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UNIT12:CAUSES AND IMPACT OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION
A revolution is a fundamental change that sweeps across political, social
and economic spheres of life in a given society. A revolution is either gradual
(peaceful) or sudden (violent). It occurs in a society not because people want it
but due to unbearable circumstances or conditions experienced by the masses.
Between 1765 and 1774, a revolution broke out in North American colonies
as a peaceful political and economic reform movement but later in April 1775
embraced a violent approach against London leaders. It had been the same
scenario in France French revolutionaries wanted political reform from the
Bourbon Monarchy that had ruled France for about 500 years.
American Revolution of 1776 is recognized as the decline of Modern Times
History. It marks the beginning of changes that transformed world evolution
during contemporary Epoch. This revolution had been the first to attempt on
Absolute Monarchy powers that ruled Europe since the medieval period.
Before analysing the causes of the 1776 American Revolution better an overview
is made on this part of the world inhabited and ruled up the outbreak of this
revolution.
12.1.1. American settlement
- Since the 15th century AD (end of the Middle Ages), central and southern
America was well known to Europeans through transoceanic voyages
discoveries. Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci reached
American coast in 1492 AD. But the rest of the Northern America came
to be known after in the 17th century during the European colonisation.
This part of America was turned into a settlement and exploitation colony
where numerous peoples especially whites from Europe (British, French,
Dutch, Spanish, etc.) shared all of its lands.
─ The Indians, as the indigenous peoples, lived in the modern Canada;
─ The British, numerous, settled along the Northern coast of Atlanticocean in modern United States of America;
─ The French occupied Saint Lawrence valley and Louisiana State;
─ The Dutch settled for a short time New York;
─ The Spanish occupied California, Texas and Florida States;
─ The first Black Africans settled America in 1619 where they were
used as slaves working on European plantations. Due to this forced
labour system, Blacks were scattered from eastern to western coasts
of America but most of them settled North and South Carolinas,
Virginia, Georgia and Maryland where were working on sugarcane
and cotton plantations.
12.1.2. Creation of the Thirteen North American colonies
Between 1606 and 1733, the British created in North America thirteen coloniesdepending on the British Crown’s rule.
Those colonies were: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, Rhode
Island, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut,
Delaware, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Politically and economically, all these colonies had to report to the British
crown in London through the British representatives appointed in American
and small number of American born local authorities working on behalf of the
British.
This situation lasted from the inception of these colonies up 1765 where started
peaceful petitions of Americans on the way they were treated on their own
land. The harsh rule of the British crown in North America created discontentthat progressively amounted in a violent revolution of between 1774 and 1776.
The American Revolution of 1776 broke out during the reign of King George
III in England due a number of factors which were economic and political in
nature and character.
12.2.1. Political causes
The rise of nationalism and liberalism in America in the opening years of
18th century: American colonies were not visibly represented in the British
administration and British Parliament was in the majority of the British
whereas a great number of Americans were so literate and had no participation
in political matters.
The rise of literates’ class and philosophers like Sam Adams and Thomas
Jefferson: These ones persuaded all Americans to fight for their freedom
from the British hands. This determination resulted in American war for
independence of 1776.
Military and financial assistance from France: France sent troops led by
General Marquis Delafayette to America with the prime objective of revenging
against Britain which from 1756-1763 fought, defeated France and grabbed
France colonies of India and Canada. During this assistance, France lost (spent)
2000 million French livres as a financial assistance.
Long distance between Britain and America contributed to the sending of a
few British troops in America to put under control all colonies security: This
weakness helped a lot American revolutionaries get their independence.
Taking back of the charter of Massachusetts: This aimed to end American
local self-government.
The effects of Anglo-French war of 1756-63: During this war, France was
fighting with Britain over profitable colony of Canada. The war ended with
the defeat of France by Britain and taking over Canada. The effect of this was
that it weakened Britain financially and encouraged the Americans to revolt
against her. Britain also raised taxes to solve financial crisis at home. Americans
protested against the tax increment. The role played by revolutionary leaders.
The most notable one was George Washington. He organised the minutemen
and mobilised foreign support to fight for their independence.
The character of King George III of England:He came to power in 1760. Unlike
the former kings, he wanted to bring American colonies to closer control. In
order to achieve this, he introduced a number of harsh laws. He was also sorigid that he refused to change the taxation system.
The oppressive rule of the British government: The British leaders such as
Greenville, Townshend and Rocking were harsh to the Americans. They did not
allow freedoms such as of speech, press and worship. There were no fair trials
in courts of law. All these annoyed the Americans.
The passing of intolerable acts: These included the Stamp Act whereby
revenue stamps were put on printed materials and commercial documents like
news papers. It was replaced by Townshend Act whereby the British chancellor
levied taxes on lead paper, paint, glasses and tea. These were received with
negativity by Americans making them to begin a war of independence.
12.2.2. Economic causes
Protectionism on American goods imposed by the British King George III:
This was a strict restriction to Americans for only buying the British-made
goods and selling their agricultural products to Britain. This measure prevented
Americans from getting new goods from abroad. It resulted in fighting for their
trading rights.
British mint: Any banknotes used in exchange had to bear King George III’s
portrait. This hurt more Americans.
Financial policy: No American could own land without British Parliament
clearance authorization. To own it he had first to submit land request to the
British parliament and pay money for that.
The Boston massacres of 1770: After the Townshend Act, the Americans
started shouting and throwing snow and ice to the English troops. The troops
responded by firing and killing them at Boston. This is what came to be known
as the Boston massacres. It drove the Americans into a war of independence
against the British.
Undemocratic nature of the British leadership: The Americans were not given
chance to participate in the politics of their country. This made them inferior.
Only the rich were elected to the colonial assemblies as opposed to the poor.
