Omar Bennett
The American Revolutionary War (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British rule to form the United States of America. The war had a significant impact on the creation and adoption of the U.S. Constitution, as it established the United States as the first modern constitutional republic and marked the transition from monarchy to an age of freedom. The war also influenced the content of the Constitution, with its aftermath highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, and leading to calls for a stronger central government. The Constitution was drafted shortly after independence and remains the world's oldest written constitution, emulated by other countries, in some cases, verbatim.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The transition from monarchy to freedom | The Revolutionary War marked the transition from an age of monarchy to a new age of freedom. |
| A new kind of government | The Constitution created a powerful central government, with a federal republic divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary. |
| Influence on slavery | In the first two decades after the Revolutionary War, actions were taken to free slaves, and by 1804, all the northern states had passed laws outlawing slavery. |
| Influence on other countries | The U.S. Constitution, as the world's oldest written constitution, has been emulated by other countries, sometimes verbatim. |
| A "living document" | The Constitution was written in the present tense to make it a "living document". |
| A response to concerns about the Articles of Confederation | The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and couldn't regulate commerce or print money. The Constitution addressed these concerns. |
| A framework for a fledgling nation | During the Revolutionary War, the 2nd Continental Congress provided a framework of government for the fledgling nation-colonies, adopting the Articles of Confederation. |
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What You'll Learn
The war's impact on slavery
The Revolutionary War, which lasted from 1765 to 1783, culminated in the American Revolution and resulted in the establishment of the United States as the first modern constitutional republic. It marked a significant shift from monarchy to an era of freedom, inspiring similar movements worldwide.
Now, let's delve into the impact of this war on slavery:
The Impact of the Revolutionary War on Slavery
The Revolutionary War had a complex and contradictory impact on slavery, exposing the tension between the new egalitarian ideals and the continued practice of slavery. The war's rhetoric of equality and natural rights inspired a "revolutionary generation" of slaves and free Black Americans, who demanded access to the rights proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. This generation would go on to galvanize the anti-slavery movement well into the nineteenth century, establishing their own social institutions and advocating for the abolition of slavery.
During the war, people of African descent constituted approximately one-fifth of the population in the newly formed United States, and the majority of them were enslaved, including by some Revolutionaries. The contradiction between the ideals of liberty and the reality of slavery was not lost on those who experienced it. This dissonance fueled the anti-slavery sentiment and efforts during and after the war.
In the first two decades following the war, several northern states passed new constitutions that included language about equal rights or specifically abolished slavery. States like New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey adopted policies of gradual emancipation, and by 1804, all northern states had passed laws outlawing slavery, either immediately or over time. However, no southern state abolished slavery, and the new federal government protected slavery while expanding democratic rights for white men.
The war also saw the rise of a growing class of free Black individuals, who established their own communities and social institutions. They advocated for the manumission of their enslaved brethren and lobbied against the slave trade and the institution of slavery itself, using the language of natural rights and democratic principles.
While the Revolutionary War and the subsequent era witnessed significant strides towards abolition, it is important to acknowledge that the overall impact on slavery was mixed. The issue of slavery was not adequately addressed in the formation of the new federal constitution, with compromises made to maintain unity. The ban on the slave trade lacked enforcement, and the practice of slavery persisted, tearing the nation apart in the mid-19th century.
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The transition from monarchy to democracy
The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American Revolutionary War, which was launched on April 19, 1775, in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The first shot of the American Revolution at the Battle of Lexington and Concord is referred to as the "shot heard 'round the world". The Revolutionary War victory not only established the United States as the first modern constitutional republic but also marked the transition from an age of monarchy to a new age of freedom.
During the war, the 2nd Continental Congress became a quasi-government. They adopted the Articles of Confederation, which created a loose confederation between the new "states" and a weak central government with limited authority. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money.
After the war, the states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart. Leaders like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared their country was on the brink of collapse. This prompted Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation.
On May 25, 1787, delegates from twelve states assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises and created a powerful central government. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with one delegate signing on behalf of an absent delegate, bringing the total signatures to 39.
The U.S. Constitution, drafted shortly after independence, remains the world's oldest written constitution. It was a fulfillment of the American Revolution, not a conservative counterrevolution. James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution", reviewed the new nation's problems, the literature and history of republican institutions, and state constitutions. He then devised a new kind of republican government, responsive to popular will but with checks to preserve stability and protect property and minority rights. The Constitution established a federal republic with three separate branches of government: executive, legislative, and judiciary, with power divided between the state and federal governments.
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The founding of a federal republic
The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British rule and formed the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American Revolutionary War, which began on April 19, 1775, in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The war was fought between the Continental Army, led by George Washington, and the British, who were aided by Loyalist colonists. The victory of the Patriots at Concord marked the beginning of the end for British rule in America.
