In the years leading up to the end of war with Great Britain and eventual independence, former subjects of the Crown began to envision life in post-Revolutionary America. There were many ideals to live up to at the end of the war—especially the equal pursuits of life, liberty, and happiness. As the former colonies and the Continental Congress began passing laws to shape the government and society of the new nation, contested meanings and interpretations of freedom emerged—particularly around the institution of slavery, the role of women, religious freedom and tolerance, and the fate of those citizens who had remained loyal to the Crown for the duration of the war. Were all men indeed created equal, in practice as well as in theory?

Study the following documents. In your response, explain how each of the primary sources represents a reckoning with the possibilities of American independence and the roles of citizens within a new nation.

Your response should be 2-3 paragraphs in length, and should meet the following criteria:
It addresses all portions of the topic or prompt.
It has a fully developed thesis.
Ideas are stated clearly and easy to understand.
Major supporting ideas are thoughtful, readily identifiable and well-developed in unified paragraphs with concrete, substantial and relevant information.
It demonstrates command of language, with precise word choices, and few—if any—errors in usage or mechanics.