HIST 1301 CHAPTER 6 PART 3
What were the most important features of the new state constitutions?
-establishing the republican form of government -the separation of powers and establishment of a balanced government -equality among citizens -the need for religious freedom -the separation of church and state and the economic liberty
How did the revolution affect the status of women?
During the American Revolution, women were in their first stages of gaining independence and liberty. The revolution affected the status of women in a positive manner because the idea of liberty established in America allowed for women to play a more public role in society. The idea of public motherhood gave women a more significant role in the development of America's youth. This concept brought out another known as "compassionate marriage" meaning that men and women are held together by mutual dependency instead of male dominance. Women playing a more public role in society is significant because it symbolizes the idea of liberty America has established. The term 'republican motherhood' emerged with the revolution. Women got more respect because they were training the future citizens. It was encouraged that women have more educational opportunities so they could give political wisdom to their children.
For the lower classes, colonial society had been based on inequality, deference, and obedience. How did the American Revolution challenge that social order?
In both Britain and its colonies, the obedience and inequality had been fundamental in the social order, but American Revolution challenged it in many ways. For example it challenged the order by limiting some of the rules placed on society. Jefferson said that "all men were created equal", but women and slaves was not equal in society. Women had no rights before. However, after the war, women were able to divorce their husbands, and fight along side of the men in war. Even though they still couldn't vote, they had more rights than before. Also, People in society were able to practice their own religion freely. Some blacks were still slaves, and women still didn't have many rights, so there was still not all equal. However, the Revolution challenged the social order by limiting the restrictions and having some freedom.
How did the Revolution dismish the freedoms of both Loyalists and Native Americans?
In the case of the loyalists, the revolution mainly pushed loyalists away from the United States. Their land was confiscated and sold, and after the war, many were banished, if they hadn't left voluntarily. Those who stayed weren't persecuted long, but any confiscated land was never returned. In the case of the Indians, the war divided them, and there were many internal conflicts. At times, Scorched earth tactics were used, and eventually, the greatest loss was the gradual dispossession of land. After the revolution, Loyalists and Native Americans both suffered from diminished freedoms. Native Americans and Loyalists had a diminish in their freedoms after the revolution because patriots viewed them as threats to their newly gained independence. Loyalists were banished from America (if they didn't leave voluntarily) and those who stayed endured harsh treatment from laws, people and even had confiscation of property that was never returned. This was all in attempt to protect the Americans "threatened" independence and liberty. The Native Americans were targeted as people who need to disappear so those who survived countless raids and attacks from patriots were not integrated into society. The Revolution diminishing the freedoms of Loyalists and Native Americans is significant because it symbolizes the contradictions existing in the reasons why America sought to be independent from Britain
How did equality become stronger component of American freedom after the Revolution?
It took the struggle for independence to transform it into a nation that celebrated equality and opportunity. The Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal."
How did popular views pf property rights prevent slaves from enjoying all the freedoms of the social contract?
Popular views of property rights was about marriage. Women and slaves were not truly independent. Their social contract laid out in the Declaration of Independence.The idea of the Declaration of Independence is that all white men enjoyed equality rights. They could enter into a social contract with the government because they were free agents. Therefore, they enjoyed all of the freedoms set out in the Declaration. On the contrast, women and slaves were not free agents. Slaves were owned by other people and dependent upon the agents. Women were also dependent their husbands and children. This meant that they were not really competent to enter into a social contract. The social contract had to be set up between equals who were all competent to commit themselves to a contract. Slaves and women were the wards of others and therefore were not competent to do so. Because slaves and women were not free and independent, they could not enter into the social contract and enjoy its benefits.
What was the impact of the American Revolution on Native Americans?
The Native American was the biggest loser after the American Revolution. For many Indian communities, the Revolutionary War interrupted the fur and hide trade. Indian nations at this time had been incorporated into a globalized economy. Therefore, they had come to depend on many European trade goods. Also, many Indians, both individual warriors and Indian nations were required to support the American cause during the war. Even this did not give them any advantages following the war. Moreover, the Native Americans lost their lands after the Revolution
How did the expansion of religious liberty after the Revolution reflect the new American ideal of freedom?
The Revolution enhanced the diversity of American Christianity and expanded the idea of religious liberty. The separation of church and state created the social and political space that allowed all kinds of religious institutions to flourish, the culture of individual rights of which that separation was a part threatened to undermine church authority.
How did revolutionary America see both improvements and limitations in women's roles and rights?
The Revolution in the eighteenth century changed a lot in women's rights and roles. At this time, the women was socially subordinate to the men, and especially married women had barely rights at all. There was no economic, social, or political independence for woman mentioned in the laws. The Revolution changed the thinking of the Americans, and also raised their attention in the political matters, like the women's rights. Even when women were still not allowed to vote, so changed their role in the houshold, and they were now more equal to the men.
How did the definition of economic freedom change after the Revolution, and who benefited from the changes?
The decline of slavery in the north. The north now depended upon free labor the notion that you could work for wages. Slavery still persisted in the south. Many owners in fact, voluntarily emancipated their slaves. People who benefited from the changes: 1. Decline of slavery (slaves) 2. Religious groups experienced more liberty (religious groups and minorities) 3. Blacks challenged slavery and won their freedom (blacks) 4. Women enjoyed high status (women) People who did not benefit: For Indians, Loyalists, and other slaves American independence created a deprivation of freedom
What role did the founders foresee for religion in American government and society?
The founders including Thomas Jefferson wanted separation between church and state. They didn't want religious views getting in the way of the government. The first amendment guaranteed this and it allowed America religious freedom Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and Hamilton, some of the main founding fathers all believed that religion should be separated from government. The men viewed religion through rationalism and the enlightenment.
How did ideas of political freedom affect people's ideas about economic rights and relationships?
The ideas of political freedom affected the people's opinion on economic rights and relationships in many ways. To begin with, the society challenged the authority by a privileged few in the political, social and economic life which was evident in the previous era. The government was mandated to serve the interests of each and every member of the society rather than serving a specific group of elites. The American Revolution came with the political freedom which enabled the small groups such as small-scale farmers, craft workers, and laborers to emerge as independent and self-conscious aspects of politics. The idea of political freedom was growing, and it took the revolution to change the then American nation into a society that fought for the freedom of all humans.
Why did the revolution cause more radical changes in Pennsylvania than elsewhere and how was this radicalism demonstrated in the new state constitution?
The revolution's radical potential was more evident in Pennsylvania than elsewhere because most of elite in Pennsylvania opposed independence. They worried that breaking off the tie with Britain would cause other new rules which were bad for them. However, there was a new group was organized by extralegal committees. The members of the group believed strongly in democratic reform, so they tried to let Pennsylvania cut the tie with Britain. As a result, three month after independence, Pennsylvania adopted a new state constitution that a new idea in one-house legislature elected by adult men. The new constitution got rid off the office of government, and provided lower fees for the schools. Also, it ensured the freedom of speech, freedom of writing, and religious liberty.
What a was the impact of the Revolution on slavery?
slavery was entrenched in the southern colonies. It was deep in their roots. The idea that freedom was a universal entitlement rather than a set of rights specific to a particular place or group of people raised questions about the status of slavery. The revolution inspired hopes that slavery could be removed. Slaves used the definition of freedom against the leaders who had created it.
