American Revolution From 1775 to 1800, as the Americans fought and won their independence, it was inevitable that

changes in American society would occur along the way. The American Revolution led Americans to protect their newly independent country, challenged the traditional roles of women and established other social rights, and caused the American economy to ultimately stay the same. During the American Revolution, Americas top priority was to preserve its independence from Britain as well as establish an efficient form of government. The 1779 Pennsylvania Packet shares how Americans were encouraged to banish the Tories and let America be home to only free men (Doc B). This shows the Americans willingness to fight for an independent country. One thing Americans had to do to preserve their independence was to ban all Tories from their territory. This is because since the Tories were loyal followers of the king in England, they posed a threat to the preservation of Americas independence being in American soil. Furthermore, in Federalist papers of 1788, James Madison suggests that there needs to be control over the abuses of the government (Doc I). This was one of the reasons why checks and balances where created. Checks and balances were created so that none of the three branches of government (judicial, legislative, and executive) could have more power than the other. The three branches of government work together to regulate each others power. Likewise, to establish an efficient form of government, the Constitution had to be created. The first attempt at a national government in America was the Articles of Confederation. However, the Articles of Confederation failed because it gave too much power to the states. Since the Articles of Confederation established a weak national government America needed another form of government that created a strong national government instead. By creating the Constitution, it now gave the government power to properly run the newly independent country of America, whereas under the Articles of Confederation, this power never truly existed.

The American Revolution also challenged the traditional roles of women and led as well as to the establishment of new social rights. The woodcut of a Patriot woman portrays a woman holding a gun (Doc A). This woman holding a gun suggests that she participated in the American Revolution. Before, the traditional roles of woman were that she was to be taking care of the home and children. However, during the Revolution women were equal to men in that they were able to fight along with them against the British. Woman wouldnt only fight in this battle, but some accompany the soldiers and supply them with water, food, and aided the injured. In her valedictory address, Molly Wallace tells how she wants to do more than what her gender and the traditional womens role limits her to (Doc J). This shows how the rise of feminism was emerging during the Revolution. Women, because of the traditional roles of woman, would before be confined to the household. Now women want to break away from these limitations and have the opportunity to be equal as men instead of being looked upon as inferior because of their gender. In addition, the statutes at large of Virginia declare that people have the right of freedom of religion (Doc D). Before the Constitution was created, the government would impose their preferred religion on its people. However, the first amendment in the Bill of Rights, which is part of the Constitution, gives people the opportunity to worship whomever or whatever religion theyd like. This amendment is one of many additional others that was created to protect the rights and liberties of the people in the new and independent America. The American Revolution had little effect on Americas economy. The medal of the Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture says, Venerate the Plough (Doc F). This medal represents how farmers are still not financially better off even before the revolution. Nonetheless, since the Articles of Confederation mentions that the federal government doesnt have the power to tax the colonies as a source of revenue, the government printed paper money called Continentals, but where made worthless by inflation. When the Massachusetts colony taxed poor farmers, farmers would go into debt, lose land, and be sent to prison debtors.

This led to Shays Rebellion where farmers rebelled against the taxes. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams shares how Some of them were crying out for a paper currency, some for an equal distribution of property (Doc G). This led the poor farmers West of Massachusetts to take arms, close government buildings, and free other farmers from debtor prisons. The inflation of the paper money was the factor that brought these farmers in this economic position, unable to pay the creditors. Indeed, no economic change is seen because farmers still lived under the heel if the elite class during 1775 to 1800. American society was deeply impacted by the American Revolution. It led to the protection of Americas independence and the establishment of a new form of government. It socially led women to begin challenging their traditional role as women and gave new rights for the people. Americas economy remained the same as seen with farmers who fought for better lifestyles.