Student Essay on Changes Due to the American Revolution

Changes due to the American Revolution

There were many changes in American life during and after the Revolution; many of which had a large impact on life today. Three of these changes that the American republic went through will be discussed in this essay. The first change is the change from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution. This change caused changes in political and social life. The way in which African Americans were treated was a very big change when the new republic was being created. The final change that will be discussed involves the problems that were created between the Federalists and the Republicans and what caused these changes to occur.

The switch from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution caused many changes in American life. The political changes that occurred are numerous. The mode of ratification was changed from requiring every state legislature's approval to requiring approval by three fourths of state legislatures. Instead of just one house in the legislature the Constitution created two houses of legislature. Under the Articles of Confederation there were one to seven delegates representing each state but in congress there is only one vote per state. Under the Constitution each senator holds one vote and in the upper house there are two senators per state and in the lower house there is one representative for every thirty people. The legislature was elected annually by the current legislature under the Articles of Confederation, but when the Constitution was created senators were chosen by the state legislature for six-year terms and representatives were chosen by the vote of the citizens for two-year terms. The Constitution created the Executive branch because under the Articles of the Confederation there was no official executive branch. Under the Constitution, the president is elected by the Electoral College for a four-year term. The president is given the power to conduct policy; the power of veto; and the power to appoint judges, ambassadors, and officers of departments already established by the legislation. Judiciary issues were generally left up to the particular state to deal with before the Constitution. The court used for disputes between states was Congress. The Constitution created a separate branch called the Judiciary branch, which consisted of the Supreme Court, and smaller courts, which were created by Congress to enforce federal law. The Articles of Confederation allowed the states to be in charge of taxation and the only way that the national government received money was by requesting it from the states. The Constitution gave the Federal government the power of taxation. Congress regulated commerce between other nations with a treaty but held no power over trade between the states. The Constitution changed the regulation of commerce only in that the states had to get congressional consent regarding the regulation of commerce. These many changes caused the American world to change greatly. There was more of a central government and more national pride because Americans had a government to look up to and to trust. This created a stronger nation and has enabled America to survive through trying situations.

Most all Americans were finally openly admitting that slavery was indeed wrong and that if American ideals were going to involve equality then something must be done. The only problem was that most American slaveholders did not want to give up their slaves. African Americans were beginning to petition and complain that it is not fair that one race should be considered less equal than another. A group of Connecticut African Americans wrote a letter asking the state assembly "whether it is consistent with the present Claims, of the United States, to hold so many Thousands, of the Race of Adam, our Common Father, in perpetual Slavery." Americans were having trouble creating reasons that African Americans were mentally inferior to White Americans because of the numerous African Americans who were becoming famous for their intellectual abilities. Benjamin Banneker of Maryland was a famed astronomer and mathematician and Phyllis Wheatley of Boston was referred to as the "African Muse" due to her poetry and the fact that she was the first African American ever to publish a book. Many anti-slavery societies began to form, especially in the North, where there was no economic need for slavery, and many immigrants disliked having to compete for jobs with slaves. Although slavery was on its way out of America, African Americans continued to be treated as inferior. Free blacks were denied many rights that the average White man had, such as the right to vote, hold office, serve on a jury, or serve in the army. Even though slavery was not abolished in the South, Africans in the North were treated better than they had previously been treated.

During and after the XYZ Affair the Federalists and the Republicans relationship with each other was completely destroyed. The Federalists had hoped for a huge war with France because they wanted all of the French influence in America to be destroyed. Though Adams spoke of strengthening America's defense methods, he did not plan on engaging in an all-out-war. Americans were soon enraged with the French when they requested $250,000 simply to open negotiations. The Federalists seemed sure that this was their chance to get their "revenge" upon the Republicans and they did so by printing newspapers that said that "any American who refused to censure France must have a soul black enough to be fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils." These conflicts of ideas and insulting statements regarding the views of Republicans caused Republicans and Federalists whom had previously been friends to cease speaking to each other and avoid one another at all costs.

These changes in the American world have had a great affect on American society today. From the changing of the Articles of the Confederation to the Constitution, to the treatment of African Americans, to the differences and struggles between Federalists and Republicans, these things have shaped what is known today as the United States of America. Without the past that America has, she would not be the nation that she is today.