Impacts of the American Revolution

Treaty of Paris 1783 United States borders defined Loyalists to have their property returned British to remove all troops from American soil Americans to pay all debts owed to British merchants from before the revolution Americans gain fishing rights off coast of Canada

Map of United States as of 1783

The problems facing the Loyalists Many Loyalist were harassed and threatened during the war, many had their property seized by state governments. Many Loyalist fled to Canada or England after the war . Most states never returned Loyalist property,even though it was stipulated in the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

Loyalists were harassed and threatened before, during and after the war

Revolutionary Ideas Spread Many of the revolutionary leaders were concerned that the ideas of freedom and equality would go too far and women, blacks and other minorities would demand equality. While they wanted political freedom from Britain, they did not think political equality for everyone was a good idea. To them, equality was meant for white male property owners.

Three Areas of Revolutionary Impact Social - Women’s Rights, Slavery Political - Voting Rights, Primogeniture Economic - Land rights, Expansion, End of Mercantilism

Impact of American Revolution on Women “Remember the Ladies” Abigail Adams’ letter to John Adams demanding rights for women. Molly Pitcher - Mary Hays fights for the Patriots after her husband is killed in battle Massachusetts allowed women to own property New Jersey gave women the right to vote until 1807 For the most part, women did not gain many rights until after the Seneca Falls Convention which started the Women’s Rights movement in 1848

Molly Pitcher - Mary Hays at the Battle of Monmouth

Impact of Revolution on Slavery Many slaves joined the British and left for England after the war. The Philadelphia Anti-slavery Society was formed in 1775 by Quakers Some slaves fought for the Patriot side. Some southern slaveowners emancipated their slaves after the war Massachusetts outlawed slavery in 1783, other northern states also did away with slavery after the Revolutionary War

Slave and Free states in 1820

Political Rights Originally only white, male property owners could vote Vermont allowed freed blacks to vote Some states required membership in a Church to vote such as Virginia which only allowed Anglican Church members to vote Eventually property and religious qualifications were removed.

Voting in early America. Who could vote? What were the qualifications for voting?

New Economic Opportunities Proclamation Line gone so Ohio Valley land came open to new settlers. Primogeniture laws were removed which allowed land to be inherited by 2nd or 3rd sons. American merchants were now free to trade with any country - British mercantile system was no longer in place

Daniel Boone leading American settlers across the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky. After the American Revolution, many American settled in the Ohio Valley.

Conclusion: The American Revolution freed America from Britain’s control. The enlightened ideas of freedom, equality and the right to property that the revolution was based on caused many Americans to expect these rights to be applied to everyone. Although it did not happen immediately, the ideas were planted and in time would become part of the American experience.