Historiographical Matrix

1
Historiographical Matrix

• Interpretations of the American Revolution
• 1780-1960

2
Natural growth Maturity
Maturation Characterological divergence
Antagonism towards British
Natural process
Cultural Differentiation
Cultural
Egalitarianism Common People
Social progression towards improvement

• Class Struggle
• Rich v. Poor
• East v. West
• Privileged v. Common
• Frontier Thesis

Natural process Clash of interests with
agricultural population
No frontier No social tension
Social
Libertarian Ideals Common Sense Pamphlets
Moral Law against tyranny
Opposing Ideals Merchants w/o ideals Con farmers
radical leaders
Individualism Independence
Ideological
Economic interference Rational Choice Stamp Act
Mercantilist Competition
Stamp Act Tariffs
Merchant profits not principles
Clash between two mercantilist systems Outcome of
forces not actions British restructuring empire
No merchant deception
Economic
Second-class citizen Tax w/o Rep. Tightening of
decision-making
Response to conspiracy of despotic KG III
Rejected Despot theory
Tightened policy Opposed autocracy
Stamp Act Constitutional Principle Unwilling to
accept arbitrary rule
Political
Puritan tradition of opposition to
tyranny Protestant claim to natural liberty
Religious
Ramsey 1780
Bancroft 1830
Fischer 1908
Schlesinger 1919
Van Tyne 1922
Andrews 1924
Gipson 1953
Morgans 1954