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