This was opposed by the majority hence leading to the revolution.
Inter-colonial congress at Philadelphia: In 1774, representatives from all
colonies met at Philadelphia. It was there where they started preparing for war.
They chose George Washington as the leader of the revolution. They trained
soldiers known as minutemen and started seeking for assistance from other
countries.
The Boston Tea Party in 1773: This was when the Americans dropped boxes
of tea from Britain into water at Port Boston at night. This made the British
government furious. The government decided to close the Boston harbour. It
also punished Americans so as to pay back the tea. This too led to American
Revolution.
Trade monopoly by the British: In America, trade was exclusively done by
the British. All European goods imported to the colonies had to pass through
England for taxation. The British benefitted while the Americans did not. On
top of that, the imports were expensive compared to exports. This exploitation
made the Americans to revolt for their independence.
Other causes were unfair judicial system of Britain and the restriction for
colonies to occupy new lands of Ohio and Louisiana.
12.2.3. Social causes
─ The role of political philosophers: These were intellectuals and
great thinkers who exposed the wrongs of the British government to
the Americans. Philosophers such as Thomas Penn and Patrick Henry
inspired and awakened Americans to fight for their independence.
They used newspapers such as New York gazette, American Mercuryand The Boston News-Letter.
Foreign support: The Americans got foreign support from other countries such
as France, Germany and Spain. These countries gave Americans military, moral
and financial support. This increased the determination of Americans to fight
for their independence.
Religious intolerance: There were religious differences between the
Americans and the British. Americans had many religions which were different
from the British Anglicans. The British forced Americans to adopt their religion
against their will. The protestant religions practiced by the Americans included
Lutherans, Puritans, Huguenots and Presbyterians. Americans strongly opposed
it thus leading to the revolution.
To put an end on all of these Intolerable Acts, American colonists headed by Sam
Adams later George Washington started fighting in April 1775 by destroying
Boston Tea plantation and by dumping into Atlantic Ocean 342 tea sacks
downloaded from British trading ships.
Informed of the situation, the King George III of Britain reacted by sending the
British troops to Boston who killed a great number of American colonists on
April 19th 1776. This date is known as “Massacres of Boston”.
However, fighting went on and American feelings grew stronger because the
British government seemed unwilling to give in at all (reform its policy on
colonies). Finally, on July 4, 1776, representatives of the colonies signed the
Declaration of Independence. This increased the king’s anger but the Frenchfleet and 6000 troops helped the American colonies win.
The American Revolution had a great impact on today’s world political, social
and economic systems. Let us now look at its effects:
The revolution led to loss of lives. Many people including soldiers, civilians,
Americans, the French and the British died in the war.
It led to destruction of property such as buildings, roads, bridges and
communication lines.
It led to the inclusion of blacks into Americans citizenship, a privilege which
had earlier been denied to them by the British.
The monopoly of the protestant church was removed and after the revolution.
There was freedom of worship among the Americans. It increased religious
freedom in all states of America. The citizens were no longer forced to join
Protestantism. Many churches came up. Other Americans became Muslims.
It led to French Revolution due to the effects it had on the French government.
For example, there was a financial crisis in France. There was also the spread
of revolutionary ideas by the ex-soldiers of the American Revolution such as
General Lafayette.
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September
1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States simply as Lafayette, was a French
aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War,
commanding American troops in several battles, including the Siege of Yorktown
...
It led to the granting of independence to the American colonies. At Paris treaty
of 1783, the British king recognised the colonies of America to be free, sovereign
and independent. The 13 states were now free to join together and become the
United States of America.
There was liberalisation of trade after the American Revolution. The Americans
were free to carry out trade without the British monopoly. The British limitations
on American trade were removed, allowing the marine merchans to trade freely.
It created good diplomatic relationship between France and America. This
was due to the assistance rendered by the French to the Americans against the
British imperialists. France provided Americans with arms and a combat army
to serve under George Washington. They also sent a navy that prevented the
second British army from escaping from Yorktown in 1871.
It increased the status of women and subsequent women emancipation. Women
now took control of the families and catered for school going children. Men
were away fighting for independence. The revolutionary war affected women
by placing them in non-traditional roles. As men went off to war, women were
left to fill jobs typically fulfilled by men. This in turn changed society by showing
the world that women could do what men can do.
American Revolution increased the status of George Washington for his role in
gearing the struggle for independence. During the American Revolution, he led
the colonial forces to victory over the British and became a national hero. Its
success was attributed to him. He later became the first president of America.
Other effects included: The creation of a new state; Introduction of a
democratic regime or democracy; The 1st American constitution drawing up;
Washington, the First USA President’s name, was granted to the capital city of
the federal government; Rise of American patriotism; Education improvement;
Reinforcement of French prestige and the fall of the British one; Spread of
diseases; Decline of British economy; Colonization of Africa; Displacement of
people (migration and refugees); New currency (USA Dollar); Improvement
of transport in America; Financial crisis in France; Development of strong
capitalistic economy in USA; End of trade between Britain and USA; Spread of
American culture; Rich people out of the war; Unemployment in America and
food shortage especially during the course of the struggle for independence.
In 1783, a peace treaty was signed, and Britain recognized the thirteen colonies
as independent. England did not lose any other colonies, however.
After the signing of that treaty, as mentioned in the effects above, these colonies
tried to organise themselves by making people equal under the law. Besides, they
eventually created “a federal Republic that is, a group of separate states, each
giving up some governing rights to become united under a central government.
Also, under the leadership of George Washington (The 1st President of the
United States of America), the Americans after the war drafted a democratic
constitution based on the principles of the British.
The Americans believed in written constitutions and in limiting the powers of
government. Besides the federal constitution, all thirteen states had written
constitutions that separated legislative, executive and judicial powers andincluded a bill of rights (amendments).
