1	Social Consequences and State Constitutions Week 8
2	"Effects of Revolution on Women" Effects of Revolution on Women Effects of Revolution on African Americans Effects of Revolution on Loyalists Effects of Revolution on Economy State Constitutions
3	Effects on Women Negative Women raped during war Women served as prostitutes
4	Women Prior to War No public involvement Woman’s place at home Man head of household, woman supporting role Women deal with private matters like labor-intensive farm work, caring for/educating family, extended family, household production, nurse/midwife Few legal rights Could be legally beaten by husbands Could not own or manage property upon marriage (only single women or widows)--coverture Divorce rarely granted for whatever reason (women often just ran away)
5	Effects on Women Positive War brought change These help expand the role of women in colonial America Continental Army needed cloth, shoes Quilting bees run by women Women increased homespun production for war effort Symbolic of the cooperation of rural New Englanders Different—women have a place in the war, besides sex and nursing homefront
6	Effects on Women Camp followers Women following army, but not prostitutes Married to soldiers Recognized as part of military Women received half rations Subject to military discipline (respect officers!) Women seen in public
7	Effects on Women With husbands away, women worked on farm Challenged gender roles—females taking charge of farm production Women often had to supervise slaves, farm laborers, field plowing Shows women in public
8	Effects on Women Women led mobs during war to protest hyperinflation of prices on goods Seized overpriced sugar, tea, bread from shopkeepers Women help tar-and-feather price gougers Again, women taking active role in public
9	Effects on Women Entered politics through private letters (Abigail Adams) and letters to the editor Women received suffrage from New Jersey state constitution Before, women could not own property, make contracts for herself, doing anything public without consent of husband—coverture After War, seemed to have been more freedom of divorce, more freedom of inheritance of husband’s estate, etc
10	Effects on Women Education—before, women’s literacy lower than male literacy Dame Schools taught women that their ultimate goal should be marriage, nothing more
11	Effects on Women Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1791). In this book, Wollstonecraft argued that, like men, women were naturally rational but their inferior education often taught them to be silly and emotional. Education, she believed, should cultivate the natural reasoning capacity in girls. She also claimed that the best marriages were marriages of equals, in which husband and wife were friends as well as legal partners. Wollstonecraft argued that equality in marriage would only come about with equality of education
12	Effect on Women Benjamin Rush founded Dickinson College All female school War created idea that women need broader training for unexpected events, to be learned in order to serve the Republic Rush and others believed that women should be educated/enlightened in order to produce enlightened republican sons Female education would prevent decay of American society should dispel silly notions of women—read history, philosophy, geography, etc instead of fiction novels AND definitely read religion
13	Effects on Women While Rush believed in subordinate role, women often came away with different view of their status Women gained independence at boarding schools See other opportunities in addition to marriage Make friendships outside the home—shared experiences with diverse women, women outside local community Women see themselves as having common community/collective destiny, female gender has its own specific needs and goals, as distinct from male society
14	Effects on Women Republican mother ideal The mainstream political philosophy of the day assumed that a republic rested upon the virtue of its citizens. Thus, women had the essential role of instilling their children with values conducive to a healthy republic. During this period, the wife's relationship with her husband also became more liberal, as love and affection instead of obedience and subservience began to characterize the ideal marital relationship. In addition, many women contributed to the war effort through fundraising and running family businesses in the absence of husbands.
15	Effects on Slaves War represented significant change for institution of slavery, although perhaps not for the condition of those still enslaved Before War, slavery is a national phenomenon Accepted in North and South, though not as common in the North, with more freedmen in North
16	Effects on Slaves Many slaves had sought refuge from slavery by going to British armies Mostly from Charleston and Savannah Mass numbers of slaves run away Many left (10,000) for West Africa, Nova Scotia
17	Effects on Slaves Many served in Patriot armies Rhode Island; Maryland slaves won freedom if they fought Virginia—many more slaves win freedom from masters (10,000 from 1782-1790) Deep South not really interested in emancipation Point? Due to Revolution, slaves have some freedom to choose destiny
18	Effects on Slaves Many emancipation laws north of Delaware In the South, abolition/religious groups (Quakers, Baptists, Methodists) pressure slave owners—often to no avail—slavery seen as a necessary evil to sustain economy Baptist churches allow split off of black denomination African Methodist Episcopalian founded as well Point? Whites attempting to provide freedom for blacks
19	Effects on Slaves Big point Effect of Revolution on slavery Revolution marked the end of slavery as a national institution It became a regional institution None in North, lots in South Set stage for its eventual demise
20	Effects on Loyalists Often many Loyalists had property confiscated during Revolution by Patriots for war cause or for profiteering Treaty of Paris stipulated that confiscation would stop, Loyalists would be compensated
21	Effects on Economy Economic boom for merchants during War due to increased trade, smuggling Depression afterwards British Blockade causes good shortage High demand, low supply—prices increase Hyperinflation of Continental currency After War, trade deficit with Britain caused depression War debt to European allies Soldiers, etc not paid, farmers experience problems with prices for their goods
22	State Constitutions During Revolution, states act as independent entities and create own governing documents Many based on British Whig Republican principles Radical (democratic) and conservative (republican Whig) influences seen
23	State Constitutions Pennsylvania—radical Suffrage to all male taxpayers Eligible for election if served in militia Open assemblies of unicameral legislature No governor; elected executive Judges could be removed by legislature Maryland—conservative High property requirements for voting, office Powerful governor elected by property owners Judges and executives serve for life
24	State Constitutions New York—middle of the road Bicameral legislature Equal powers One elected by common people and rich Higher senate was elected by rich property owners Governor elected by property owners, but had power of veto (anti-Whig) New Jersey—radical in that women got right to vote
25	Homework Social consequences reading Federalist #10 APPARTS