Revolutionary War Social Analysis

The Revolutionary War not only gave America its independence, but it established many societal changes that would alter the social landscape of the new nation. In some cases, these new ideologies brought positive change, however, in certain cases they brought on a new social divide, pitting neighbor against neighbor. The American Revolution brought many different societal changes, however the development of a Standing Army producing a military community that required every resource the colonists had to offer and the near civil war that broke out in the southern colonies due to the staunch differing loyalties both greatly changed the social landscape during the war.
The idea of developing a formal Continental Army was at first though unnecessary by congress. The idea of “rage militaire” quickly gave out after citizen …show more content…
The war pitted neighbor against neighbor and loyalist against patriot, a dynamic that would prove not only bloody, but further develop a social identity that lacked a sense of civic policy. The “people’s war,” that was raged beyond the confines of the regular army lines formed social aspects - especially in southern states – developed an atmosphere that many historians believe was present for many years following the war. Conflicts arose in many shapes and sizes, the origin sprouting from the lack of regulations from the infant states. Examples of these conflicts can be found in all the colonies however South Carolina had the most brutal instances, especially in the cases of Colonel John Moffitt’s militia and Tory David Fanning’s militia. Both men fought in a manner they saw as acceptable, feeding the dynamic of a “just war.” These conflicts arose from both personal quarrels and the animosity felt between the opposing groups. However, these interactions had a much larger impact, they developed a sense of seclusion that carried far past the conclusion of the