Post-Revolutionary War Perspective

Definition

The post-revolutionary war perspective refers to the viewpoint and experiences of individuals and groups in America following the Revolutionary War, particularly concerning the social, political, and economic changes that emerged in the new nation. This perspective shaped attitudes towards land ownership, governance, and relations with Native Americans as settlers moved westward, significantly impacting conflicts on the Appalachian frontier.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. After the Revolutionary War, many settlers believed they had the right to claim lands previously held by Native Americans due to their contribution to independence.
2. The new government faced challenges in managing relationships with indigenous tribes who resisted encroachment on their lands as settlers moved into the Appalachian region.
3. Economic instability post-war led to land speculation and conflict, with many veterans seeking opportunities for land ownership in frontier areas.
4. The post-revolutionary war perspective fueled a sense of nationalism that justified expansion into territories inhabited by Native peoples.
5. Conflicts arising from this perspective were often characterized by violence, including skirmishes and warfare, as settlers pushed further into unceded lands.

Review Questions

• How did the post-revolutionary war perspective influence the settlement patterns in the Appalachian frontier?
  • The post-revolutionary war perspective drove many settlers to move westward into the Appalachian frontier, fueled by a belief in their right to claim land for farming and development. This attitude was rooted in the notion that their fight for independence entitled them to take over territories held by Native Americans. As a result, settlement patterns reflected both aspiration for economic opportunity and a disregard for existing indigenous claims to land.
• Evaluate how the attitudes shaped by the post-revolutionary war perspective contributed to conflicts between settlers and Native Americans.
  • Attitudes stemming from the post-revolutionary war perspective often dehumanized Native Americans, viewing them as obstacles to progress rather than legitimate inhabitants with rights. This led to numerous violent conflicts as settlers encroached on indigenous lands, believing that their expansion was justified. The lack of understanding or acknowledgment of Native American sovereignty exacerbated these tensions and resulted in a cycle of violence that defined much of frontier life during this period.
• Synthesize the ways in which the post-revolutionary war perspective influenced later national policies regarding westward expansion and Native American relations.
  • The post-revolutionary war perspective laid the groundwork for future national policies that promoted westward expansion under the ideology of Manifest Destiny. This perspective fostered a belief that Americans were destined to occupy and cultivate the continent, leading to policies that systematically displaced Native American tribes. Over time, such beliefs were codified into laws and treaties that disregarded indigenous rights and facilitated further settlement and land acquisition, shaping the historical trajectory of American expansionism.

Related terms

Frontier Settlements: Areas where settlers established homes and communities in newly acquired lands, often leading to conflicts with indigenous populations.

Land Ordinance of 1785: A law that set up a system for surveying and selling land in the Northwest Territory, reflecting the government’s desire to promote westward expansion.

Manifest Destiny: The 19th-century belief that American settlers were destined to expand across North America, often justifying displacement of Native Americans.