Prompt: To what extent did the American Revolution fundamentally change American
society? In your answer, be sure to address the political, social, and economic effects of the
Revolution in the period from 1775 to 1800.
Pre-Write Example: What will you write about in each category?
Political Changes
Social Changes
Economic Changes
Not much for women
Women: republican motherhood
From AOC to Constitution
Westward migration/land issues
More freedom of religion, more
toleration
Hamilton’s Economic Plan
Indian tribes lose power
From “virtual representation” to the
Bill of Rights
Slavery still exists, but northern
states taking steps toward abolition
Indentured servitude disappears
Document A:
 Possible Analysis: Women participated in the American Revolution, roles expanded
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: Daughters of Liberty, Republican
Motherhood, camp followers, home manufacturing/non-importation
Document B:
 Possible Analysis: Not all Americans supported the American Revolution, Tories were
targets of attacks, social, political, and economic change was anticipated
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: Loyalists, Treaty of Paris, tarring and
feathering, confiscation of Loyalist property, Loyalist exodus
Document C:
 Possible Analysis: Indian tribes concerned about how they will be treated by the U.S.
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: Treaty of Paris, Treaty of Greenville,
assimilation, tribes of the Northwest Territory
Document D:
 Possible Analysis: There was movement toward freedom of religion and separation of
church and state, religious diversity existed in the United States, evidence of social
change with the disestablishment of religion
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: various rising denominations, separation of
church and state, disestablishment of the Anglican Church, Bill of Rights
Document E:
 Possible Analysis: Native Americans were not included in the making of the Treaty of
Paris, Native Americans apprehensive about relations with the United States
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: Treaty of Paris, Treaty of Greenville,
assimilation, tribes in Northwest Territory
Document F:
 Possible Analysis: United States was predominantly an agricultural society of small
farmers, there was controversy over the economic future of the United States
(agricultural vs. manufacturing), supports the Jeffersonian notion of agrarian
republicanism based on independent farmers
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: Jefferson vs. Hamilton (agriculture vs.
commerce)
Document G:
 Possible Analysis: There was serious unrest in areas of the U.S., common people can be
easily won over to radical causes, Shays’ Rebellion was in progress, government might
not be strong enough to suppress rebellion and guarantee stability
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: “remember the ladies”, decline in value of
currency, Shays Rebellion, Whiskey Rebellion, Hamilton’s economic plan, weaknesses of
AOC
Document H:
 Possible Analysis: white settlers moving West, opposition to slavery growing in the
North, a system of government was devised for the new territories
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: Northwest Ordinance, system of survey,
three-fifths compromise, potential conflict between Indians and settlers
Document I:
 Possible Analysis: fear of government having too little power, checks on both
government and the people are needed, Madison supported ratification
 Examples of Possible Outside Information: Constitution, separation of powers, checks
and balances, Bill of Rights, Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, First Party System
Document J:
 Possible Analysis: increased discussion of educational opportunities for women, women
begin to challenge the notion of separate spheres, (juxtapose with Doc A to
demonstrate failure of anticipated changes to materialize)
 Possible Outside Information: Benjamin Rush, Republican Motherhood, Judith Sargent
Murray
Pre-Write (continued): Where will each document be used?
Political Changes
Social Changes
Economic Changes
Doc B: Tories
Doc C: Native Americans
Doc E: Native Americans
Doc G: Rebellion vs. Stability
Doc H: Western Expansion/Slavery
Doc I: Checks and Balances
Doc A: Women
Doc D: Religion
Doc J: Women and Education
Doc F: Jefferson vs. Hamilton
(maybe Doc G: currency)
(In the essay you can juxtapose documents – to use side by side – if you want to).
Contextualization Example: Tensions between Britain and the American colonies had been
rising since the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. Years of bickering over taxation
policies and the meaning of liberty resulted in America’s Declaration of Independence and
the American Revolution.
Synthesis Example: The American Revolution set a precedent for a unique American system
of politics and culture that would eventually influence the French Revolution and other
campaigns for independence around the world.
Modeling How To Use Documents AND have Outside Information Analysis
(starting with the 1st paragraph after the thesis statement paragraph):
The American Revolution prompted new debates in women’s roles and rights. Women
were seen as having important roles throughout the revolution (Doc A). Because she is labeled
as a patriot, she is a symbol of women taking a role in fighting for liberty. The purpose of this
document is to display women’s changing roles in society. Before the Revolutionary War,
women were viewed as not being able to do much, as only playing a subordinate role in family
and societal matters. After the Revolution, although there was not much change regarding
women’s political rights, there were more discussions about expanding educational
opportunities and women’s roles in society in general (Doc J). The point of view is an example
of the ideology of “republican motherhood” that emerged as a result of independence, of the
idea that women played an indispensable role by training future citizens. Indeed, women
began to argue for new political rights, but there was not as much emphasis on this issue when
compared to women’s educational opportunities.