Deconstructed United by Necessity: How the American Revolution Averted Civil War
Aug 4, 2023
Join political historian Eli Merritt, a professor at Vanderbilt University and author of "Disunion Among Ourselves," as he explores the existential fear that once united the Thirteen Colonies. Merritt argues that this survival instinct, rather than solely British tyranny, drove colonial unity to avert civil war. He delves into regional divisions, the complex dynamics around the July 1776 votes, and the overlooked implications for slavery and Native nations. His insights challenge our understanding of foundational politics and resonate with contemporary political fears.
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Survival Drove The Founding
- The founders feared disunion and civil war more than British military power.
- Eli Merritt argues this fear drove them into a compromise-based union to survive.
Middle Colonies' Reluctant Vote
- The Middle Colonies were commercially conservative and worried a central supreme power would harm commerce.
- They nearly split from the movement for independence, forcing a high-pressure "shotgun wedding" to unite.
Slavery, Secession, And Foreign Alliances
- If northern states had forced emancipation plans, Southern colonies likely would have seceded and reallied with Britain.
- That would have caused imperial civil war and foreign intervention instead of a unified independence.
