American Revolution Dbq

The American Revolution was a major turning point in American society due to the political, social and economic reforms instigated after they gained their independence. After breaking away from their mother country, Britain, the Americans formed their ideal society in which the people held more power than the government. During this time women and slaves experienced more freedom within society. Women were allowed to serve in war and many slaves were set free. Because the United States was a new nation who just gained independence, they were still struggling to pay back the war debt thus there were less economic reforms than social and political. When America gained independence from Britain, they wanted to establish a government unlike Britain’s.

The role of a woman was changed immensely. This was the beginning of gender equality. In Document A, a woodcut of a patriot women is displayed. The woman is wearing a male hat that is worn while fighting in war and holding a gun. In the background there is also a flag which shows women were allowed to partake in wars to fight for their nation. This woodcut represents equality and how women could play a more significant role in society than previously. Molly Wallace also supports the idea of gender equality in her valedictory address (Document J). While she addressed the young ladies’ academy of Philadelphia she says “ no one will deny, that we should be taught to read in the best manner. And if to read, why not speak ?” Wallace uses rhetorical questions to challenge the idea of not allowing women to speak. She defends female oratory and encourages educational reforms in order to prove men and women should be equal. There were drastic changes for slaves as well. Slaves began to be freed and some states in the north even banned slavery. The northwest ordinance was passed in 1787 which forbid neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the northwest. If a slave escaped its original state, they were sent back. The government encouraged anti slavery in the north. The loyalist also experienced a significant change in society. After the American revolution, loyalist were disliked by the Americans. In the Pennsylvania packet of 1779 (Document B) it states “never let them return to this happy land - never let them taste the sweets of that independence which they strove to prevent. Banishment, perpetual banishment should be their lot”, which shows the American’s hatred toward the Tories who remained loyal to the king before and after the revolution. The Tories were forced to leave America because they fought so hardly against the idea of freedom and independence and America started