Post-Revolution America: Attitudes on Race, Gender, and Equality

This essay explores the attitudes towards African Americans, women, and Native Americans in the wake of the American Revolution. It highlights the contradiction between the ideals of liberty and the realities of slavery and social inequality. The essay discusses the limited rights and opportunities afforded to women, the reinforcement of racism, and the exclusion of African Americans and Indians from full participation in the newly formed nation. It also touches on the roles played by black people in the war for independence and the subsequent neglect of their contributions. The essay further examines the political compromises, such as the three-fifth compromise, which perpetuated social and economic inequality based on race, and concludes by suggesting alternative policies that could have fostered greater equality.

Running Head: AMERICAN HISTORY 1
Student name
Institution

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There are several attitudes towards the African Americans, women and Indians in the
wake of revolution in America. By 1775 more than 500,000 African Americans were enslaved,
living in the 13 colonies. During this time married women had no legal or economic status
independent of her husband. The women became annoyed and some hoped to overturn the so
called coverture. In 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband addressing him on how
ladies are more favorable and generous to them than their ancestors. Judith Murray advocated for
women’s economic equal educational opportunities and economic independence for both gender.
During this time boys were given access to education while girls had very limited educational
opportunities. By this time there was a lot of slavery in America.
Revolution reinforced racism among white Americans. The Americans viewed the nation
as a land for the whites as black Americans were slaves and Indians had no place. Many slaves
ran away from their American masters for freedom that was offered by the British who had
colonized the Americans. Indians also fled thus increasing the racial hatred.
During the war for independence, most black people played key roles for American’s. 50 years
later, after the defeat of British at Yorktown, majority of the American’s had forgotten the
sacrifices and roles the black people played. This is clearly shown during the 1876 Centennial
celebration of the revolution whereby no any speaker who acknowledged the efforts made by
African American during the establishment of the nation. During the war for independence,
thousands of black Americans had been involved in the war.
After the war for independence Americans decided to form a government which was to be a
bicameral such that it had two houses, the upper house and the lower house. A constitution was

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formed and a three-fifth compromise article was set up where each slave was to be counted as
three-fifth of the white man population. This show how there was limitation of democracy
among the citizens.
The existence of socially consensual nominal racial groups; black Americans, Indians and white
Americans explains the political and socioeconomic inequality. The establishment of social and
political orders made many citizens particularly the black Americans and Indians poor. This is
because of the racial division and mistrust. The nature of the racism describes the social polices
among them being housing. Before the revolution some colonies among the thirteen colonies had
official tax-supported churches but afterwards they started questioning about the validity of the
state-authorized churches.
If the roles were to change then there would not be cases of slavery in America and since
everyone has the right to live. Both men and women should have equal ownership of property.
Children regardless of the gender should be given equal opportunities to grow and be educated.
Housing should also not be limited to race or certain class of people. Slaves should be counted
equally as compared to whites.

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1. Hall, K. L., & Karsten, P. (1989). The magic mirror: Law in American history (p. 212).
New York: Oxford University Press.
2. Ramsay, D. (1815). The history of the American revolution (Vol. 2). Downing and
Phillips.