Slide 1

American Society American Society After After

the Revolutionthe Revolution

Slide 2

What is a republic, anyway?What is a republic, anyway?

a government in a government in which supreme which supreme power power resides in a resides in a body of citizensbody of citizens entitled to voteentitled to vote and and is exercised by is exercised by elected officers and elected officers and representativesrepresentatives responsible responsible to themto them and governing and governing according to law according to law

Slide 3

Striving to Achieve EqualityStriving to Achieve Equality

After the Revolution people reject After the Revolution people reject anything aristocratic or related to anything aristocratic or related to privilegeprivilege

The appearance of equality as important The appearance of equality as important as its actual achievementas its actual achievement

Elimination of primogenitureElimination of primogenitureLowering of property requirements for Lowering of property requirements for

voting in some states, but not universal voting in some states, but not universal manhood suffragemanhood suffrage

Slide 4 During the During the Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War, state governments state governments began to dissolvebegan to dissolve

As a result, in May As a result, in May of 1776, the of 1776, the

Second Second Continental Continental

Congress began to Congress began to ask states to form ask states to form

their own their own governmentsgovernments

In July of 1776, the In July of 1776, the Congress began to Congress began to organize a national organize a national

governmentgovernment

Slide 5

Most states createdConstitutions Constitutions

(documents that set laws and

principlesof a government),

which served 2purposes:

1. spell out rights of citizens

2. limit the power of government

Slide 6

Virginia was the first of several colonies to include a bill of rights which lists

the freedoms the government promises to

protect:

For example, freedom of:

• speech• religion• assembly• press• trial by jury

Slide 7 The right to vote also expanded under state

constitutions

To vote you had to be

• male • 21 years of age or older• a property owner or

pay a tax

• In some states free blacks could vote

• In New Jersey, women could vote for a while

Slide 8

African AmericansAfrican Americans

Slavery was the greatest Slavery was the greatest contradiction to republicanismcontradiction to republicanism

They used the same rhetoric They used the same rhetoric as whites reminding them as whites reminding them constantly that they had the constantly that they had the same natural rights as whitessame natural rights as whites

Slide 9

The Revolutionary War was not merely a war The Revolutionary War was not merely a war between white men.between white men.

Many men of African decent (as many as Many men of African decent (as many as 5,000) fought in the Revolutionary War.5,000) fought in the Revolutionary War.

Slide 10

The British promised The British promised freedom to blacks freedom to blacks who fought for who fought for England, whereas England, whereas they were banned they were banned from service in the from service in the Continental Army Continental Army until Washington until Washington decided to allow free decided to allow free blacks to serveblacks to serve

Slide 11

Benjamin Benjamin BannekerBanneker

A free and educated A free and educated Black, He challenged Black, He challenged the idea that African the idea that African Americans were Americans were intellectually inferiorintellectually inferior

He was a great He was a great scientist and scientist and intellectualintellectual

Slide 12

Slavery: Demands vs. RealitySlavery: Demands vs. Reality African Americans African Americans

demanded the same demanded the same rights and liberties as rights and liberties as whiteswhites

By 1800 slavery was By 1800 slavery was becoming non-becoming non-existent in the Northexistent in the North

Yet, even in states Yet, even in states where they were where they were “free” “free” they were they were denied the rights to denied the rights to vote and serve on vote and serve on juries and in the armyjuries and in the army

Some Southerners Some Southerners wanted to manumit wanted to manumit their slaves, but the their slaves, but the invention of the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, cotton gin in 1793, and the movement and the movement West, offered too West, offered too much promise of much promise of profitprofit

Slide 13

Women during the RevolutionWomen during the Revolution

VolunteeredVolunteered

Raised moneyRaised money

Took care of farms and Took care of farms and businesses in businesses in husband’s absencehusband’s absence

Picture: Molly Pritcher Picture: Molly Pritcher – helped on the – helped on the battlefieldbattlefield

Slide 14

Republican MothersRepublican Mothers Women were charged Women were charged

with raising virtuous, with raising virtuous, future members of the future members of the American republic.American republic.

In light of this role, In light of this role, women demanded women demanded access to formal access to formal educationeducation

New schools developed, New schools developed, but they taught women but they taught women how to be good mothers how to be good mothers and wivesand wives,, not how to be not how to be intellectuals and intellectuals and independent thinkers.independent thinkers.

Women began to Women began to demand more equality in demand more equality in the homethe homeMore women were More women were granted divorce based on granted divorce based on cruelty of husbandscruelty of husbands

Slide 15

Articles of ConfederationArticles of ConfederationWritten by the various states, this became Written by the various states, this became

the form of government in 1781the form of government in 1781The states did not want a national The states did not want a national

government that would limit their libertiesgovernment that would limit their libertiesThe Articles only provided for a legislative, The Articles only provided for a legislative,

not a judicial or executive branchnot a judicial or executive branchEach state had one voteEach state had one vote2/3’s of states required to pass laws2/3’s of states required to pass lawsAmendments required a unanimous vote Amendments required a unanimous vote

Slide 16

Powers Under the ArticlesPowers Under the Articles

1.1. Declare warDeclare war2.2. Make treatiesMake treaties3.3. Manage indian Manage indian

affairsaffairs4.4. Maintain an army Maintain an army

and navyand navy5.5. Coin and borrow Coin and borrow

moneymoney6.6. Establish a postal Establish a postal

serviceservice

What is Missing??What is Missing??

The power to TaxThe power to Tax

The power to The power to regulate regulate commerce/tradecommerce/trade

Slide 17

Major Problems Under the Major Problems Under the ArticlesArticles

1.1. No MoneyNo Money2.2. Inflation (paper money Inflation (paper money

with no hard currency)with no hard currency)3.3. Tariff wars between Tariff wars between

statesstates4.4. Jealousy and quarreling Jealousy and quarreling

among the statesamong the states (like (like they were countries)they were countries)

5.5. Foreign affairs in Foreign affairs in shamblesshambles

6.6. Disrespect from other Disrespect from other countriescountries

7.7. Debtor-Creditor Debtor-Creditor conflictsconflicts

Slide 18

Shays’ Rebellion, 1786-1787Shays’ Rebellion, 1786-1787 The Rebellion started with petitions to the The Rebellion started with petitions to the

government for paper currency, lower taxes, government for paper currency, lower taxes, and judicial reform.and judicial reform.

People who were unable to pay their debts with People who were unable to pay their debts with hard currency were taken to court and then hard currency were taken to court and then placed in jail.placed in jail.

Daniel Shays of Massachusetts assembled a Daniel Shays of Massachusetts assembled a group of about 1,500 other veterans from the group of about 1,500 other veterans from the Revolutionary War to prevent the court from Revolutionary War to prevent the court from sitting.sitting.

Slide 19

Shays’ Rebellion, 1786-1787Shays’ Rebellion, 1786-1787 There were various skirmishes in Mass. From There were various skirmishes in Mass. From

Sept – FebSept – Feb Shays’ men were put down – 20 were sentenced Shays’ men were put down – 20 were sentenced

to death.to death. Only 2 hung for their role – the others were Only 2 hung for their role – the others were

pardoned by the governor, John Hancockpardoned by the governor, John Hancock Shays' Rebellion is considered the one of the Shays' Rebellion is considered the one of the

leading causes in the formation of the United leading causes in the formation of the United States Constitution.States Constitution.

Slide 20

Slide 21

"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of the government.“

Thomas Jefferson, 1787