american revolution Flashcards
define republicanism
all people, regardless of social factors are equally subject to the law
when was independence declared
4th July 1776
give 5 examples of the things mentioned in the drafted articles of confederation
congress would act as a central body
each state would have 1 vote regardless of size/population
state delegations consisted of 2-7 people
important treaties need the approval of 9 states
articles couldn’t be amended without consent of 13 states
state 5 problems with the national government and under the articles of confederation
no powers to impose taxes
heavily reliant on state help for treaties
congress was bankrupt and required states to agree to a new federal currency (failed as by 1781 no effective national currency was made)
high inflation due to printing off money
confederation was not elected by the people
define elitists
often men who led assemblies, thought the government should maintain liberties and preserve orders
feared too much democracy might generate unstable government
give 3 ideologies from elitists
franchise limited to property
right to vote would be held infrequently
governors would have wide powers
give 3 ideologies from democrats
broad franchise
frequent elections
weak executive
who mainly supported federalists
cosmopolitians (people who lived in the city)
give 5 economic negative impacts of the war
areas which experienced military operations suffered (properties destroyed or seized by troops)
large number of american merchant ships were seized by the royal navy
american trade was destroyed by the british bloackade and it was no longer a mercantilist system
hyper inflation from printing money
new england fishing industry destroyed
give 5 positive economic impacts of the war
freed from the navigation acts (can export directly to European markets)
reduction in imports of manufactures goods from britain had a stimulating effect on American iron, textile, paper, property and shoe making
military boosted domestic production of uniforms and artillery
farmers outside war zones profited from selling to various armies
british held areas experienced booms during war especially in NY
how did slavery impact the war
the revolutionary war challenged the belief of slavery mostly because the heart of the revolution was the belief of human liberty
in the declaration of independence it declared all men were equal
many slaves fought for the British as they were promised freedom (1/6 of slaves fled Virginia to join) then 20,000 black loyalists settled in the West Indies, absorbed into the British army or 30,000 were given land
give 3 examples of opposition to slavery
1771- Massachusetts banned the slave trade
1774- Rhode Island and Connecticut banned the slave trade in 1774
1783- Manumission laws allowed people to free slaves
summarise the impact of the war on women
some were homeless, raped and killed
20,000 women served as cooks, laundresses and prostitutes for the army
women started to read newspapers, discussed politics and ensured their daughters had the best education
summarise the impact of the war on Native Americans
1784- started to conclude treaties with Natives to take their land
the new republic had no sympathy for the natives and they didn’t have the same rights and priviledges as Americans
give 5 pieces of evidence of the war being revolutionary in improving society
2 states forbade the creation of noble titles
men of lower class sat in state legislature
western expansions of the Appalachians created opportunity for landless Americans to acquire farms
servants almost disappeared as a result of the war, many gained freedom through military service while immigration traffic as labour ceased to war
many northern states abolished slavery
give 5 pieces of evidence of the war NOT being revolutionary in improving society
there was no attempt to redistribute wealth or promote social equality
social classes didn’t change in significant ways (land holdings remained unchanged)
indentured servants were declining before the war
war had a limiting effect on slaves and women
America had been and remained a land of self- sufficient farmers
