchal society which deemed them unqualified for the same freedoms as a "freeborn Englishmen" ____________________________________________________________________________ White males were able to obtain more political representation and social opportunities following the American Revolutionary War and the creation of the new American republic. In the wake of the American Revolutionary War, the treaty of Paris in 1783 was signed. This treaty ended the American Revolution as well as the proclamation of 1763. The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited the cultivation of the lands west of the Appalachian mountains, but with abolishment of this proclamation much of these prohibited lands west of the Appalachian mountains were given to the colonies. This new abundance of land gave many poor white males the opportunity to obtain land. Many of the …show more content…
The treaty of Paris in 1783, the document that ended the revolutionary war, ended the proclamation of 1763, and gave much land west of the Appalachian mountains to the colonists. This expansion of territory opened up new opportunities for poor, male Caucasians to obtain land. Once they owned sufficient property, they were able to meet the property qualifications for voting and representation in politics. Before the war, there were little opportunities to obtain land due to the proclamation of 1763, so it was very difficult for this group of men to meet the property qualifications to participate in politics. They also gained more political representation with the establishment of the unified colonial republic. The republic had no involvement of the King, so the colonists were able to have direct control over the politics of the nation. This direct control allowed the yeomen famers to have a say, whereas before the King made all of the important political decisions for the colonies. The Enlightenment was the political and social movement throughout the 18th century that inspired the direct representation of the colonists in government. The idea of direct representation came from the philosopher John Locke who stated that the government gained its power from the consent of the governed. This
From the social viewpoint the war changed the lives and rights of women all across the United States. Many of the husbands left to fight in the Revolutionary war leaving countless women in charge of farms and businesses, roles which they were not accustomed to. Although the war did little to change women’s rights, in some states it did become possible for women to divorce and in new jersey women even obtained the right to vote which was way out of the ordinary in that time. Before the war both men and women viewed the wife as an obedient and serving spouse that raised the children and took care of the house. But the revolution encouraged people of both genders to reconsider the contribution of women to the family and society.
In addition, Britain's political move of giving land back to the French also led to discontent as Americans saw their efforts in the King George’s War wasted. Lastly, the Proclamation of 1763 added to the conflict as the America's westward movement was hindered. Colonists saw the move as a violation of their “property rights” (Doc. G) and the discontent colonists added
The American Revolution was tremendously revolutionary in the sense that it completely changed the culture and way of thinking of the American people. The changes occurred in the way of thinking, religion, feelings about slavery, and the country itself. Although the American Revolution technically ended in 1783, there was a social and political revolution occurring for a long period afterward. After the Revolution, Americans shifted from a British colonist way of thought to a purely American one. This change shaped America and made it what it is today.
The American Revolution occurred in the 18th century in which the colonies wanted to overthrow the British government and eventually create an independent society. Independence and freedom was a major objective for the colonists to complete, which they hoped to accomplish by any means necessary. Due to how the Revolution impacted the rest of the world as well, historians argue whether the revolution was conservative or radical. After viewing the details/evidence, it is clear that the American Revolution was a radical change due to many events such as the abolishment of slavery, the rights gained for women, and the introduction to an independent republican government.
Thomas Jefferson, writer of the constitution stated “that when any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government”(Jefferson). The American Revolution did cause change especially in the way government is run in America. Although America struggled at the start, historians argue that it didn’t change the lives of people living in America.The American Revolution did change lives in a different way because, more colonists’ had opportunities, Native Americans’ lives were different, and African American lives changed because of the constitution.
Peace negotiations began and on September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, and the colonies were recognized as a free and independent nation, no longer under British control. The Revolutionary War had brought independence to the Colonists, but it also drastically changed their way of life in several other aspects as well. The will to fight for the things they believed in would be an attitude of the colonists for years to come.
The American Revolution would lead one of the greatest countries in the world. A superpower, at the forefront of innovation. It would become an example, a beacon, for freedom, and liberty everywhere. But how much of this was really due to the American Revolution? The American Revolution was truly revolutionary in many ways, including the new ideas of Political Equality of the Classes, Inalienable Rights, and Consent of the Governed.
