Made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Image of the first page of the Constitution of the United States — The Constitution of the United States.

“Making the Revolution: America, 1763–1791” is an open educational resource that delves into the transformative period of American history spanning from 1763 to 1791. This primary source guide is organized into five sub-topics and each section contains a vast collection of primary source materials including historical documents, literary texts, and works of art which have been contextualized with annotations and notes, and feature a set of discussion questions for classroom use.

Crisis, 1763–1775

Explores the factors that shifted many Americans from loyal British subjects to rebellious Patriots.
Examines the reasons behind the loyalty of some Americans to Great Britain and their opposition to rebellion.
Investigates how Patriots and Loyalists conveyed their viewpoints through contemporary media outlets.
Contemplates the inevitability of the American Revolution and the existence of a “point of no return.”

Rebellion, 1775–1776

Examines the various rebellions and internal conflicts that occurred within the colonies as the Revolutionary War approached in the mid-1770s.
Analyzes how colonists expressed and debated differing opinions and dealt with political opponents.
Considers the fading of moderate voices from the political arena and the factors that led Americans to support or oppose independence.

War, 1775–1783

Investigates how Patriot leadership, across military, diplomatic, and governmental realms, influenced both the promotion and hindrance of the war effort.
Explores the effects of the war on various groups, including Patriots, Loyalists, Native Americans, African Americans, and women, and the resultant changes in power dynamics.
Highlights the pivotal decisions made by Britain and France and their impact on the war's outcome.
Questions whether victory marked the last achievement of the thirteen colonies or the first achievement of the new nation.

Independence, 1783–1791

Explores how Americans envisioned independence and the idea of nationhood in the immediate aftermath of the Revolutionary War.
Examines the process of constructing a national identity distinct from their colonial identity as British subjects.
Considers the challenges faced by the new nation in its early years, akin to a “child just learning to walk.”

Constitution, 1787–1791

Traces the evolution of Americans' concept of self-governance from 1776 to 1789 and the factors driving this change.
Explores how the emerging national identity influenced this process.
Examines the divisions in political ideology that emerged during this period and their role in shaping the final Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Reflects on how the Constitution and the Bill of Rights embody the ideals of the American Revolution.

This educational resource provides a comprehensive exploration of the tumultuous events, intellectual shifts, and social changes that characterized the American Revolution and the subsequent establishment of the United States as a nation. It invites readers to consider the complex dynamics and profound questions that defined this pivotal period in American history.

Contributing Scholars

Institute Scholars

Alan Taylor (NHC Fellow, 1993–94)
Margaretta Lovell (Professor of the History of Art, University of California, Berkeley)
David Shields (McClintock Professor of Southern Letters, University of South Carolina)

Subjects

History / American History / American Revolution / Confederation Period / United States of America /

Rights

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, PDFs, downloads, and other media are provided under the NHC Principles on Copyright, Fair Use, and Open Licensing. Visit the Principles webpage for more information on how you can use this resource.