Impact of the Revolutionary War on American Society

Ordinary Americans

• During the War:

• More individuals began to join the war efforts.

• Participation expanded, including some women, particularly noted in New York, as the war progressed.

• After the War:

• Experienced a massive and unanticipated social transformation.

• The dominant idea was that "all men are created equal," which had an internationally influential effect, inspiring other revolutions like the French Revolution.

• Western states started granting more rights to citizens, especially the right to vote.

• The requirement for voting shifted from property ownership to citizenship.

• Women, typically, still did not have the right to vote, with New Jersey being an exception.

Women's Roles

• During the War:

• Primarily, women were not on the front lines, though some exceptions existed.

• They largely remained at home, responsible for producing essential goods like clothing and food, and managing all household affairs while men were off fighting.

• After the War:

• A new role emerged: Republican~Motherhood.

• This concept is considered critically important to understand, and its implications would be explored further.

African Americans

• During the War:

• Initially had opportunities to serve alongside Americans.

• This policy later changed, restricting their service with American forces.

• Consequently, many joined the British side, motivated by promises of freedom, notably through Dunmore's~Proclamation.

• The American policy eventually shifted back, offering freedom for service again.

• Serving in either army presented a significant, albeit often precarious, pathway to freedom.

• After the War:

• Freedom was not uniformly granted across the board.

• Enslaved individuals who joined the British (often Loyalists) and escaped often gained their freedom from the British.

• For those owned by Patriots, freedom was entirely dependent on the individual master's decision; some granted it, while others did not.

• Gradual Emancipation Laws in the North:

  • Northern states, such as Pennsylvania (a key example, though any northern state could apply), began to enact gradual emancipation laws.

  • These laws were not immediate abolition but rather a phased approach to ending slavery.

  • The methods varied by state:

  • Some states decreed freedom by a specific future date.

  • Others required a certain number of years of service before freedom was granted.

  • Some tied freedom to reaching a particular age.

  • A common approach was that children of enslaved people would gain freedom after serving a specified number of years or reaching a certain age.

  • The Southern states did not adopt these emancipation measures.

• Inspiration for Emancipation:

  • The revolutionary idea of freeing slaves was significantly inspired by the Enlightenment.

  • The Declaration~of~Independence, specifically its assertion that "All men are created equal," served as a powerful inspirational document.

  • This was referred to as the "spirit of the declaration," suggesting that its principles should extend to all, including enslaved people.

Native Americans

• During the War:

• Predominantly sided with the British.

• The British had established the Proclamation~Line~of~1763, which protected Native American lands from colonial expansion, a line the Americans were expected to ignore.

• After the War:

• Significant conflict was anticipated as American expansion into their territories was expected.

Economic, Social, and Political Changes

• Social and Political:

• There was an increased emphasis on freedom of religion.

• A movement towards the separation of church and state began to take prominence.

• However, the Puritan church retained strong influence, particularly in the New England states.

• Political:

• A new form of government was established.

• Individual states began to draft their own constitutions.

• The governmental structure was less centralized.

• The primary governing document prior to the U.S. Constitution was the Articles~of~Confederation.

• Social (related to Church/State):

• Society began to move away from the church's direct influence on ideals and methods, with the notable exception of New England, where the Puritan influence remained strong.