The thinking and ideas of the people of America severely changed. These social changes include the thinking of equality amongst women, and the hatred towards the British. The Declaration of Independence states that, "All men are created equal", this term did not apply to women, and this resulted in multiple groups in favor of women's rights. From the beginning of time in almost all societies women were treated as less than a man, and the education of women was very uncommon. After the revolution many women saw the new government as a time to receive their rights, and this ultimately resulted in a new image of women (Doc. A) "No one will pretend to deny, that we should be taught to read in the best manner." (Doc. J).
After 100 years of a lack of taxes or control in the colonies, the colonists though that they were moving into Locke’s state of nature. According to Locke, men desired a government to stop the independence in a state of nature. Thus, Locke believed, “Men would agree in a social compact to end the complete independence that existed in the state of nature and to form a society under supervision of government.”(Morgan,73) As Locke believed that men would strive to form a government, the colonists would desire a government. However, government existed in the colonies. As assemblies had been formed and voted on by the people, the colonists were not in a state of nature. Thus, the colonists had a supervising force. As these assemblies were under Parliament, Parliament supervised society. As colonists argued over taxation without representation, many colonists forgot to remember that as Locke believed everyone should have, they had representation. According to Morgan, “ The English and their colonists almost alone among the peoples of the world actually did enjoy the rights Locke believed all peoples were entitled to.”(74) As the colonists had a supervising force formed by themselves, the colonists were not in a state of nature, but rather in Locke’s supervised state. Since the colonists believed that the state of nature was imminent if they wanted to form a new government, the colonists believed in
Before the American revolution, women, African slaves, and Native Americans all had little rights and after the war, either continued with these rights or lost even more. Women before the war were treated like property and were not allowed to own land or inherit her family’s wealth. African slaves were treated like this as well, although they were also bound in slavery for life, as were any children they had. For Native Americans, they continued to lose their land and fight against the colonists to keep it. White males on the other hand, experienced many advantages over these minorities, since they believed them to be inferior. In the newly independent colonies, white males experienced both continuity and change with their rights and most were positive, giving them more freedoms and rights. However, women, African slaves, and Native Americans experienced continuity and change in a more negative way, their small amount of rights being kept the same or lessened and given no social mobility or influence over the new, independent country.
The American Revolution; the event that shaped the whole society and government we know and live in today. Before the Revolution began, life in Colonial America was controlled by the British. The colonies did not have a say in how things were run or in any of the laws. This included taxes put on items such as paper and alcohol. The American Colonists did not agree with the way they were being treated. Tighter control from the British sparked a need for independence within the Colonies.
Much like the French Revolution, the American Revolution was brought upon by the people who wanted a change. Growing numbers of immigrants added to the population in the lower and middle classes in the country, making overcrowding and poor conditions. As cities started to grow, the government- located across the ocean- decided to try and make changes, including larger taxes. The people in America did not like the idea of being ruled over by people so far away, so they began their search for new forms of authority. The people looked for independence, and their search led them to a war and the Revolution. As the country became free and independent, more and more changes were made. The Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Bill of Rights was issued. While it was largely political that change came from the American Revolution, it was America's people created, fought, and won the American Revolution, leading to a better life for them all.
The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a time of great change in America. American men were fighting for their right to be free from an oppressive ruler 3000 miles away. They wanted to have their say about what went on in their own country. America won the Revolution and its freedom, but while this was going on something else was happening. Internally changes were coming about too during all this fighting. The Revolution was the catalyst for women to make progress towards freedom. Women were making economic and political gains to further women's rights.
In the early years of the colonies the concept of liberty would increase over time. According to Rights of Colonial Citizens video, “Colonists in America saw the same rights that citizens in England did.” The colonists thought the had the same rights, even though they still came to America. The colonists, in the end did get the same rights as the English and gained more rights, such as being able to petition the king and a right to trial by jury. In Rights Of Colonial Citizens video stated, “The most important was the right to have a voice in government...The English people had long struggled to gain the right to participate in government…
Laws were introduced that protected the land and property the colonists had acquired, banned most of their religious ceremonies, and forced the children into the European educational system. The Europeans wanted to deny the Native Americans of their cultural identity, which eventually would end up wiping them out.