Chapter 6
New Constitutions
• In most states, the pre-war leadership either embraced the Revolution or split into independence and loyalist factions• In Pennsylvania, nearly the entire pre-war elite opposed
independence•With the Revolution over the state had a leadership vacuum
that was filled with young, working class radicals
New Constitutions
• Pennsylvania adopted a new state constitution giving it a single house legislature elected annually by all men over 21 who paid taxes• The office of governor was
abolished, shed the property requirement for holding offices, and required schools with low fees be set up in every county
New Constitutions
• All states adopted new constitutions – all republics• John Adams thought PA too radical –
states needed two house legislatures to protect the interests of the wealthy (upper house) and the common man (lower house)• Most states followed Adams’ lead
except PA, GA, and VT• Only Massachusetts gave the
governor veto power over laws passed by the legislature
John Adams
New Constitutions
• Disagreements erupted over voting and office holding – elites wanted property requirements fearing elimination of social ranks• Radicals wanted exactly that• Southern states eventually retained
property requirements for voting and holding office• Maryland required 5,000 pounds to be
governor• Vermont only state to remove removed
all financial restrictions for voting
New Constitutions
• By 1780’s most adult white males could meet voting requirements except in NY, VA, and MD• In some states, propertied women
voted for a time before laws had the word “male” inserted• Expansion of representative seats in
legislatures resulted in the election of men of lesser property• In all states except SC, elections were
held annually to ensure representatives were accountable to the people
Religion in America
• Rhode Island and Pennsylvania religiously tolerant - most states supported churches with public funds and discriminated against Catholics, Jews, and other religions
• Catholicism now seen in better light due to assistance from Catholic France during Revolution
• Despite efforts to create a separation of church and state several states continued church support
• Massachusetts continued supporting its Congregationalist Church until 1833
Religion in America
• The Revolution had enhanced the diversity of Christianity and expanded the idea of religious liberty• Some churches felt threatened
by American liberty as younger members rejected church rules such as arranged marriages• Despite fears, religion and
churches thrived in America
Economic Freedom
• The Revolution changed outlook on labor• Indentured servants and
apprentices saw their conditions as oppressive and ran away• By 1800 indentured service was
gone – replaced by “free” (wage) labor• This sharpened the distinction
between freedom and slavery
Economic Freedom
• Wartime disruption of agriculture and trade coupled with hundreds of millions of paper dollars and hoarding caused enormous increase in prices• Congress urged states to adopt
price controls but merchants and others advocated for a free market based on supply and demand• Adam Smith’s The Wealth of
Nations published in 1776
Limits of Liberty
• Loyalists Represented at all social levels and
every region 20-25% of colonists remained loyal ~20,000 fought for British – at
some points outnumbering Washington’s Continental Army
Most numerous in NY, NJ, PA, back country of Carolinas, and GA
Limits of Liberty
• Revolutionary War was a civil war between patriots and loyalists
• Terrorism used by both sides• 60,000 loyalists expelled or voluntarily
migrated to Canada, West Indies, or Britain
• So many migrated to Canada, a new province was created for them – New Brunswick
• Hostility short-lived for loyalists who remained – peace treaty called for end to confiscations of property and eventually reintegrated into American society
Native Americans
• Despite Proclamation line of 1763 white settlers steadily streamed into Indian lands• Many patriot leaders such as
Washington and Jefferson involved in western land deals• Indians who supported British during
Revolution suffered heavy losses• The British had encouraged Indian
attacks on colonial settlements and colonies retaliated with brutal efficiency
Slavery and the Revolution
• Anti-slavery ideas present in the colonies as early as 1688 when German Quakers issued a protest against slavery• Others in New England printed tracts
denouncing the practice• In 1773, patriot Benjamin Rush called
slavery a “national crime”• Many blacks petitioned in court fro
freedom• Numbers of run-away slaves increased
Benjamin Rush
Slavery and the Revolution
• During 1780s a considerable number of slaveholders mostly in VA and MD emancipated their slaves• Between 1777 and 1804, all states
north of Maryland took steps towards emancipation• Children of slaves were to be freed
after serving into adulthood – form of indenture• Slow process – slavery still existed in
some forms in many northern states
Slavery and the Revolution
• Though a slow process in the North – a line was drawn between northern and southern states over slavery• Before Revolution most blacks had
been slaves – now sizable free black communities existed• In all states except VA, SC, and GA free
blacks who met tax and property qualifications could vote• Many Northerners increasingly vocal
against slavery – Alexander Hamilton worked for abolition
Women
• Patriotic women did their part in the Revolution including at least one serving in combat disguised as a man
• Women acted as spies, raised funds, and supported patriotic ideals in pamphlets and plays
• Despite this women still had no rights of their own
• The ideology of “Republican Motherhood” emerged
• Educational opportunities encouraged for women due to their role in raising good citizens
Women
• Republican Motherhood also reinforced the trend of “companionate marriage” – a voluntary union based on affection and mutual dependency rather than male authority• After the Revolution, rapid
decline of indentures and apprentices resulted in more modern nuclear family