The Historiography The Historiography of the of the

American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Patrician – George BancroftPatrician – George BancroftThe History of the United StatesThe History of the United StatesRev was Liberty vs. TyrannyRev was Liberty vs. TyrannyRev was radical – It redefined what Rev was radical – It redefined what mankind was mankind was struggling forstruggling forPatriotismPatriotismAmerican ExceptionalismAmerican ExceptionalismPart of God’s plan for human libertyPart of God’s plan for human liberty

No Shave No Shave November winner!November winner!

Progressive – Carl BeckerProgressive – Carl Becker

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence““The question of home rule vs. who The question of home rule vs. who

would rule at home.”would rule at home.”War against British and a Civil WarWar against British and a Civil WarEcon and Soc factors caused RevEcon and Soc factors caused Rev

Progressive – Franklin JamesonProgressive – Franklin JamesonThe American Rev Considered as a Social MovementThe American Rev Considered as a Social Movement

Rev let loose econ and social hopes of Rev let loose econ and social hopes of underclassesunderclasses

End of primogeniture, land redist, End of primogeniture, land redist, anti-slavery/slave anti-slavery/slave trade laws, disestab of churches, trade laws, disestab of churches, voting qual voting qual loweredlowered

Progressive – Arthur SchlesingerProgressive – Arthur Schlesinger

The Colonial Merchants and the Am RevThe Colonial Merchants and the Am RevMerchants desire to break free of Merchants desire to break free of

mercantilism sparked Revmercantilism sparked Rev

NeoconservativeNeoconservativeRobert BrownRobert Brown - The Middle-Class Democ and the - The Middle-Class Democ and the

Rev in MassRev in MassEdmund MorganEdmund Morgan – The Birth of the Repub – The Birth of the Repub

Am soc was democratic and mid-classAm soc was democratic and mid-classNo class diffs, so no class struggleNo class diffs, so no class struggleConsensus on questions of liberty and self-gov’tConsensus on questions of liberty and self-gov’t

Neoconservative – Daniel BoorstinNeoconservative – Daniel Boorstin

The Genius of American PoliticsThe Genius of American PoliticsRev was conservative Rev was conservative Preserve pre-1763 Br traditionsPreserve pre-1763 Br traditionsPreserve the existing democracy – not Preserve the existing democracy – not remake the worldremake the world

Ideological – Bernard BailynIdeological – Bernard BailynThe Ideological Origins of the Am RevThe Ideological Origins of the Am Rev

Rev was a Rev in the mind of AmsRev was a Rev in the mind of AmsEng was conspiring against Am libEng was conspiring against Am libDefense of lib was nec for mankindDefense of lib was nec for mankind

Submission = SlaverySubmission = SlaveryAm was not inferior to EurAm was not inferior to Eur

Differences became positiveDifferences became positive

New Left – Gary NashNew Left – Gary Nash

The Urban CrucibleThe Urban CrucibleEcon distress in cities was realEcon distress in cities was realRiots illustrated resentment against Riots illustrated resentment against

Am Am AND Br eliteAND Br eliteBottom up interpretationBottom up interpretation

Comparitive – Robert PalmerComparitive – Robert Palmer

The Age of Democratic RevolutionThe Age of Democratic RevolutionWhere does Am Rev fit in World Where does Am Rev fit in World

Hist?Hist?Compare Am Rev with others to Compare Am Rev with others to

decide decide how rad/conservative it how rad/conservative it waswas

Gordon WoodGordon Wood

The Radicalism of the Am RevThe Radicalism of the Am RevBrown University ProfBrown University ProfOld Old What’s his view?What’s his view?

The American Revolution is, perhaps, the single most The American Revolution is, perhaps, the single most significant event in this country’s history….But scholars disagree significant event in this country’s history….But scholars disagree about using the term “revolutionary” to describe how new or different about using the term “revolutionary” to describe how new or different these developments were. Some historians argue that the these developments were. Some historians argue that the Revolution was solely a colonial rebellion aimed at achieving only Revolution was solely a colonial rebellion aimed at achieving only the limited goal of independence from Britain. Colonial society, they the limited goal of independence from Britain. Colonial society, they say, was a democratic society, and there was a consensus among say, was a democratic society, and there was a consensus among Americans about keeping things as they were once the break with Americans about keeping things as they were once the break with Britain had been accomplished. Others claim that the Revolution Britain had been accomplished. Others claim that the Revolution was accompanied by a violent social upheaval – a class conflict – was accompanied by a violent social upheaval – a class conflict – as the radical lower classes sought to gain a greater degree of as the radical lower classes sought to gain a greater degree of democracy in what had been a basically undemocratic society in the democracy in what had been a basically undemocratic society in the colonial era. The question is, then ,was the Revolution colonial era. The question is, then ,was the Revolution revolutionary, or was it not?revolutionary, or was it not?

Grob and BiliasGrob and BiliasInterpretations of American HistoryInterpretations of American History