Transcript
The War Changes America
A republic is formed
• A republic is a form of government where power resides with a body of citizens entitled to vote.
• Americans believed that a republic would be a perfect society because all were considered equal under the law.
• This idea greatly conflicted with the ideas of slavery. It also contradicted the idea that women were inferior to men.
New State Constitutions
• Many states create their own constitutions that limited the governments power over the people.
• John Adams also argued that a system of checks and balances was needed so that no particular group can become to strong.
• Many states also added Bills of Rights to their constitutions. These rights included freedom against illegal searches,freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms.
Voting rights expand
• Fighting side by side during the war led many to believe that your social class should not determine your right to vote.
• Many states pass laws that all men who paid taxes could vote. Owning property was no longer required.
• Many lower class citizens were also now able to hold office.
• Women and slaves still had no voice in government
Freedom of Religion
• Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom-Declared that Virginia no longer had an official church and that the state could not collect taxes for churches. It was written by Thomas Jefferson
• The idea that church and state should be separate spreads throughout the country.
• Religious taxes are abolished entirely in 1833.
Women in the War
• Many took over running the family farm or business.• Others worked as cooks, washers, and nurses for
the army.• Some worked as spies or messengers and few
opted to fight.• Because they contributed so much to the war,
many argue that their rights should be expanded. • In 1779 Judith Sargent Murray wrote “On the
Equality of the Sexes” saying that women were just as intelligent as men, but lacked the proper education to achieve more in life.
Molly Pitcher and Margaret Corbin• Molly Pitcher is
best known for bringing water to patriot soldiers at the battle of Monmouth.
• Margaret Corbin accompanied her husband to battle and took his place at the cannon after his death.
African Americans during the War• Thousands of enslaved Africans gain
their freedom during the war. Many British soldiers free slaves to fight with them, while many are sent to plantations in the Caribbean.
• After the war many patriot leaders decide to free their slaves because the idea of slavery did not fit with the new liberty of the nation.
• Emancipation-Freedom• Many states took steps to end
slavery, especially in the north.
Discrimination and Prejudice Remain• Many fear that free African Americans will
take jobs away from white men.• Many are forced to work menial jobs such
as digging or sweeping.• Many African American men turned to
religion and became ministers of their own churches. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was the first African American denomination. (1816)
• Many southern states tried to encourage manumission or voluntary freeing of slaves, but many remained in bondage.
Loyalists Flee America
• Over 100,000 loyalists leave America after independence is achieved.
• Many move to England, the British West Indies, or Canada.
• Many states seize land that was owned by loyalists as punishment.
The War gives a nation unity• All Americans now
had a common enemy (England)
• Nationalism spreads
• National heroes become the symbols of a new nation (George Washington)
American Painters
• Painters depict the heroic deeds of the Revolution.
• John Trumbull was an aide to Washington in the war and painted some of the most famous Revolutionary moments.
• Charles Willson Peale painted images of his survival at Valley Forge and the created many portraits of Washington.
A painting by John Trumbull
A painting by Charles Willson Peale
Improvements in Education• Many including Thomas Jefferson
think that education is the keystone for a successful America
• Many states provide funds for education
• 1795 North Carolina became the first state university in the country.
• British textbooks are thrown away and a new style of republican education emerges.
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