The Social Revolution

A Fundamental Disagreement

During the revolution there was widespread agreement over the general frame of government. New institutions grew naturally out of the colonial experience and the prevalent theories. There was more disagreement over the social revolution that accompanied the political revolution.

Workers, servants, farmers, and freed slaves had demonstrated against the British, idolized Thomas Pain, and fought with Washington. Many of these people hoped that the Revolution would remove the traditional political and social advantages of the elite. Other more conservative Patriots would have been content to simply replace royal officials with the rich, the well-born, and the able.

The Spirit of Equality

Old habits of deference to the upper class weakened as common men who carried guns and fought in battle began to think of themselves as equal to “gentlemen” by virtue of their sacrifices in war and demonstrations of courageous “manhood.”

Participation in the army or militia excited and politicized many men who had formerly had very little interest in politics.

The new state governments allowed more ordinary citizens to participate than had the colonial governments.

Men who fought for liberty found it difficult to deny other white men the rights of suffrage and representation. Property qualifications for voting were lowered so that a majority of white males could vote. In Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, and Vermont, any male taxpayer could vote. (Office holders had to meet higher property requirements.)

There was a new interest in providing proportionate representation for people living in the backcounty who expanded their presence in the state legislatures. Many of their representatives were men with little property or formal education.

More Land for More Men

Tory estates, and more importantly vast western lands formerly held by the crown and proprietors landed in the hands of the state legislatures and Congress. Much of this land was used as bonuses for war veterans and was left open for settlers. Thus there was a democratic tendency in land ownership.

The Paradox of Slavery

The revolutionary generation of leaders was the first to confront the issue of slavery and consider abolishing it. Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence had indicted the king for allowing slavery (ignoring the American role).

Black soldiers and sailors fought at most major battles. Most were on the Loyalist side. The British army carried off tens of thousands of slaves, many who found their way to Canada or the British colonies in the Caribbean. Washington responded to the British policy of offering slaves their freedom in exchange for their allegiance by allowing blacks into the American forces. Many of these former slaves won their freedom by fighting for independence, and some won land as well.

Northern states emancipated their slaves during or just after the war, although sometimes with conditions. South of Pennsylvania emancipation was less popular.

Slaveholders like Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick Henry expressed their moral qualms.

“Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

Southern states relaxed manumission laws. About 10,000 slaves in Virginia were manumitted.

Thousands of slaves took matters into their own hands. About 55,000 fled to freedom during the Revolution.

Women Make Some Gains

Colonial women had been confined to the domestic sphere. Although conditions varied somewhat in the different colonies, generally women could not preach or hold office, own real or personal property (even their own clothes), or obtain a divorce without serious difficulty. They had no legal right to their own children.

Consequently many women were pessimistic about the expected impact of the revolution on their status. Nonetheless, the war opened up many new opportunities for women, although they were often temporary in nature.

During the war women plowed fields, melted pots and pans to make shot, worked as camp followers, handled supplies, and served as couriers.

Wives often followed their husbands into war. On rare occasions they actually fought (Deborah Sampson a.k.a. Robert Shurtleff of Mass.)

The legal status of women did not change dramatically as a result of the revolution.

Most Patriot men agreed with Jefferson who, in response to a question about women’s voting rights said, “the tender breasts of ladies were not formed for political convulsion.”

Freedom of Religion

The Revolution set in motion a transition from toleration of religious dissent to complete freedom of religion in the separation of church and state.

The Anglican church was vulnerable due to its association with the crown and because other sects outnumbered Anglicans in most states except Virginia.  Established in five colonies before the war, all of theses colonies but Virginia removed tax support for the church before the war was over.

Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, passed in 1786. It stated “no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever.” It also stated that no one should in any way suffer for his religious beliefs and opinions and that “all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion.”

New England with its Puritan heritage was slower to disestablish the Congregational church (Mass. did so in 1833). Religious requirements for office holding lingered a bit longer as well.

The churches themselves were affected as they began making their own constitutions and forming national church organizations.