I'm taking a general ED history class on American History spanning from the Conquest of the Natives to the Revolution. I'm writing a paper now, the topic being: "What are the major developments in Colonial America between (and including) The Glorious Revolution and the Great Awakening."
So far my thesis, I think, is something to the lines of: "The period from the Glorious Revolution to the Great Awakening transformed colonial society from an unorganized unit into a distinct American culture distinct from England. However, these developments also alienated Native Americans and slaves which likewise developed singular societies."
It's kinda of a flimsy thesis but my TA said I could work on it, the only problem is that I'm having trouble wording it eloquently.
The whole point of the essay will pretty much be that: The Glorious Revolution solidified Anglicanism and got England more involved with the colonies, the consumer revolution allowed all kinds of people to appreciate English goods and the Great Awakening brought together all kinds of Protestants together. However, slave societies began to form with secret codes and cultures, and the Native American great awakening helped the Indians segregate themselves from dependency on white goods as well as encroachment of the frontier by white settlers, as well as Americans feeling more independent from Great Britain due to the material goods they acquired and the newfound power of the colonies.
Is this historically accurate? Does it make sense?
Thanks to all those that can help.
Sorry, but, no. I'll break it down to help explain why:
I'm taking a general ED history class on American History spanning from the Conquest of the Natives to the Revolution.
The "conquest of the Natives" was not complete until 100 years after the Revolution. Native Americans were putting up organized resistance to European American encroachment well into the 1880s. See the Battle of the Little Bighorn for starters.
I'm writing a paper now, the topic being: "What are the major developments in Colonial America between (and including) The Glorious Revolution and the Great Awakening."
I've never heard of the American Revolution being called the "Glorious Revolution." As far as the "Great Awakening" you seem to refer to it as it regards the Native Americans going from stone age illiteracy to "modern" life in such a short period of time. That happened at very different times & rates for different groups of Native Americans. For example, the Iroquois developed an alphabet & governing Confederacy decades before the Pawnee learned how to read & write English.
So far my thesis, I think, is something to the lines of: "The period from the Glorious Revolution to the Great Awakening transformed colonial society from an unorganized unit into a distinct American culture distinct from England..."
Colonial society was remarkably organized even before the Revolution. Colonial society was not a "unit" until after the colonies ratified the Articles of Confederation & the Constitution at which point it was no longer colonial.
The last part is correct. Even during the Revolution, English Americans thought of themselves as English. It took time for an American identity to sink in. That would make an interesting topic for a paper.
"...However, these developments also alienated Native Americans and slaves which likewise developed singular societies."
I'm not sure how you can show that the development of an American identity alienated Native Americans. The Natives were persecuted terribly. Even groups that had Christianized & greatly assimilated such as the Cherokee got a boot in the rump. See the Trail of Tears. At the same time, there was also allot of cooperation between Native & European Americans. The Natives were alienated, but I don't see the development of an American identity as a cause of that. It began the day Columbus set foot in the Americas.
As for the slaves, I think their alienation was caused by slavery...
Neither Native Americans or the descendants of American slaves have ever developed a singular society.
The whole point of the essay will pretty much be that: The Glorious Revolution solidified Anglicanism and got England more involved with the colonies, the consumer revolution allowed all kinds of people to appreciate English goods and the Great Awakening brought together all kinds of Protestants together.
If anything, the Revolution diminished Anglicanism in the U.S. Americans began to see themselves as Americans rather than English & many other cultures continued to seep into the American identity.
The Revolution greatly diminished English involvement in the colonies. No more English taxes, governors, soldiers, currency, tea, cotton clothing, etc.
The "consumer revolution" in the U.S. didn't begin until the end of World War II & the economic prosperity that came with it.
As far as appreciating English goods, see the Boston Tea Party. Some goods, such as finished cotton clothing, were forced upon the colonies by England. The cotton grown in the colonies had to be shipped to England's textile mills then shipped back as finished product according to colonial law. Issues like this created so much resentment a revolution broke out...
It's true that many denominations of Protestants were included in the new nation, but remember that Protestants continued to persecute each other & non-Protestants. See the early history of Mormonism. Also, Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony & there were significant Jewish communities in Newport, New York & Savannah so it wasn't entirely a Protestant affair.
However, slave societies began to form with secret codes and cultures,
Unless you're talking about the Underground Railroad, I don't know much about this. Rural slaves were largely isolated on plantations & uneducated so I'm not sure how they could form organized societies.
...and the Native American great awakening helped the Indians segregate themselves from dependency on white goods as well as encroachment of the frontier by white settlers, as well as Americans feeling more independent from Great Britain due to the material goods they acquired and the newfound power of the colonies.
Native Americans depended on European Americans for goods such as worked metal, glass & gunpowder even after they were conquered. Nothing ever segregated them from the encroachment of White settlers for very long. Not even their reservations set by treaty were safe from encroachment.
Americans definitely felt more independant from Great Britain, but I'm not sure what material goods you are saying they acquired, where they came from or why they led to an American identity. Also, the colonies were not very powerful at all. The U.S. was not a power on the world stage until at least the Mexican-American War; some would say not until the Spanish-American War.
I hope that helps. Good luck with the paper!
