3.13 Continuity and Change in Period 3 (1754-1800)

Period 3, spanning from 1754 to 1800, covers both major change and major continuity in American history. The American Revolution, the creation of the United States government, and the growth of a new nation changed politics and identity, while debates over power, rights, and regional interests continued.

What to Know About Continuity and Change in Period 3 (1754-1800)

• Colonists resented British taxes and control, and the Declaration of Independence declared the thirteen colonies independent in 1776.
• The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation with a federal government that had an executive branch, a bicameral legislature, and an independent judiciary.
• Slavery persisted in the South, where it was integral to the economy, even though some northern states had abolished it.
• European settlers continued to encroach on Native American lands as they pushed westward, often leading to violent conflicts.
• Conflicts with European powers continued after the Revolution, and the United States declared its intention to remain neutral in other countries' conflicts in 1793.

Changes

One of the most significant changes during this period was the outbreak of the American Revolution. Tensions between the British colonies and the British government had been building for years, with the colonists resenting British attempts to impose taxes and control over their affairs. The Revolutionary War began in 1775 at Lexington and Concord, and the Declaration of Independence in 1776 formally declared the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule. The Revolution was a major turning point in American history, leading to the establishment of the United States as an independent nation and paving the way for the development of democratic ideals. The revolutionary cause drew on new thinking that had developed across the 18th century about society, religion, and politics, such as Enlightenment ideas about natural rights and republican self-government.

Another significant change during this period was the establishment of the United States government. In 1787, delegates from the thirteen states gathered in Philadelphia to draft a new constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. The resulting document established a federal system of government with a strong executive branch, a bicameral legislature, and an independent judiciary. The Constitution was ratified in 1788, and George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789. This marked a new era of federalism and representative democracy in American history. New political institutions such as the presidency and a national Congress emerged, along with a new national culture and identity that people increasingly called American.

Independence also led each state to write a new constitution, and many added declarations of rights that protected freedoms such as trial by jury and freedom of the press. These state constitutions, like the Articles of Confederation, limited centralized power, but they also limited direct popular influence, for example through property requirements for voting and holding office. These documents spelled out the roles of state and federal governments, and the Constitution divided powers between the national government and the states.

Continuity

Despite these significant changes, there were also elements of continuity during this period. One of the most enduring institutions was slavery. Although some northern states had abolished slavery by the end of the Revolutionary War, the institution persisted in the South, where it was integral to the economy. Slavery remained legal in the United States until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, marking a long period of resistance to change.

Regional differences also continued after independence, and Americans kept disagreeing over foreign policy and over economic, political, and social issues. For example, the North and South differed over slavery, and people argued over how to respond to conflicts between France and Great Britain.

Another area of continuity was the displacement and mistreatment of Native American populations. European settlers continued to push westward, encroaching on Native American lands and often engaging in violent conflicts. Migration within North America and competition for resources, boundaries, and trade made conflicts among peoples and nations more intense. Contact also produced shifting alliances and the blending of cultures. The Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson, authorized the forced removal of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands and the relocation to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. This was a continuation of the long history of mistreatment and displacement of Native Americans that began with European colonization.

Finally, the United States continued to face conflicts with European powers during this period. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) had set the stage for ongoing tensions with Great Britain, culminating in the American Revolution. The war grew out of rivalry among Britain, France, and American Indians for land, trade, and political influence in North America. Britain defeated France and its American Indian allies, but the renewed imperial efforts that followed pushed many colonists toward independence. Even after the Revolution, the United States faced challenges from European powers, including France and Great Britain. Because those powers remained in North America, the nation had to protect its borders, keep its neutral trading rights, and advance its economic interests. In 1793, the United States issued the Proclamation of Neutrality, which declared the nation's intention to remain neutral in conflicts between other countries. However, the United States was drawn into the conflict between France and Great Britain, which began with the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 and continued through the Napoleonic Wars.

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Period 3 was a time of major change and continuity in American history. The American Revolution marked a turning point, leading to the establishment of the United States as an independent nation and the development of democratic ideals. The creation of the United States government opened a new era of federalism and representative democracy. At the same time, slavery and the mistreatment of Native American populations continued, and the United States still faced challenges from European powers. To explain this period well, connect major changes to the continuities that carried forward.