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Political forces in the "American Revolution
American revolution social political and economic
American revolution effects on society
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The American people turned to Republicanism because they believed in a political system run by the people, not by a supreme authority. It became clearer to them over the course of the American Revolution, and even before, that they had wanted equality and the liberty to run their own governemt. King George III parliament had imposed policies to weaken colonial power and assert authority, raised their taxes, and required them to house the British soldiers that enforced such policies. The colonies were prohibited from trading with other countries, being limited to only Britain. Navy ships patrolled the area in search for smugglers and manufacturing in the colonies became restricted so it wouldn’t compete with the industries in Great Britain. Worker in the towns had less chances to work and earn money due to the restriction of …show more content…
Americans were not angry that they housed the soldiers, it was that it was a requirement. In some cases, residents would sleep in their barns while a soldier rested comfortably in the master bedroom. Massachusetts and New York assemblies voted against assigning the supplies to troops. In response, Townsend halted the New York assemblies until they agreed to support the act. More troops had been sent to America to keep control of the situation in the colonies. The soldiers weren’t just using their resources now, but also taking jobs. The soldiers did not make as good money and would look for jobs in the colonies, competing with the colonists who were workers in the towns. Furious dockworkers had a scuffle with a group of soldiers. Five people were killed due to the fact that a few soldier had fired at the rowdy crowd. The authority of Britain had forced the colonists in to having to share their livelihoods with these soldiers, a livelihood that was already being taken away from
While Britain still acknowledged the colonies, and the colonists remained loyal to the crown, the colonies were generally left to govern themselves. After the French and Indian War, however, King George III saw in his colonies a way to capitalize. Britain was in a post-war economic depression, and needed a source of income (Stamp Act). The colonies provided a perfect answer. They had set up their own systems of trade and manufacturing during the times of salutary neglect, and were becoming increasingly self sufficient.
There were great economic problems in the colonies at the time. For one thing, the prices of tobacco, the major economic base of the colonies, were falling fast. To add to the decrease in tobacco price, Great Britain was also increasing taxes on the Americans. This did not help the situation in the colonies.
In a similar economic revolution, the colonies outgrew their mercantile relationship with the mother country and developed an expanding capitalist system of their own. England's economic system was primarily based on mercantilism, which was directly related to the colonies. This concept of mercantilism said that wealth is power and however much power you have is how much gold and silver one country has in its treasury. For this concept to take place, England had to export more than import. Because the colonies had the raw materials needed England set up laws such as navigation laws to restrict what the colonies coul...
“The Revolution was the most radical and far reaching event in American history.” This is the premise of Gordon S. Wood’s book The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Within these pages Wood attempts to prove that the American Revolution was radical because it fundamentally changed the social and political structures of colonial America, structures that had always been fused together. Accordingly, he asserts that the separation of these institutions forms the basis of his argument for radicalism.
The colonists were required to pay for the veterans of a war that left Britain in debt so that British taxes could reduce, but colonial taxes would increase. “They also believed it was unjust to ask them to pay for the expenses of the British soldiers. They had no representatives in Parliament so they believed it was wrong for Parliament to pass any taxes on them. It was an age old principle of English law that taxation without representation was tyrannical.” The injustices brought on the colonists by the British government culminated in this act that required British soldiers to live in the homes of colonists. The colonists felt that the British were making the colonists pay for the debts of England. The resistance created by this led to strengthening colonial unity and the creation of revolutionary
One way of the British controlling the colonies was to impose trade regulations on them. They forced the colonies to trade only with them, as dictated by the Navigation Acts and the mercantile system.
The British also implemented new taxes. The Sugar act of 1764 sought to reduce smuggling, which occurred partly as a result of the earlier Molasses Act. This gave British possessions in the Caribbean the upper hand in sugar trade, which in the British view helped the empire as a whole, but to Americans, and especially the merchants, this put limits on their opportunities. The Currency Act, passed about this time forbade the printing of colonial currency. British merchants benefited because they didn't have to deal with inflated American currencies. The Americans felt they were at an economic disadvantage as very little sterli...
As an American observes the life around him, noting the many advancements made in merely the last century, he must wonder how America climbed to such a level. The 21st century technology, the military and political power, education and ethics, all came from such meager beginnings, solidified by the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War proved to be a significant turning point in the history of our country, but what caused America to win? What were some of the most significant factors in the victory of these American patriots? By examining these three particular factors, America’s military assets, it’s aid from other countries, and its own spirit of independence, one’s understanding of the Revolutionary War, an essential root of this nation, is truly increased.
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.
When one explains his or her ingenious yet, enterprising interpretation, one views the nature of history from a single standpoint: motivation. In The American Revolution: A History, Gordon Wood, the author, explains the complexities and motivations of the people who partook in the American Revolution, and he shows the significance of numerous themes, that emerge during the American Revolution, such as democracy, discontent, tyranny, and independence. Wood’s interpretation, throughout his literary work, shows that the true nature of the American Revolution leads to the development of United State’s current government: a federal republic. Wood, the author, views the treatment of the American Revolution in the early twentieth century as scholastic yet, innovative and views the American Revolution’s true nature as
During the midst of the American Revolution, revolutionary leaders realized that in order to survive, a government must be established. They no longer had reliance on Great Britain. They must develop a government that is not only sustainable, but one that would not resemble the governance of Britain. As a result, a radical ideology called “republicanism” arose. Republicanism would forever be ingrained in the history of America. Republicanism was “a way of life, a core ideology, an uncompromising commitment to liberty and equality.”
One facet of this unique system involved the numerous economic differences between England and the colonies. The English government subscribed to the economic theory of mercantilism, which demanded that the individual subordinate his economic activity to the interests of the state (Text, 49). In order to promote mercantilism in all her colonies, Great Britain passed the Navigation Acts in 1651, which controlled the output of British holdings by subsidizing. Under the Navigation Acts, each holding was assigned a product, and the Crown dictated the quantity to be produced. The West Indies, for example, were assigned sugar production and any other colony exporting sugar would face stiff penalties (Text, 50). This was done in order to ensure the economic prosperity of King Charles II, but it also served to restrict economic freedom. The geographical layout of the American colonies made mercantilism impractical there. The cit...
Gordon S. Wood, in The Radicalism of the American Revolution, discusses what it means to be truly revolutionary. In this work, Wood shares his thoughts on the Revolutionary War and whether or not it was a movement radical enough to be considered an honest revolution. Wood discusses the reasoning behind the views of those in favor of the war being considered radical, as well as the views of those who believe the American Revolution to be unfortunately misnamed. He claims that “the Revolution was the most radical and most far- reaching event in American history.” Wood’s work is a valuable source for those studying the revolution because it redefines what it means to be radical, but the piece is also limited by the lack of primary information
The location of the colonies played many roles in their commerce. These colonies stretched from what is today known as New Hampshire to Georgia. In this region, there are many mountains, trees, rivers and streams giving access to lots of lumber and fish. This region was also the border of modern America which gave the colonies great access to international trade was well. They were able to trade with Great Britain,
The American Revolution caused a drastic amount of change. While this big thing was going on there were many people that had been included. The British and the 13 colonies went to war against each other so that 13 colonies could try and win over their freedom. Abigail Adams sent a letter to her husband to try and convince the writers to include women's equal rights. There were many hopes that people had while the American Revolution was present in the 1770’s to the early 1780’s. How much change did the American Revolution cause? The American Revolution radically changed three areas of life; social, political, and economics.