America's Critical Period - Question of A Crisis

Question of A Crisis

Although many citizens at the time felt that their new nation was on the verge of disaster, there are critics who believe the country was not as desperate as it may have seemed. There were difficult situations that the country was facing after the Revolution. War and reconstruction had greatly affected the economy and the financial situation was far from stable. Governments had to be formed and leaders had to be selected. New markets had to be found to support those lost during the Rebellion. In his book The American Revolution, Gordon Wood states that "the Loyalists may have numbered close to half a million, or 20 percent of white Americans" These Tories were a huge loss to the American population and left a void that needed to be filled. However, the American Revolutionary War had made some positive effects on the nation as well. Despite a short depression during 1784-85, the period of the 1780s was marked with a large growth of the economy. Critics suggest that it was the idea of the Revolution and the thought that it would bring a utopian type society to the new country that made it possible for people to believe they were living in a time of crisis. They believe that, though the country was going through a time of change and confusion the times were not as desperate as some citizens believed. Shay's Rebellion proved the Articles of Confederation to be weak and it was after the rebellion that the United States Constitution came into place.