The American Revolution: A Revolutionary Change

941 Words2 Pages

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word revolution is defined as "the usually violent attempt by many people to end the rule of one government and start a new one." The word revolutionary means "relating to, involving, or supporting a political revolution."
According to the definitions of revolution and revolutionary, it is evident that the American Revolution was, in fact, revolutionary, because the colonies achieved independence, cultivated and implemented an effective constitution, questioned the roles of both the roles of women in society and the institution of slaves, acquired territory, and loyalists departed because of it. These accomplishments all relate back to the colonists coming together to support the political revolution that took place.
The American Revolution allowed the colonies to gain independence. As tensions rose between the colonies and Britain, the "delegates voted unanimously to declare independence" 197 on July 2, 1776. The Declaration of Independence reiterated familiar principles that applied to the American situation in a clear and simple way 198 Asserted all were born with …show more content…

Despite the obvious shortcomings, the American Revolution was revolutionary, because it was a catalyst to the resolution of issues such as women's rights and the abolition of slavery, because the ideas from the Revolution, Enlightenment, and the Great Awakening ignited the debate to challenge slavery and the roles of women in society. While the new system of government was not a true democracy, it gave the people a voice in government, and was a drastic improvement over the old system of government created under the Articles of

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast French And Latin American Revolutions

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Revolution is one word that summarizes complete change. To put the name of a country before the word revolution means complete change in that country's government. In some way, whether it be politically, economically, or socially, the government failed to appease the people. In France and Latin America they stopped at virtually nothing to gain their goal. Latin America literally bit the hand the fed them and France beheaded their own king. This was all done in the name of reformation and change because somehow their government severely let down their people.

    Read More

  • The American Revolution In The United States Chapter 1 Summary

    435 Words  | 1 Pages

    In chapter eleven, The Age of Democratic Revolutions: The North Atlantic World “Turn Upside Down”, Wells discusses the American and French Revolutions. Both of these revolutions shook the world and turn the world around. After the Enlightenment, there were many revolutions across Europe; however, the American and French Revolution had more power in them to change the world. Because of the books, pamphlets, and sermons, the idea of rationalism moved from philosophes to many of other people. With these new ideas, the people started to believe in change which led to stress and upheaval. In America, the revolution was not like other revolutions. There was no reigns of terror, no mass deportations, or forced labor camps. However, the American

    Read More

  • The American Revolution: The Beginning of Independence And Equality

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    The colonists had been unfairly taxed and had no been allowed to represent their opinions in Parliament so they sought justice for the inequalities they endured. The revolution was the institution of the independence and equality of our democratic country, the United States of America. Without the problems that arose in the late 18th century causing the revolution to take place, there might not be the openness of sovereignty there is now.

    Read More

  • Autonomy, Responsibility and the American Revolution

    2760 Words  | 6 Pages

    The American Revolution was a war in which the colonists achieved political independence from their former rulers Great Britain. It was "the formulation of new principles of the relation of men to government, and of the relation of colonies to mother country. It was the inauguration of effective self-government and of social and economic equality."1 The colonists, in effect, achieved full autonomy from Great Britain through the American Revolution. The colonists felt (for the betterment of all Americans) that it was their duty and responsibility to rise up against their oppressors to form their own government. John Adams even states, "[that] the real American Revolution was a radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people. Above all, [the Revolution] was in the minds and hearts of the peopl...

    Read More

  • What the Revolution Really Was

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Webster’s Online Dictionary, revolution is “a sudden, radical or complete change.” During the early settlement of the British colonies, settlers became so culturally different from those in Great Britain that they already seemed to be their own country. This is what John Adams meant in saying, “What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people… years before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.” In fact, the revolution began years before the colonists began to feel mistreated by the British. As they arrived in the new colonies, they noticed many major differences in the society and culture of this new place. As time went on, they learned about the colonies and the society there, and eventually, they evolved their cultures and lifestyles to comply with this new society. The primary changes the colonists the colonists made were in their economic system, their lifestyle, and their freedoms. In England, the economic system was primarily industrious, while in it was agriculture. In addition, the colonists, especially those in the south, relied very heavily on slave labor for agricultural purposes. In Great Britain, however, slavery did exist, but it was not relied upon for a functional society. The final change the settlers made in the New World was religion. In Great Britain, the king forced everyone to join the Church of England and leave the Roman Catholic Church. When in the colonies, settlers could go back to whatever religion they desired, so colonial religion was extremely diverse. Therefore, three main changes or “Revolutions”

    Read More

  • The American Revolution, A Fight for Colonial Independence

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Is there a single trait of resemblance between those few towns and a great and growing people spread over a vast quarter of the globe, separated by a mighty ocean?” This question posed by Edmund Burke was in the hearts of nearly every colonist before the colonies gained their independence from Britain. The colonists’ heritage was largely British, as was their outlook on a great array of subjects; however, the position and prejudices they held concerning their independence were comprised entirely from American ingenuity. This identity crisis of these “British Americans” played an enormous role in the colonists’ battle for independence, and paved the road to revolution.