During the war, the Second Continental Congress became a quasi-government and adopted the Articles of Confederation, which created a loose confederation between the new "states" and established a weak central government with limited authority. However, the Articles of Confederation were ineffective, and the young country faced disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear it apart.
In May 1787, delegates from twelve states assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation and create a new framework of government. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, crafted compromises and established a powerful central government with three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary. The Constitution divided power between the state and federal governments, with checks and balances to preserve stability and protect the rights of minorities.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The Constitution established the United States as a federal republic, marking a transition from monarchy to a new age of freedom. It was deliberately written in the present tense to make it a "living document" and has become one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
The American Revolution and the subsequent War for Independence were influenced by Enlightenment ideals of humanity, science, government, human rights, and reason, as articulated by philosophers such as John Locke. The Revolution also sparked abolitionist movements, and in the two decades following, several northern states passed laws abolishing slavery. The United States Constitution, as the fulfillment of the Revolution, established a new kind of republican government, responsive to popular will while also protecting individual rights and freedoms.
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The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were drafted by John Dickinson, a delegate from Delaware, and named the confederation "the United States of America". The final draft was completed on November 15, 1777, and submitted to the states for ratification in late November 1777. Virginia was the first state to ratify, on December 16, 1777. By February 1779, 12 states had ratified the Articles, with Maryland as the lone holdout. Maryland finally ratified the Articles on February 2, 1781, and Congress was informed of its assent on March 1, officially proclaiming the Articles of Confederation to be the law of the land.
Just a few years after the Revolutionary War, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that the young country was on the brink of collapse. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states retained considerable power, and the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, tax, or set commercial policy. It also couldn't effectively support a war effort. Congress was attempting to function with a depleted treasury, and paper money was flooding the country, creating extraordinary inflation. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates came up with a completely new form of government, creating a powerful central government.
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The influence of Enlightenment thinking
The American Revolution, which lasted from 1765 to 1783, culminated in the American Revolutionary War, which began on April 19, 1775. The victory of the Thirteen Colonies in this war marked their independence from British rule and the formation of the United States of America.
The Founding Fathers' deep engagement with Enlightenment ideas shaped the ideological and structural framework of American governance. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights embody the Enlightenment quest for reason, justice, and the intrinsic rights of individuals. The influence of Enlightenment thinkers on these Founding Fathers is unmistakable in the crafting of foundational American documents like the Federalist Papers, which sought to rationalize and advocate for the new Constitution through rational debate, empirical evidence, and reasoned argumentation.
The Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin, drew heavily from Enlightenment thinkers to mould the ideological foundations of the United States. Their writings, actions, and seminal documents reveal how deeply embedded Enlightenment principles are in the formation of American governance. Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, was influenced by John Locke's theory of natural rights. Locke's belief that individuals are born with inherent rights to life, liberty, and property is reflected in Jefferson's assertion that all men are endowed with "unalienable Rights," including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
James Madison, often hailed as the "Father of the Constitution," was significantly influenced by Enlightenment thinkers. He was influenced by Montesquieu's concept of the separation of powers, which suggested dividing government authority among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial, to prevent tyranny by ensuring that no single branch could dominate the others. Madison was also influenced by Hume's philosophical concepts, which contributed to the basis of classical liberalism.
Benjamin Franklin, deeply engaged with Enlightenment ideas of reason and empiricism, contributed to the drafting of the Constitution and the Constitutional Convention. He advocated for a federal system, a rational and balanced approach to governance, and a focus on compromise and practical solutions.
The United States Constitution itself is a testament to Enlightenment thought, incorporating Locke's principles of the social contract and natural rights, Montesquieu's separation of powers, and Rousseau's ideas about the importance of the collective will and civic freedom. These Enlightenment thinkers collectively challenged traditional monarchical and aristocratic systems, influencing the creation of a bicameral legislature in the U.S. Constitution and the transition to a new age of freedom.
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Frequently asked questions
The Revolutionary War led to the creation of the US Constitution, which was drafted shortly after independence was won. The war marked the transition from an age of monarchy to an age of freedom, and the US Constitution became the world's first modern constitutional republic.
The US Constitution was created to establish a new kind of republican government, which was responsive to popular will but with checks to preserve stability and protect property and minority rights. This was a break from the British monarchy, with the US Constitution denying the authority of the British Crown.
In the first two decades after the Revolutionary War, state legislatures and individuals took actions to free slaves, influenced by revolutionary ideals. By 1804, all the northern states had passed laws outlawing slavery, either immediately or over time. However, slavery remained a serious social and political issue, causing divisions that would ultimately lead to the Civil War.
The Revolutionary War was financed by the Continental Congress issuing paper currency, known as "Continentals". These notes were not backed by gold or silver but by the anticipated tax revenues. As a result, they quickly lost value and were easily counterfeited. This contributed to the calls for a new federal constitution to strengthen the national government and address economic issues.
