American Revolution Dbq Analysis

The American Revolution was a political revolution that separated England’s North American colonies from Great Britain and led to the formation of the United States of America. The Revolution was achieved in large part by the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which was fought between England against America and its allies (France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic). The American Revolution embodied and reflected the principles of the Enlightenment, which emphasized personal liberty and freedom from tyranny among other ideals. The American revolutionaries and the Founding Fathers of the United States sought to create a nation without the shackles of the rigid social hierarchy that existed in Europe. Although the American Revolution succeeded

in establishing a new nation that was built on the principles of personal freedom and democracy, people still argue whether or not the revolution was revolutionary. The revolution embodied principles that made it both revolutionary and un-revolutionary, but when studied in depth one can see that the revolution embodied more revolutionary ideas than non-revolutionary.
For most colonists fighting for independence, the American Revolution represented an important social change and political change.

The American Revolution was based on replacing the English Monarch structure with republicanism and democracy. The social and political change, lead to the removal of britsh ideology in the new world. “The destruction of a british monument which is presumingly the King is destroyed by colonists after the war to celebrate their independence and start as their own country, The United States of America.” (Document A) This was a change to the architecture and art surrounding cities that used to be british colonies. Another change that was made is that in 1790 the metric system was rejected primarily because Americans did not want anything to do with their British ancestors. “The American government took possessions such as land from loyalist that supported Great Britain during the revolution. This was considered a redistribution of their wealth as it was given to the non wealthy farmers, trades people, local gentry and the church before given to the upper class.” (Document E) The American people did not want anything to do with Great Britain after the Revolution. They wanted to prove themselves as a nation. The nation went from a place ruled by tyranny to a republic where people had a voice and no one person shall have too much power. We distanced ourselves further and further from the way of the British and created America, a place filled with freedoms and change. Before the Revolution many white men could not vote, slavery in the north was abolished after the revolution and women got an education. The revolution was revolutionary it changed the status quo, it opened up doors for change that may have never been opened if we had stayed with the British. It paved the way for slavery to be abolished in all of the U.S., for all persons to be able to vote, and for democracy to be instilled not only in the U.S. but in other countries all around

the world. It even sparked revolutions in other countries. “All men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (Document B) After the revolution a new revolution of enlightenment ideas came about and inserted into our constitution. As of July 4th, 1776 all men were created equal though this had not completely been effective when inserted into the constitution since it was not subject to women and african americans. But, with the revolution the path would of never been paved for women’s and African American’s rights. White men ruled the world and others saw change occurring but it was a slow process to implement ideas. These ideas become implemented further in time, the first state to abolish slavery was in 1777 and the last to was in 1865, 88 years it took to completely abolish slavery. (Document K) Discrimination and segregation still continued for many years after the abolition of slavery. Yet, the American Revolution paved the way for slavery to be abolished and later the fight to end discrimination and establish equality. Women’s rights were restricted in the British colonies and early America. Women fought over 144 year for the right to vote from the day they were declared “equal.” “The 19th amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits any United States citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex.” (Document N) If the american revolution had not occurred women may have never become anything more than ignorant housewives (which many have managed to still become.) The American Revolution changed the way we live and without the revolution we may have still had slave, women would only be housewives, democracy would not exist, and equality would never exist. The British would most likely have stayed very powerful and maybe even ruled the world with colonies all over.
The American revolution changed the way in which we live our lives. The lasting legacy of the revolution can be seen in today’s society, the principles of the american revolution have guided us forward as a nation. These principals are about liberty and freedom. We continue to argue about what is written in the original documents of this nation, what does it mean when Jefferson said all men are created equal. Everyday we encounter a freedom that our founding fathers gave us. Without the Revolution we would not be the world’s greatest super power. Thus, the American Revolution was Revolutionary because it changed the landscape, social factors and political nature of this country and beyond its borders.