They surmounted all local prejudices. They regarded everyone from different nations as their countryman" (Wood 223)
Another interesting study has looked at the etymology of the concept of virtue for both genders independent at the time of the revolution. For females, the concept of virtue generally was used to represent a women's pureness sexually and her loyalty her husband (Bloch, 1987)
One interesting historical fact is that New Jersey was one of the pioneers on the issue of women's suffrage as it did not specify gender as a basis for representation in the state's constitution. While other state's made provisions that specified gender a prerequisite for voting and political participation, in 1776 New Jersey ignored any gender barriers in its suffrage clause in its constitution (Klinghoffer & Elkis, 1992)
Another interesting approach to providing information on women and family life in the colonial era in the late eighteenth-century American family life has been gained by considering the records of the loyalist after the war. Among the 3,225 loyalists who presented claims to the British government after the war were 468 American refugee women and the documents contain many private letters and other evidence that offer verbatim records of different female perspectives (Norton, 1976)
It is an excellent reference for anyone interested in American history. The author's thesis is set in the Preface of the book, where he notes, "The Revolution, in short, gave birth to whatever sense of nationhood and national purpose Americans have had" (Wood 26)
Essentially, it is crucial to point out that the American Revolution, and the newly-created political organization that would follow it, was orchestrated entirely towards the benefit of rich, white men. Berkin (2002) actually hints at this fact in the first chapter of her book, when she mentions that "political leaders everywhere feared there was little cause to celebrate" before going on to say that "these men understood that something had gone terribly wrong" (Berkin, 2002, p
Namely, the American Revolution was not oriented towards the production of a more equitable society, but rather towards removing whatever barriers of title or nobility that might have previously kept white men from reaching the highest social classes. This is firstly evidenced by the fact that the so-called "founding fathers" were almost exclusively members of the upper classes already; George Washington, whose "interest in war lay in the opportunities it offered for honorable and gallant action" regardless of the cause, owned a massive plantation in Virginia, and, like his fellow founding fathers James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, was born into the economic elite, never experiencing what life was actually like for the vast majority of poor colonists or enslaved blacks (Middlekauff, 2005, p
¶ … American Revolution, production of staple products grew, economic risks decreased, transportation improved and individual merchants and small companies experienced reduced costs through improvement of economies of scale (McCusker & Menard, 22)
Precious soil, I say to myself; by what singular custom of law is it that thou wast made to constitute the riches of the freeholder. What should we American farmers be without the distinct possession of that soil? (Worster 98)
" In addition to the currency act, the Stamp Act also created tension and conflict between the colonies and the English government. The Stamp Act was developed and implemented and basically the stamp act required that stamped paper be used for practically all legal documents and customs papers, for appointments to all offices carrying a salary of 20£, save military and judicial offices, for all grants of privilege and franchises made by the colonial government, for licenses to retail liquors, for all pamphlets, advertisements, hand bills, newspapers, almanacs, and calendars, for packages containing playing cards and dice (Becker & Schlesinger 1960 25)
" In addition to the currency act, the Stamp Act also created tension and conflict between the colonies and the English government. The Stamp Act was developed and implemented and basically the stamp act required that stamped paper be used for practically all legal documents and customs papers, for appointments to all offices carrying a salary of 20£, save military and judicial offices, for all grants of privilege and franchises made by the colonial government, for licenses to retail liquors, for all pamphlets, advertisements, hand bills, newspapers, almanacs, and calendars, for packages containing playing cards and dice (Becker & Schlesinger 1960 25)
Even if the ideas already existed, without the goading of leaders, the politically impotent Bailyn would not have acted upon the ideas boldly disagrees with all common interpretations of the revolutionary origins. He claims the "outbreak of the Revolution was not the result of social discontent, or economic disturbances" and there was no "transformation of mob behavior" (Bailyn, 12)
[footnoteRef:31] By the time another relief expedition could be mounted, Cornwallis had already surrendered. When Lord North heard the news, he understood at once and exclaimed "My God! It's all over!," and indeed it was, for the defeat at Yorktown led to the collapse of his government in March 1782 (Rodger 2005, p
American Revolution How did the patriots win the American Revolution? First of all, the Second Continental Congress showed a great deal of vision when meeting in 1775; even though many members were still loyal to England, within two months the Congress had "…created an army, declared war, and issued its own currency" (Roark, 158)
The upper classes, however, were able to demonstrate so big a generosity of spirit that the National Assembly was able to subsequently coalesce into a mutual respect and cooperation on the side of the monarchy. (Censer, 2004, p
However, the different classes of people within the same country shared different ideals and dreams, like for example, whereas artisans and farmers and the like believed in the fact that an infinitely better life would begin for them, the other class of people, like the merchants and traders and the like came to the conclusion that they would rule themselves by forming their own government comprising their own class of people, by overthrowing an oppressive power that had been ruling them for a great many years. (Gowland, 2003, p
The French Revolution had higher ideals and notions than that of the American, and the primary aim of the people involved was to virtually obliterate all the various pre-existing arrangements so that there may be a complete and a total change within the society as a whole. (Harsanyi, 2005, p
24) In the Book entitled 'The British Monarchy and the French Revolution', by author Marilyn Morris, states that the French Revolution in fact served to influence the British monarchy in several ways, and that British monarchy is in fact an extremely adaptable and strong Institution. (Morris, 1997, p
.) as long as government subsists, subjects owe an implicit obedience to the laws of the supreme power, from which there can be no appeal but to Heaven" (Borden and Borden, 1972)
Another major aspect of the reasons for which there was a substantial desire for the maintenance of the British rule was a mere economic one. It was a rather well-known fact the idea that the British represented one of the most important trading partners for the colonies (Jenkins, 1997)