The Divided Revolution

“The need for a unified story of the nation’s birth…has obscured the fact that Americans were deeply divided” during the Revolution.

The Myth of the Minutemen The militias (the citizen-soldier) Concord Mid-Atlantic Maryland Who gets to decide?

Radical Pennsylvania Voters: Taxpayers rather than landholders, “associators,” independence supporters State Constitution: farmers, artisans, doctors, teachers, immigrants, militiamen Merchants vs. workers Continental dollar and inflation “Down with your prices or down with yourselves.” Taking it to the streets

Slavery One-fifth of Continental army was African American Abolition in northern states The Southern Campaign Slavery and a southern civil war Greatest slave rebellion in American history Continued agitation after the war

Native Americans Iroquois divided Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw Summer 1779, subduing the Iroquois was Washington’s primary mission. Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw Spanish entry into the war Not invited to the peace talks

Women’s Protests 1763-1775 Centered on economically-based actions like boycotts Politicizing women’s responsibilities Homespun Sewing and spinning circles

Women during the Revolution Women and mob violence Laws addressing boycotts and black markets specifically reference women Camp followers Sewed, cooked, cleaned, nursed, foraged for supplies Female spies Played up their “womanly weaknesses” Elizabeth Burgin Boarding houses and hospitals Elizabeth Drinker Development of a female patriotism Centered on sacrifice and the politicization of women’s traditional roles

After the War Women were not compensated for their wartime activities/sacrifices Governments had no money Not seen as the government’s responsibility No push from women for rights: why? Wartime freedom often not an empowering experience Femme covert actually worsens

Republican Motherhood Educational opportunities increase Women are the mothers of future citizens Women form associations Charity and prayer based: widows and orphans Associations gradually become more political