RE - The Revolutionary Era Module Overview

The Revolutionary Era

Introduction

In an earlier module, we set the table for the foundation of the American Republic: galvanized by the Enlightenment, strengthened by their convictions, and encouraged by the spirit of independence, many colonial leaders finally decided to break from England by early 1776. In many ways, the table was set for revolution by a war that had been fought between the English and the French over a decade earlier. Though the odds were long--and not in the colonists' favor--the reward on the horizon looked pretty good to colonial leaders and the American experiment in democratic government was soon born.

The decision to seek total separation from Britain was not one that was reached overnight, and freedom came at a price for our forefathers. The English crown, naturally, wasn't intent on going down without a fight. The war that started with a minor skirmish at Lexington and Concord in 1775 didn't finally end until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783--almost a full two years after the last major battle of the war was fought at Yorktown in 1781.

In its first attempt to organize the United States under some form of government, the Second Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation, a set of rules designed to loosely hold the states together without forcing them to submit to a strong central government. Unfortunately for the weary delegates, the Articles contained many weaknesses; it became readily apparent to many leaders that a stronger central government would have to be created if the United States were to survive. Finally, a Constitutional Convention was called in Philadelphia in May 1787, with the charge of improving the relationship between the states. The single document that was produced at this meeting--the United States Constitution--has provided living proof of the strength of the United States and its system of government ever since. Crafted through genius and compromise, the Constitution literally defines who we are as a nation.

But the passage of the Constitution did not absolve the US of all its troubles. A number of very important issues--the foremost among them was slavery--were not resolved in the Constitutional debates and, as such, many problems were left to fester. In spite of all that, a new government had been formed and the old war hero, George Washington, was chosen to lead it. His expert statesmanship set critical precedents for the presidents who followed and Washington's contribution to the foundation of the United States cannot be overstated. Although he warned against the wisdom of forming political parties, Washington found himself in the midst of intense personal debates between the men who would succeed him. Just as the American government was taking shape, so too were American politics. 

Essential Questions

• How did the relationship between Britain and its 13 colonies deteriorate to the point of open warfare?
• What were some of the major changes brought about by the American Revolution?
• In what ways did the Constitution resolve conflicts between state and federal government, but leave other conflicts unresolved in the short term?
• Why did the two-party system develop?

 

Textbook Assignment

 Read the chapter in your textbook that relates to this module. Your instructor will provide you with a specific reading schedule. 

 

Key Terms

Click here to look over your key terms for this module. Links to an external site. Then review them with the activity below.

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