War can serve as a catalyst for change. The American Revolutionary war and the pre- revolution buildup contributed to many social changes. Amongst these changes are themes of localism, egalitarianism, women, and blacks. Before the revolutionary war, separate colonies wished to remain separate. In 1754 Benjamin Franklin published a drawing of a snake with different sections of the snake representing the different colonies. The snake was cut into eight pieces, and the slogan "Join or Die" is scrawled under the picture. The common feeling of colonists was that of localism and the colony of one's birth was also the colony of their death. Colonies were extremely against joining one another in anything. During the pre-revolutionary war buildup, colonies were forced to confer
with each other on matters of law, government, and ties to Britain. In addition to localism the individual colonies carried a caste system of sorts. Because of the war, continental army, and local militias, men learned that a man who perhaps did not possess as much land as he may be as capable to lead if not more so. The militias threw out their expensive soldier uniforms in the interest of making even the poorest soldier feel at welcome. This action by the local militias is called egalitarianism. This is the premise of making every man feel equal. Unfortunately, women were not included in this idea of egalitarianism. However, the woman's role in the revolutionary war and its preparation was deemed as necessary and deserving of recognition. Women refused to buy British
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