ABSTRACT
The Revolution was not only a war for American independence but also a domestic struggle for political and economic control. In the latter aspect the Revolution appears as a democratic movement for greater freedom and individualism: the attainment of broader political responsibility was one phase; the elimination of economic privilege and the creation of new economic opportunities was another. The spirit of individualism and the love of freedom that characterized the Revolution hindered cooperation in the war effort and in the establishment of a new government.
