The Revolutionary War

Paper Summary:

This paper questions how revolutionary the US Revolutionary War really was. The paper points out that such a question is multi-faceted and deserves a multi-faceted answer. The paper then goes on to examine the ways in which the War was revolutionary and those ways in which is was not so revolutionary. The paper concludes that while the US Revolutionary War was revolutionary in terms of government and global politics and for non-elite white males, it was not very revolutionary for women or African Americans, as they were not granted suffrage, enough of an education to be independent, the right to run for public office, or viewed as equal to men socially.

From the Paper:

"The evolution of government created by the Revolutionary War expanded beyond the realms of suffrage to religion for the common man. In Virginia, Methodists and Baptists petitioned for freedom of religion akin to that which the Puritans enjoyed. During the ratification of Virginia's constitution, liberals and secular-minded individuals managed to enact the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which was the first law to separate church and state in the colonies. Eight years later in Philadelphia, Jews sought civil rights as well."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "A Dialogue between Orator Puff and Peter Easy," (1776.) Revolutionary America 1750-1815 Sources and Interpretation, ed. Cynthia Kierner (New Jersey: Prentice Hall) 205.
• Virginia Baptists Oppose Religious Privilege, (1776.) Revolutionary America 1750-1815 Sources and Interpretation, ed. Cynthia Kierner (New Jersey: Prentice Hall) 211.
• The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, (1786.) Revolutionary America 1750-1815 Sources and Interpretation, ed. Cynthia Kierner (New Jersey: Prentice Hall) 216.
• Philadelphia Jews Seek Civil Rights, (1784.) Revolutionary America 1750-1815 Sources and Interpretation, ed. Cynthia Kierner (New Jersey: Prentice Hall) 212.
• Abigail Adams, "Remember the Ladies," (1776.) Revolutionary America 1750-1815 Sources and Interpretation, ed. Cynthia Kierner (New Jersey: Prentice Hall) 218.

More papers on The Revolutionary War:

• Research Paper # 1105 : "The Revolutionary War and the African-American Soldier"
• Term Paper # 146576 : "Military Tactics in the Revolutionary War"
• Essay # 27529 : "Why the British Lost the Revolutionary War"

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