African American Case
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From 1775 to 1800 many things changed regarding Africans and Women. The Revolution gave African American slaves the opportunity to Escape slavery and join the army, even though joining the army was no better way to be treated equal. It also significantly affected the status of women in a positive way.
Most African slaves that had little to no chance of freedom now have the option to join the army and lead their lives in a different direction. Though the army never planned to grant them any extra rights, only used them as extra support against British forces, they continued to think that because they were fighting with white people that they would be granted freedom. However this did not happen. African soldiers were still treated like slaves as they served. Some of them got tired of this treatment and escaped the chaos of war and slavery and escaped living on their lives as if they were freed slaves. Slavery continued after the war despite the efforts of African-American soldiers. Although slavery didnt undergo any major changes the aftermath of the war inspired many criticisms on slavery.
The Declaration of Independence states that all men have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; even though we have this document we still deny Africans all of these rights. We treat African Americans as slaves not real people which is a contradiction to Declaration. We give the Africans no right to vote, hold and office position, own land or any freedoms that the white colonists get, proving that the Declaration doesnt apply to all men, allowing whites to treat blacks as slaves.
At this time, women were considered to be inferior to men, a status that was especially clear in the lack of legal rights for married women, during the Revolution people tired to improve the status of women. The Revolution increased peoples attention to political matters and made issues of liberty and equality especially important. Bringing up the issue of inequality of women and the denial of some rights. Republican mothers could instruct their children, sons especially, to be intelligent and reasonable children. This increased the significance of the traditional wives duty and brought with it a new desire for female education and helped prove that husbands and wives more equal within the family.
Both the African Americans and women changed during the revolution. Even though the slaves didnt receive freedom it did raise awareness that slavery was wrong. Women gained much respect and were treated like equal members of the family. Both Slavery and the status of women were in the first stages of gaining independence and liberty as an affect of the revolution.