The Radicalism of the American Revolution

Revolutionaries worried that people might not live up to the virtues of republicanism. They feared that political corruption the desire for better living standards would lead to selfishness rather than kindness. The Constitution of 1787 was created to deal with the changes happening in society after the Revolution. The focus of Americans on individualism and materialism was the opposite of what the revolutionaries in 1776 envisioned for the future of America.

Americans believed in the Revolution, but a slide into democracy was not the intention. Many blamed the French Revolution for being hostile toward government. French principles entered the American mind and changed perceptions of the Revolution’s intended purpose. It is from this, argues Wood, that there developed the myth that the American Revolution was not radical because it was not as violent as the French Revolution.

After the Revolution, American society changed rapidly. The old social structures broke down and the primary focus moved to equality. The revolutionaries believed that equal opportunity would inspire greatness in everyone and would eliminate the old ways of leadership that were based on family connections and favoritism. Equality was about treating everyone as equals regardless of their background. Most educated Americans agreed with the idea that everyone was born equal, even if they had different opportunities.