Virginia's Wartime Mobilization

The American Revolution created a new nation that was different than what most nations were at the time. It was what helped make the United States distinctive. It was rough in the beginning social class was a factor that made it hard to unite the nation in certain colonies like Virginia. There was a lot of changes that were occurring at this time, new and radical concepts were being explored. There were certain groups of the population that were excluded from these changes. Such as, Africans and Native Americans were groups that were not considered citizens and were not even taken into consideration when the government was formed. For the time period the Founding Fathers had ideas, that were new concepts for people to grasp. Such as natural …show more content…
For example, in McDonnell's essay “Virginia’s Wartime Mobilization Leads to Class Struggles” discusses how in a time of war Virginia civilians could not join together for the cause and they let their social status in society divide them. For this reason they could not protect themselves from British invasion. They needed outside help, from other colonies. The lower class were not motivated enough to help the cause and the higher class thought it was beneath them to join the army. Theodorick Bland was annoyed with how Virginia’s were helpless he tried to convince his neighbors to join the army, but that did not work he could only watch as the British continuously invade Virginia. In Jasanoff’s essay “Loyalists in Exile Highlight the Wider British Empire” she discusses how loyalists when to different areas of the British Empire to escape the United States because it was no longer controlled by the British. In the places that they fled to they brought American influence with them. For example, just like Americans they challenged British authority in the areas that they fled to and they brought the radical ideas that made them leave their homes with them. “Challenged imperial authority in terms uncannily like those of their rebel peers.” In the document “Benjamin Rush Contrasts Loyalists, and Patriots, 1777” document compares Tories and Whigs. As Benjamin …show more content…
There were still things that remained unchanged. For example, even though there was a war for independence and Americans demanded rights they neglected to give everyone these rights. For example, Africans was a group that was neglected when the nation formed. Africans were still in bondage; even though this war did benefit some black people it did not benefit most of that group. It is a contradictory, there was a war for independence, but certain groups of the population were not allowed these rights or were excluded. In the document “Massachusetts Slaves Argue for Freedom, 1773” it is a letter stating how black people want to be free and a chance to work. They go on to say how the desire to be free is in every heart that beats that lives in the United States. The letter goes on to suggest that the Africans need a chance to prove themselves, let them work on day a week to start earning an income. In the document “Lord Dunmore Promises Freedom to Slaves Who Fight for Britain, 1775” it says for any black person that fights on behalf of the king will get freedom. This is an interesting idea because Americans who are fighting for freedom are not giving this opportunity to them; it is the supposed oppressor that is. Lord Dunmore is a smart man he uses every tool he has to get every available person that can fight for the British side. In the document “Three Virginia’s Defend Slavery, 1785” it gives