Effects of the American Revolutionary War
What were the effects on the lives on African Americans, women, and Native Americans?
Effects on African Americans
The American Revolution had many effects on the lives of African Americans and the continuation of slavery. African Americans fought on both sides of the war. Crispus Attucks, a freed slave, was killed during the Boston Massacre. Peter Salem, a former slave and Minutemen hero, was one of a few who was given his freedom for serving in the American army at Bunker Hill and Saratoga. Some slaves were promised freedom after the war. However most of their promises were not kept. As a result of American Revolution and the idea found in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal,” states in the North passed laws to slowly emancipate their slaves. Northerners were not as economically dependent on slave labor as landowners were in the South. Therefore, Northerners didn’t necessarily have a need for slaves. In the South, some slave owners struggled with the conflict between keeping their slaves or setting them free. A few southern slave owners set their slaves free. A few southern states made manumission (emancipation from slavery) easier. However, the southern landowners’ dependence on slave labor to work their plantations and their fear of freeing a large numbers of slaves caused most states to have more severe controls over their slaves. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 made southerners more dependent on slave labor and confirmed their commitment to slavery.
The American Revolution had many effects on the lives of African Americans and the continuation of slavery. African Americans fought on both sides of the war. Crispus Attucks, a freed slave, was killed during the Boston Massacre. Peter Salem, a former slave and Minutemen hero, was one of a few who was given his freedom for serving in the American army at Bunker Hill and Saratoga. Some slaves were promised freedom after the war. However most of their promises were not kept. As a result of American Revolution and the idea found in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal,” states in the North passed laws to slowly emancipate their slaves. Northerners were not as economically dependent on slave labor as landowners were in the South. Therefore, Northerners didn’t necessarily have a need for slaves. In the South, some slave owners struggled with the conflict between keeping their slaves or setting them free. A few southern slave owners set their slaves free. A few southern states made manumission (emancipation from slavery) easier. However, the southern landowners’ dependence on slave labor to work their plantations and their fear of freeing a large numbers of slaves caused most states to have more severe controls over their slaves. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 made southerners more dependent on slave labor and confirmed their commitment to slavery.
Effects on Women
During the war, women were expected to work the farm or help run the family business. They cared for their children and planted and harvested crops while their husbands were gone. For example, Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, ran the family farm while her husband served in the Continental Congress. Some women served the army as nurses or cooks. A few even served in battle by enlisting as men or fighting alongside their husbands. For example, Martha Washington, wife of George Washington, traveled with her husband as he served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Mary Ludwig Hayes also served alongside her husband in the war as well. She cooked, washed clothes, and took care of wounded soldiers. When the situation demanded it, Mary stepped in and took her husband’s place when he was wounded during the battle of Monmouth. In spite of the role women played during the American Revolution, they were not allowed to vote nor have a say in the government after the war was over.
During the war, women were expected to work the farm or help run the family business. They cared for their children and planted and harvested crops while their husbands were gone. For example, Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, ran the family farm while her husband served in the Continental Congress. Some women served the army as nurses or cooks. A few even served in battle by enlisting as men or fighting alongside their husbands. For example, Martha Washington, wife of George Washington, traveled with her husband as he served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Mary Ludwig Hayes also served alongside her husband in the war as well. She cooked, washed clothes, and took care of wounded soldiers. When the situation demanded it, Mary stepped in and took her husband’s place when he was wounded during the battle of Monmouth. In spite of the role women played during the American Revolution, they were not allowed to vote nor have a say in the government after the war was over.
Effects on Native Americans
Native Americans were also affected by the outcome of the American Revolution. As a result of the French and Indian War, the Native Americans had lost the support of their French ally when France lost the war and its North American territories. When the British made peace with the American colonists and ended the Revolutionary war, the Native Americans also lost their British ally in the thirteen new states. As a result, the Native Americans were forced to move west. The Native Americans tried to resist the American settlers as they pushed them to territories west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British continued to offer support to the Native Americans from their forts within the northwestern boundaries of the new United States.
Native Americans were also affected by the outcome of the American Revolution. As a result of the French and Indian War, the Native Americans had lost the support of their French ally when France lost the war and its North American territories. When the British made peace with the American colonists and ended the Revolutionary war, the Native Americans also lost their British ally in the thirteen new states. As a result, the Native Americans were forced to move west. The Native Americans tried to resist the American settlers as they pushed them to territories west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British continued to offer support to the Native Americans from their forts within the northwestern boundaries of the new United States.
The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 showed the spirit of the American Revolution. The Land Ordinance stated that white settlers could purchase undeveloped land in the west. The Northwest Ordinance created the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Territory refers to land that is northwest of the Appalachian Mountains including present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. Many Native Americans were forced to move west to this territory. The Northwest Ordinance banned slavery within the boundaries of the newly created Northwest Territory. The Northwest Ordinance also promised to treat the Native Americans living there fairly. Disappointingly however, the federal government soon sent troops to force the Native Americans to make treaties that protected the white settlers and allowed them to settle in the Northwest Territory. Because westward expansion was encouraged by the federal government through the passing of the Land Ordinance and the Northwest Ordinance, for years Native Americans were forced to give up their land and move further west. The institution of slavery moved west with southern settlers too.
The passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 showed the spirit of the American Revolution. The Land Ordinance stated that white settlers could purchase undeveloped land in the west. The Northwest Ordinance created the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Territory refers to land that is northwest of the Appalachian Mountains including present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. Many Native Americans were forced to move west to this territory. The Northwest Ordinance banned slavery within the boundaries of the newly created Northwest Territory. The Northwest Ordinance also promised to treat the Native Americans living there fairly. Disappointingly however, the federal government soon sent troops to force the Native Americans to make treaties that protected the white settlers and allowed them to settle in the Northwest Territory. Because westward expansion was encouraged by the federal government through the passing of the Land Ordinance and the Northwest Ordinance, for years Native Americans were forced to give up their land and move further west. The institution of slavery moved west with southern settlers too.
Documents
4-3.4_effects_of_the_arw.pdf |
4-3.4_effects_of_the_arw.docx |
Sources
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: http://www.crispusattucksmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Who-was-Crispus-Attucks.jpg
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/MollyPitcher.jpg
Image 3: http://americanmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/general-burgoyne-revolutionary-war.jpeg
Image 4: http://jb-hdnp.org/Sarver/Maps/northwest_territory.jpg
Image 5: http://www.socialstudieswithasmile.com/northwestterritory.jpg
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: http://www.crispusattucksmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Who-was-Crispus-Attucks.jpg
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/MollyPitcher.jpg
Image 3: http://americanmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/general-burgoyne-revolutionary-war.jpeg
Image 4: http://jb-hdnp.org/Sarver/Maps/northwest_territory.jpg
Image 5: http://www.socialstudieswithasmile.com/northwestterritory.jpg