DBQ:
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.

The American Revolution was a critical turning point in American history. Following the French and Indian War, Britain ignored its previous policy of salutary neglect and began intervening in the colonies affairs through taxes, occupation of soldiers, violation of civil liberties, all the while ignoring colonial pleas for representation in Parliament. These events led to the “shot heard ‘round the world” at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. America was now at war with Britain. Nevertheless, the impact of …show more content…

Moreover, in the new territories and future states created by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, slavery was banned (Document H). However, even though more blacks were becoming free they were still treated as second class citizens and slavery was still prominent in the South. As for women, the Revolution did not fundamentally change their position. During the war, women took on new roles and responsibilities when their husbands went off to war. Many of these responsibilities were considered as “man’s work,” such as farming, taking your goods to market, etc. Women also served as nurses and some even fought in the war as shown in the “Woodcut of a Patriot Woman” (Document A) that shows a woman wearing a tricorn hat with a rifle in her hand and a fort behind her. During the Revolution, women really stepped up and filled necessary roles and were a vital part of America’s victory. Despite Abigail Adam’s effort to urge her husband to “remember the ladies” when drafting the new government, the Framers did not. Women gained very few rights after the Revolution as indicated by Molly Wallace’s valedictory address (Document J). She says that people think that woman should not be able to speak in public and instead their place is in the home. This just goes to show the intense social differences of the gender in the U.S at the time. When we mention the Native Americans in the aftermath of