Unit 11:CAUSES AND IMPACT OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Key unit competence To be able to explain the causes and impact of American Revolution.
Activity 11.1 In groups, discuss the causes of the 1990 liberation war in Rwanda. Use the knowledge gained from Amatorero, Ibiganiro and other sources of information in your discussion. Let one of you compile a report for class presentation.
11.1 Causes of American Revolution
You read about the word revolution in Unit 10. In that case, it was about industrial revolution. In this unit, we shall discuss another aspect of revolution in relation to America.
American Revolution was a political upheaval that took place in America between 1765 and 1783. Thirteen American colonies rejected the British monarchy and dictatorship. They overthrew the authority of Great Britain and founded the United States of America. The American Revolution is also known as the American war of independence.
The thirteen former British American colonies were Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
These American colonies had been under British control for a long period of time. They wanted to be independent.
During the period of colonisation, the colonies united against the British Empire. They took up arms and started the revolutionary war. This culminated in the declaration of independence in 1776. The thirteen states defeated the British in the battlefield in October 1781. They were led by George Washington as the first American president.
Activity 11.2
Refer to Activity 11.1.
In groups of three, pick out points from the activity that you think were the same causes of the American Revolution. Group them according to social, political and economic causes. Present your findings in class.
Let us now study the causes of American Revolution under the following sub-headings:
(i) Political causes
(ii) Economic causes
(iii) Social causes
11.2 Political causes
• The rise and growth of nationalism among the Americans and need for independence
This was promoted by nationalists such as Samuel Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. They argued that if the British governed themselves, why not Americans? This awakened the need for self-rule among the Americans hence leading to the revolution.
• 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 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.
• 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 so rigid 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 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.
Other causes were unfair judicial system of Britain and the restriction for colonies to occupy new lands of Ohio and Louisiana.
Remember!
For a country’s political, social and economic development, peace is a requirement. For every country to achieve set goals, its youth must work hand in hand with government agencies to promote peace in our country.
11.3 Economic causes
• Poor economic policy of the British
The Americans were not allowed to set up their own industries in America. This was intended to force them to continue buying expensive British manufactured goods. This was viewed as a move to subject them to endless poverty. They opposed the policy.
• 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.
• The unfair taxation system
In North America, Britain raised taxes in order to meet her debt expenses and to solve financial crisis at home. Both direct and indirect taxes such as like stamp tax, sugar tax and currency tax were introduced
Other economic causes were:
• Exploitation of American resources
• Inflation
• Forced labour
• Unemployment
Activity 11.3
The above reasons justify the American rebellion against British oppressors from 1776-1803 which finally succeeded. They got independence with George Washington as the first American president. Categorise the above factors into two parts; immediate and long term factors.
11.4 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 Mercury and 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 practised by the Americans included Lutherans, Puritans, Huguenots and Presbyterians. Americans strongly opposed it thus leading to the revolution.
Remember!
In most cases war has negative effects on social, political and economic aspects of the society. Therefore, it is very important that non-violent approaches such as peace talks be used to settle conflicts. The world needs peace. America has the most developed economy in the world. This is partly because she was able to attain her self-rule which led to self-reliance in the long run. It is therefore important that we cooperate towards defending our country’s independence. We can only achieve this by working hard to achieve self-reliance as a tool for economic development.11.5 Effects of the American Revolution both in America and in the rest of the world
The American Revolution had a great impact on today’s world political, social and economic systems. Let us now look at its effects.
1. The revolution led to loss of lives. Many people including soldiers, civilians, Americans, the French and the British died in the war.
2. It led to destruction of property such as buildings, roads, bridges and communication lines.
3. It led to the inclusion of blacks into Americans citizenship, a privilege which had earlier been denied to them by the British.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
Activity 11.4
With the help of your teacher, watch films and debates on causes and impact of the American Revolution.
Revision questions
1. Explain what you understand by the term ‘American Revolution’.2. Account for the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1776.
3. Discuss the consequences of the American Revolution both in America and Europe.
4. Asses the significance of the American Revolution in world affairs.
5. Identify the economic causes of the American cause.
TOPIC AREA 5: SOCIETY
Sub-topic area 1: Human rights, duties and responsibilities
Unit 12: Rights, duties and responsibilities
Sub-topic area 2: Democracy and justice
Unit 13: State and government
Sub-topic area 3:
Unity Unit 14: Interdependence and unity in diversity
Sub-topic area 4: Conflict transformation
Unit 15: Social cohesion
Sub-topic area 5: Dignity and self-reliance
Unit 16: Hindrances of dignity and self-reliance in Rwandan society
Sub-topic 6: Disability and inclusive education
Unit 17: Concept of disability and inclusive education