The Radicalism of the American Revolution

Social structure is important to the study of the events leading up to the Revolution and the development of the United States that happened afterward. This study begins with the monarchy that governed England in the years before, during, and after the colonization of America. The monarchy was a paternalistic structure that placed a single man, the king, as the ruler of the people. This structure created a father-figure as the leader and protector of his people, his metaphorical children. As subjects of this sovereignty, the colonists knew no other political structure and embraced it when they settled in the colonies.

The first colonies were often populated by members of a single family, or members of two or more families. As a result, there was inherently a father figure who rose up to lead these colonies. These communities were often small and lacked privacy, creating a social environment in which everyone knew everyone else’s business and often reported bad behavior. As a result, reputation became an essential part of American society.

As the colonies grew, this family structure continued to be an important part of society. Families were often headed by a male family member, and he was responsible not only for the blood relations who lived within the family but also for servants and any other persons who came to live in the household.