| Throughout the War of Independence, nationalist forces transformed the United States, and shaped the young republic ideologically. The revolutionary spirit of 1776 seized the former British colonies in a frenzied burst of patriotism, inspiring thousands of Americans to defend their traditions of self-government and conceptualizations of liberty; serving in the national armies and state militias that resisted English tyranny. The harsh realities of war reshaped the officers of the Continental Army, altering their political worldviews and contributing to their evolving sense of identity. Transformed by their wartime experiences, veterans analyzed the Articles of Confederation through a lens tinged by military service throughout the postwar years, influencing their support for the proposed Constitution throughout the ratification debates, and shaping their role in the competitive discourse between Federalist and anti-Federalist ideologies. |
