Module 4: The American Revolution and Class

Module 4: The American Revolution and Class

Even when looking back on the creation of our independence from England with the signing of the U.S. Constitution it becomes ever so clear that a privileged few were calling all the shots in order to benefit themselves. What went partially unnoticed was the absolute lack of democracy in a country where democracy was believed to be the foundation for the U.S. Constitution. What transpired over the next several hundred years was clearly a result of the elite realizing, “that by creating a nation, a symbol, a legal unity called the United States, they could take over land, profits, and political power from favorites of the British Empire.” (Zinn 47) The Founding Fathers set up a brilliant plan which “created the most effective system of national control devised in modern times and showed future generations of leaders the advantages of combining paternalism with command.” (Zinn 47) By appealing to the masses of the white lower class, the Founding Fathers were able to channel the frustration of the lower class and use it against England to win the war and gain independence.

Certain events had to fall into place before the American Revolution could be fought and won. Patrick Henry helped by using “language inspiring to all classes, specific enough in its listing of grievances to charge people with anger against the British, vague enough to avoid class conflict among the rebels, and stirring enough to build patriotic feeling for the resistance movement.” (Zinn 53) Once the anger was focused on England what needed to happen next was the “mobilization of lower-class energy by upper-class politicians, for their own purposes.” (Zinn 49) Propagandists wrote articles that would infuriate public opinion so much that the public would take action to support the very cause that the propagandist advocated. During the American Revolution, articles were written to further the cause of Independence. (Brainard) The most prolific of these writers was Thomas Paine. He rallied the colonists around the idea of independence by recalling how the wars with England had cost been so costly in both lives and money. (Zinn 54) As interest rose, Paine “lent himself perfectly to the myth of the Revolution—that it was on behalf of a united people.” (Zinn 55)

However, according to Zinn there never really was a united people. Instead, there were a few elitist desiring independence from England which would bring them great wealth and large expanses of land. At the other end of the spectrum were the poor hoping for a better life and believing that the elitist had their best interest at heart. “In fact, the military became a place of promise for the poor, who might rise in rank, acquire some money, and change their social status.” (Zinn 61) Eric Foner agreed with Zinn by stating that it was “a time of immense profits for some colonists and terrible hardships for others.” (Zinn 63) The American Revolution was just as much about class relations as it was about independence. It was about how the upper class manipulated the lower class into fighting for their cause. It was about creating a middle class to bridge the gap between the ultra wealthy and the desperately poor. “Indeed, this became characteristic of the new nation: finding itself possessed of enormous wealth, it could create the richest ruling class in history and still have enough for the middle classes to act as a buffer between the rich and the dispossessed. “ (Zinn 64-5)

Brainard, Rick. The Men Behind the American Revolution: Thomas Paine. 2005. Accessed 12 July 2009 <http://www.history1700s.com/articles/article1138.shtml>.
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States. Abridged Teaching Edition. New York: NY, 1980.