The American Revolution

Total words: 1697

By the year 1763, the gap and tension between the thirteen mainland American colonies and the British Empire began to expand. As the American colonists felt that under British rule they were being misrepresented and undermined by parliament, it became apparent that change was mandatory. The colonists' uprising was mainly due to parliament's choice of "taxation without representation;" however, as more time passed, and parliaments constraints seemed to jeopardize the colonists' liberties, the declaration of independence was initiated as the First Continental Congress met in 1774. What started as a struggle for independence, evolved into what is known as the American Revolution. In modern literary terms of a revolution, the American Revolution cannot be considered as a "revolution" but merely a radical change or rebellion that took place; on the other hand, a more traditional interpretation would disagree. The American Revolution started with the colonists' growing disapproval over British ruling techniques, and although at first they did not intend to break away, as the power struggle became more severe, separation became a necessary order. As war broke out and independence was finally gained, a new America was built and its impressionable impact left behind can still be seen in American society to this very day; however, the nature of the American movement has no actual right or wrong interpretation to justify whether it was or was not a revolution.

Initially, the American colonists were not planning to form an entirely new country separate from Britain; however, as they became more and more discontent with British regulations on economy and their constant struggle for power, independence was the only solution. In the early 1770's, the gap between the British government and the American colonist was starting to widen. As the corrupt and fickle ruler, George III, was unable to select fairly, a cabinet of qualified members, a political struggle grew. More specifically both the colonists and the British Parliament were unable to understand each other's views and suffered greatly from a lack of communication. In the words of Theodore Draper, the Revolution "was a struggle for power- between the power the British wanted to exercise over the Americans and the power the Americans wanted to exercise over themselves." He summed up overall the major issue that was the fundamental core of American separation. British citizens believed in the idea of parliamentary sovereignty and insisted that they were to be a supreme power over the colonies; however, the colonists had a different perspective. For example, parliament, being a "supreme power," felt that they could impose taxes on the American colonies to help support British interests, yet the colonists felt that if they were not being fairly represented in their own government then duties could not be forced. Soon enough this economic issue of "no taxation without representation" enveloped into a larger dispute, and with parliaments contrasting argument that Americans were "virtually represented" the power struggle went on a downward spiral. Originally Americans submitted and worked around imposed acts such as the Navigations Acts and the Sugar Act of 1764; however, as the Stamp Act of 1765 came about, the colonists were no longer willing to give in. As Britain realized that the Americans were becoming a quick growing rebelling force, in the words of Draper, "Such an impasse could not persist indefinitely; one or the other force had to give way" (125 Draper). By forming the Stamp Act Resolution, making protests, and petitioning, the colonists began to mobilize their power and soon enough the Continental Congress would meet and decide that independence was necessary and war would break out. The colonists realize that their only way to get representation was to separate, and so they did. In a struggle for power in both politics and economics, the Americans finally would come to the conclusion that the best way to gain everything that they wanted like equality and representation would be through the declaration of independence and recognition as a separate country. Therefore, after the Declaratory Acts of 1766 and Intolerable Acts of 1774 (in response to the Boston Tea Party), the colonists felt that their rights were being violated as Parliament stripped away all economic power, and declared supremacy in all cases, it was clear that if they didn't take action nothing would be done.

The power struggle that existed led to what can be called a revolution that changed the thirteen mainland colonies in political, economical, and social aspects, which has left its imprinted trail in American lifestyle today. As the Boston Tea Party came underway, it was apparent that the colonies had recognized their power, and no longer wanted to be enveloped under British rule. The Continental Congress in 1774, would initiate the idea of independence among the colonies; however, real action would be taken in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress assembled and war against their mother colony began. American lifestyle would no longer be the same, as influential figures like Thomas Paine, arose and persuaded colonists to think for themselves independent of Great Britain. Entering war in 1776 was the most powerful decision made by the American colonist as it declared their nature and state of wanting separation. Although it seemed doubtful that the Americans would win, with George Washington's military brilliance and the help of France a miraculous break off was achieved in 1783. It was apparent as independence was finally granted that the colonist wanted to operate their government differently then that in England. Their republican ideals showed greatly and made a land focused mainly on protecting the peoples' rights and liberties. As a result, social and political reform became a main factor. For example, in the new America, artificial status by noble birth was no longer in existence nor was the inheritance of political positions. Americans created a land that strived for equality and strayed away from monarchial rule, was derived and influenced by enlightenment ideals. Continually, unlike the British government, taxation would be initiated with the representation of the people in government. Although the American revolutionist got off to a rocky start, stability would one day be instilled. The political system that was inexistence was more cautious of weakening the main governments power over the people; however, this was mainly a reaction to the over powering parliament sovereignty that existed in the past. A transformed government into a republic is still existent in American society today. The Constitution made in 1776 along with the Bill of Rights and Articles of Confederation are all examples of traces from this period surviving in present day America. A government based more on the peoples' will, with enlightened views clearly showing through like equality and tolerance grew to be a part of American lifestyles nowadays. Republican ideals that are still apparent in America's society, demonstrates the importance of America's declaration of independence apart from Britain. If the war had not occurred, society today may have still been under British rule, and equality would still be questionable. The American colonists that banded together and declared independence made a segway into a new land fundamentally based on three pillars: freedom of speech, press, and religion. As seen by the U.S. Constitution that has been in effect for over a century, not much has been changed. Although amendments have been added, the fundamental basis of the republican ideals during the 18th century, are a large part of Americans' lives today.

Although many historians since the American Revolution have constantly disputed over the issue of whether it can even be considered a revolution, the answer is derived in the fact that no interpretation is neither right nor wrong. For example, Daniel J. Boorstin who adamantly says the revolution was merely a "colonial rebellion" has enough supporting evidence to prove this idea further. On his interpretation, he states, "that in the modern European sense of the world, it was hardly a revolution at all" (123 Boorstin). He provides sufficient verification to strengthen his statement as he states that the issue was separation and no ideas were actually generated. However, this is in terms of his perspective, others such as Gordon S. Wood would have a different opinion. Wood interpreted the radical change to be a revolution in the sense that a revolution meant any "political change as well as involved major social change." And as seen through the development of a new government, unlike Parliament in the aspects that it tried to be more fair to the people, his interpretation would also be accurate. However, it could be simply twisted around and looked at as not having any political change, (as Boorstin would say) since the government structure could be paralleled to that of the British parliament. For example, the government structure extended onto to house the House of Representatives and the Senate, which is extremely similar to the King superior to Parliament and the House of Commons. Moreover, this just further reiterates the fact that the American Revolution wasn't a revolution in modern terms like in Boorstin's interpretation, but it was a revolution when seen through the view of Woods. The accuracy in both of their interpretations have enough evidentiary support to prove each stance; however, whether the American transformation was really a revolution, is based on the opinion of the historian.

The American Revolution in the mid 1800's, were the stepping stones that paved the way for a new America separate from British rule. Originally, no one would have expected that independence would be achieved, due to the powerful mother colony Britain; however, by a miraculous feat colonists were able to break away. The revolution began as a colonial movement to make change and become represented in Parliament, but as this attempt seemed futile, the role for independence and separation came into play. As a result, the American Revolution became one of the most important events in American history that helped develop the fundamental basis of our lives today, and although historians look back and dispute over the title of "revolution" neither interpretation can be deemed as wrong. The American Revolution whether it was a revolution or not, was a starting off point of the American colonies which would eventually form the fifty states of the United States of America today.

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