Links to the Past: Course Sites for Dr. Christopher Lovett

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America Society and the American Revolution

Age of Revolutions

Spring 2003

Who are We?

� Alexis de Tocqueville argued that Americans have �no traditions or common habits, to forge links between their minds.�

� The reason was constant social mobility.

� Americans were intoxicated with innovations and inventions and forgot their past.

� Part of this was about the Revolution.

� Since the Revolution liberated Americans from their PAST.

Pluralism Came into Play

� Since America was a land of immigrants.

� Immigrants didn�t experience the same world view of the founders.

� Immigrants saw America as a land of opportunity, not a land bound by tradition.

Change and Tradition

� Immigrants embraced change.

� But despite the quest for progress and opportunity, the new Americans were willing to accept tradition.

� Sometimes becoming even more American than Americans.

� This was made possible by those who linked myth to reality.

� Who did that?

� Who connected the dots?

� Parson Weems and Noah Webster.

Memory and Tradition

� In order to reinforce tradition America enforced ritual.

� Pictures of Washington and Lincoln once adored our schools.

� Made monuments to the great and near great.

� But to understand if you don�t know American history then you are in trouble.

� But what we call �tradition,� George Bancroft called, �Trash.�

Seeking Shelter in the Past

� During periods of great national doubt Americans seek a haven in the past.

� This was the case in the 1890s, 1930s, and 1970s.

� Michael Kamen believes �it can be said that a country�s quest for its heritage intensifies in direct proportion to its apprehension about the present.�

� In periods of tranquility, Americans forget their past.

The Revolution and All That Jazz

� The reason for this is that the American Revolution is at least one thing that the American public has not fully repudiated.

� The Civil War was too nasty.

� The Revolution was a non-controversial issue.

� The Revolution has become vivid for all Americans.

� Look at the Patriot for instance.

� The Swamp Fox.

� Immigrants were attracted to the key documents like the Bill of Rights for obvious reasons.

Emerson�s Advice

Memory and the Revolution

� Memory was used to recreate the events of the Revolution.

� This was especially true for the period between 1776-1826.

� Yet by then Americans of the age did not have a point of reference.

� Documents were missing.

� Memories were fading.

� Likewise there was an ideological shift taking place among the founders too.

The Special Case of Mr. Jefferson

� What do we know about Jefferson?

� What sort of man was he?

� Was he like the guy we see in 1776?

� Was he the Father of Democracy?

� Was he the Father of States Rights?

� Did he support the French Revolution?

� Was he a hypocrite on Race?

Marxism, History, and Revolution

� The general view is that economic decline causes revolution.

� However the matter is more complicated than that.

� But there are two fundamental truths:

What Does That Mean for Americans?

Who Were Those People That Claimed to be American Colonials?

� The pop at the end of the colonial era was approximately 2,780,369.

� Approximately 78% came from the British Isles.

� The bulk coming from England (60%); followed by the Scots (8%); Scotch-Irish (6%); and Irish (4%).

� The Germans made up approximately 9%.

� While the Dutch and French had about 1% to 2% of the total.

General Thoughts of Colonial Growth

� Growth was the result of further immigration to North America.

� And natural causes.

� Like we think we had a problem with teen pregnancy.

� From 1660 to 1776 the growth was phenomenal.

� Nearly 13% a year.

� What pulled those people to the British Colonies?

� Land, Jobs, Religious Tolerance.

� From the continent people came because of wars, economic distress, and religious persecution.

Some Practical Thoughts on Migration

� French protestants came to escape intolerance.

� The Huguenots resided from New England to South Carolina.

� The Scotch Highlanders were on the losing end with between the House of Hanover and Stuart.

� Religious intolerance influenced German Protestants and Irish Catholics.

How Did Europeans Arrive?

The Redemption System

� A Redemptioner was someone whom an agent obtained by fair means or foul and transported to America.

� The agent then sold the redemptioner�s labor for a term of years.

� Sometimes, the agents resorted to kidnapping.

� The British legal system helped by exporting vagabonds and condemned criminals to North America.

� What about indentured servants?

� What about servitude?