    Read More

  • A New Kind Of Revolution By Carl N. Degler Summary

    414 Words  | 1 Pages

    According to Carl N. Degler, the entire Revolution should be viewed as a conservative change. In “A New Kind of Revolution,” Degler talked about how the new actions taken place by the English had help structure and shape the colonial government. Not only did the colonies lack the affection of their motherland, Britain, they were also taxed unfairly. On the other hand, “The Radicalism of the American Revolution,” by Gordon S. Wood talks about how the American Revolution was a radical movement. His thesis covered how the country was transitioning from monarchy to republic, and now, democracy. The framers wanted to create a free nation where no single person rule. As well as, the people of the nation having the ultimate say so.

    Read More

  • A Radical Revolution

    1337 Words  | 3 Pages

    ..., certain women were able to participate in politics and government issues like never before. People of color were given freedom and able to form communities that likely would not have existed if not for the principles of the Revolution. The inherent rights and responsibilities of all men, women, coloreds, and whites were eventually recognized and respected, and the Revolution served as a starting point. Zagarri states, “The Revolution established universal ideals as the benchmark by which American society would subsequently judge the fairness and equity of its policies.” These established ideals and this story of extreme change in the way people viewed freedom is nothing short of radical. The successful way in which the Revolution surpassed European political and social traditions can only be described as radical. The American Revolution, therefore, was radical.

    Read More

  • The Cause Of The Civil War The Second American Revolution

    1831 Words  | 4 Pages

    Which means all people, not giving thought to any struggle in the past. A revolution is a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence. As stated before, society changed, but the social structure of the society did not. When observing historical context, this can be a revolution because social structures either reverted back to the old ways then changed to an extent.

    Read More

  • American Revolution and its Aftermath

    1157 Words  | 3 Pages

    The American Revolution marked the divorce of the British Empire and its one of the most valued colonies. Behind the independence that America had fought so hard for, there emerged a diverging society that was eager to embrace new doctrines. The ideals in the revolution that motivated the people to fight for freedom continued to influence American society well beyond the colonial period. For example, the ideas borrowed from John Locke about the natural rights of man was extended in an unsuccessful effort to include women and slaves. The creation of state governments and the search for a national government were the first steps that Americans took to experiment with their own system. Expansion, postwar depression as well as the new distribution of land were all evidence that pointed to the gradual maturing of the economic system. Although America was fast on its way to becoming a strong and powerful nation, the underlying issues brought about by the Revolution remained an important part in the social, political and economical developments that in some instances contradicted revolutionary principles in the period from 1775-1800.

    Read More

  • How Revolutionary Was The American Revolution?

    886 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, the American Revolution was very revolutionary. It was a huge milestone in American history. The war not only gave America their own independence from the most powerful country in the world, it gave the American government the basis of how it runs today and brought about many social and political changes. Although many historians see the war as a change of power from one greedy power to another, Americans wouldn’t have a democracy and citizens wouldn’t have the rights they have.

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of The American Revolution

    1341 Words  | 3 Pages

    Revolution is an event that changes the life and politics of a certain people. Revolution can be both insignificant and radical. American revolutionary war was one of the best example of radical revolution. It affected to American society in terms of politically, economically, and socially. The war was motivated by high taxation, such as Stamps Act, that British offered to Colonial people and unequal treatment that Colonial people went through. The first time, most of them did not care about high taxation because they would not have any way to get away with it. However, after the Stamps Act, people started to be frustrated with desire to have equal rights. Then they held 1st continental congress, which was the confederation to discuss and find to solution to it. However, they did not want independence, all they wanted to do was to go back to Salutary Neglect. Also, it was the reactant of Intolerable Act. Before that, a lot of events occurred such as The Boston Massacre, The Boston Tea party. Various events led Revolutionary War. The American Revolution was so radical that changed social aspects of the United States.

    Read More

  • Equality During The American Revolution

    469 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Revolutionary Era was an era where the Revolutionary war more commonly known as the American Revolution took place. The American Revolution, which involved Americans fighting against the British, was one of the most significant events that happened in the 18th-century. This war was a major turning point for the Americans because it was the first time that the “new world” successfully declared and attained independence from Great Britain. This new independence allowed for the “new world” and “old world” to be completely distinct and different from each other. The meaning of revolutionary is “constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change” (Merriam-Webster's dictionary, 2018). Although the Revolutionary Era succeeded in establishing

    Read More

  • Revolutions - A justified Means of Change?

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    The American Revolution ended two centuries of British rule for the 13 colonies and created the modern United States of America. The Revolutionary era was an exhilarating and productive time for most people living in North America. In the wake of the Revolution came events as varied as the drafting and ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America, which ensured that the rights of all Americans were to be protected, and to guarantee that all people would be involved in running the country with their form of government, democracy. The basic makeup of this was to ensure that all citizens were treated equal. This prompted the phrase "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

    Read More

  • Liberty During The American Revolution

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    The American Revolution can truly be described as revolutionary to a certain degree, depending on which particular group you focus on. In the south, for the white people in poverty, the American Revolution was described as revolutionary. The Revolution resulted in the manumission of many black people in the northern states, however was this really revolutionary is questionable given the economic importance of slavery in the North. Thus for black slaves in the South, women regardless of race, and Indians, it can hardly be described as

    Read More

More about The American Revolution: A Revolutionary Change

Open Document