Unit 3 Themes

Identity: How did different social group identities evolve during the revolutionary struggle?  How did leaders of the new United States attempt to form a national identity?

Two main groups evolved from the American Revolution. The first were loyal to the British (they were called torys). The second were loyal to the Americans. After the American Revolution Alexander Hamilton attempted to unify the states by having the federal government take on all of the state debts. 

Work, Exchange, and Technology: How did the newly independent United States attempt to formulate a national economy?

Alexander Hamilton's plan was for the Federal government to absorb all of the state debt and turn it into a national debt. He would then increase tariffs on foreign trades to help pay off that debt and he taxed whiskey. Hamilton hoped that as the upper class and government got richer money would trickle down the ranks to the common class. 

Peopling: How did the revolutionary struggle and its aftermath reorient white-American Indian relations and affect subsequent population movements?

After the British were booted out of power there was no one holding the western expansion back. As new Americans began to pour over the Appalachians they came into conflict with the NAtive Americans.

Politics and Power: How did the ideology behind the revolution affect power relationships between different ethnic, racial, and social groups?

The idea of "Life Liberty and Happiness" and "all men are equal" affected the way men in the government thought of slavery. They realized that they were hypocrites for not letting this apply to slaves, but because it was the only form of labor they had the government kept slaves oppressed. Women were affected by the American Revolution. The idea of "republican motherhood" came into play and their jobs as rearers of the children became more and more important. 

America in the World: How did the revolution become an international conflict involving competing European and American powers?

During the American Revolution the French and Spanish both secretly aided the Americans. After the battle of Saratoga the French openly aided the Americans. The British and French have forever been sworn enemies and wherever there were french and british territories side by side wars and skirmishes were soon to follow. 

Environment and Geography: How did the geographical and environment characteristics of regions open up to white settlements after 1763 affect their subsequent development?

The Proclamation of 1763 bottled colonists to East of the Appalachians. Many colonists were unhappy about this and chose to ignore the proclamation and continue Westward. The area was developed very sparsely because of this.

Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture: Why did the patriot cause spread so quickly among the colonists after 1763?  How did the republican ideals of the revolutionary cause affect the nation’s political culture after independence?

Colonists felt that they were entitled to the Ohio river area after they had fought the French and Indian war. The Proclamation of 1763 angered them and made many simply ignore the British authority. Since America was formed by a rebellion the government had to be careful about becoming another "british parliament" that would squash rebellions with force.