Political, Social, And Political Causes Of The American Revolutionary War

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The American Revolutionary war was primarily fought between the American colonies and Great Britain from 1775 to 1783. Following the war great, political, social, and economic changes shaped the new nation and its government. This independence led to the drafting of several historical documents and brought about a new democratic form of government, limiting its size and power, while also establishing more individual rights. Because of the major changes, specifically political, I believe that the American Revolution was in fact, a revolution. In 1777, the Continental Congress established the U.S. as a confederation, designed under the Articles of Confederation. This lasted for about ten years until Congress established the U.S. Constitution, …show more content…

Women’s education reform started to see more and more support as well. Molly states in her valedictory address at the Young Ladies’ Academy of Philadelphia in 1792 that, “ With some, however, it has been made a question, whether we ought ever to appear in so public manner.”[Document J] Molly is saying that some are beginning to question whether or not it 's suitable for women to appear publicly. At the end of her address, Molly states, “And if to read, why not to speak?”[Document J] Overall, she is saying that if men get to have a voice why cant women? Women like Molly Wallace began to speak out against the gender restrictions at the time and this eventually led to the Women’s Rights Movement. Another example of women’s roles beginning to change was shown in a woodcut from Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1779. The woodcut depicts a patriot woman wearing a tricorn hat, wielding a musket, and carrying gunpowder. [Document A] This shows that women’s roles were expanding and society was moving forward. Slaves and indentured servants also began to see change in their societal position as well. In An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio in 1787, Article 6, it states that, “There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.”[Document H] This excerpt is basically saying that slavery and indentured servitude was banned in the territory northwest of the Ohio River. However, if the slaves were fugitives they would be lawfully returned to their owners. Both women and slaves saw drastic social change which prompted future movements such as the Abolitionist Movement and the Women’s Rights

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