Conflict and Consensus in the American Revolution

1. Conflict and Consensus in the American Revolution Presented By: Anya Dixon, Ben Jones, Darian Libby, J’ron Brown, Mike Ruhrr, Scott Cercena, and Whitney Oney

2. A division began between those who emphasize the consensus achieved by the revolting colonists and those who emphasize conflict among themselves. This division has been a great position occupied by the Revolution. The first Loyalist believed that they represented an upper ruling class. We agree with Morgan’s belief that the current scholars have been recognized, if not promoted which lies in the power of the Revolution and its Founding Fathers. The New Deal had no great power in the national memory and was a key example that Morgan stated. “The Revolution didn’t accomplish nor aim toward a radical social change,” stated Morgan. It was said that a good example of internal conflict is class conflict among the Americans of the Revolutionary period.

3. Revolutionary efforts against Great Britain equaled suppressed social conflict. • Some merchants felt local Revolution leaders threatened their interests more than Great Britain's. • Revolution probably increased social mobility both up and down ruining fortunes of many families and opening opportunities for speedy ascent during upstarts. • An American who had moved up from lower rank, carried with him the expectation of sharing with those who had already arrived from the offices of government. • Disputes occurred, but the extraordinary social mobility characteristics of the 18th century American society unusually prevented such disputes from hardening along class lines.

4. There are very diverse cultures in all colonies. • Even though people jobs, lifestyles, etc., may vary greatly the difference between free men and slaves was very great. • 500,000 Americans were slaves which equaled 1/5 of total population. • Because slavery is so direct an assault from one group to another, it can be considered class conflict. • During the Revolution slaves were unable to mount against their masters. • Both Americans and British armies made use of slaves some earned small parts of their freedom thought military service. • Men had to rent land or move to the dangerous frontier • By the middle 18th century, all laborers were black slaves that had no reason to fight, no weapons, and were higher than indentured servants.

5. American of the Revolutionary period were less successful in repressing sectional conflicts than conflicts arising from class ranking or race. • East West conflict issues include: -the rate of population growth -abundance of land -unoccupied of only thinly occupied by the Native Americans • The total population of the thirteen colonies doubled every 25 years during the eighteenth century. • Most fearful growth unlike anything recorded in the history for Europe. • People migrated west rapidly. • The Paxton Boys were armed thugs, terrorists, murders, and also westerners.

6. England divides for overseas emigrants in the wake of the Great Migration through the 1700’s. • Parliament had no representatives. • Colonists poke out about their needs and wants, and now they had no right to tax them. • The American Revolution was a revolt of settlers in a new land against government. • After 1776 the Americans had to hold the force that impelled the revolt against their motherland. • Slavery and loyalist helped lower tension between classes and east and west. • Slavery didn’t move westward as rapidly as freedom. • Class conflict wasn’t brought up during the Revolutionary period. • Nationalism was in itself the strongest force binding Americans of the Revolutionary period together.

7. Repression from the slaves could have been effective with declining with discontent or insubordination. Repression would have not been good when dealing with people who could fight back politically or with force. • Most of the Americans had two big powers: most of the Americans owned land on which they lived and a lot of them owned guns. • England didn’t realize theses two powers that the colonists had. • The colonists knew that owning land could make them defy those who is the past controlled society though the control of its land. • Britain also failed to see the firepower the Americans had. • Governor Berkeley had experienced the fact that no one else was as well armed as the Americans. • Robert Zemsky showed the social status had counted for more that seniority in at least one colonial assembly.

8. The feeling of equality in America since the Revolution, can be greatly seen in conservatism. Europe felt it was odd to see conservatism support equality, but America quickly accepted that belief. John Adams had said a special place in government should be saved for the rich in order to isolate them, and keep them from being too powerful. William Graham argued against isolation of power, and said the rich deserve and should keep their wealth because they worked for it, and the poor should keep their poverty. He said aiding the poor would be threaten equality, because it would be giving special attention and help towards them. The US has been reduced to the ludicrous by the national commitment to equality. The commitment was slowly destroying racism. If this is conservatism, it is merely radicals who have made the most of it.

9. Old creed was designed to suppress the aspirations of lower classes, to make them content with their lot. • American Revolution itself was brought on by a British minister who had rejected what he called “the absurd opinion that all men are equal”. • British ministers absurd opinions became basis of the American consensus that grew out of the Revolution. • James Madison tried to secure a guarantee in the Federal Constitution. • Those who have claimed the benefits of equality in America have usually had to press their own claims against stubborn oppositions.