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