The American Revolution
There are many things leading up to the American Revolution. One of the biggest things being the Declaration of Independence. Still, many things have led up to the Declaration of Independence. The point is, if we really want to understand the American Revolution, we have to go back a couple years where the idea started and to the events that led up to it. Timelines can be very helpful in tracing back different events that had some affect on The American Revolution. I created one where I put together what I thought in my opinion, the most important events leading up to the American Revolution.
To start off the timeline, we have the Zenger case in 1733. Although at first glance it might not seem like it has direct ties with the American Revolution, I believe that it really started something important throughout the citizens minds'. This case was the start of developing free press and many other rights that
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we now have today. Now moving into mid-1700s, the Enlightenment. I think that the enlightenment is a crucial part of what became the American Revolution. The Enlightenment promoted freedom of thought and expression, a belief in equality, and the idea of popular government. It spread the idea that knowledge, reason, and science could improve society. The Enlightenment was a huge thing that changed the way many citizens thought. All of this knowledge coming in is really important because now the citizens could think for themselves better. They were more aware of their future and was prepared to take action. Now we move into the French and Indian War, or the seven year war going from 1754-1763. This too really inspired a revolution in America. The French and Indian War was just the start to much rebellion and fighting in the future. It is almost like It's own revolution. In 1763 was the Treaty of Paris. This is important because it was the official ending of the war and in the document, was assigning what countries got what land. This part of the timeline, is where the more violent/rebellious events occurred that were leading to the American Revolution. We jump right into 1765 where colonists protested the Stamp Act. The Stamp act required the American colonists to pay a tax on all printed products used. The reason the colonists were taxed was because Great Britain was very deep in debt from the French and Indian war. This rose fury in the colonists' minds. Together they protested and protested and took down the act down. This is a very important part of history because here was when the colonists united and grew uneasy about being under the control of Britain. We have now reached the Boston Massacre in 1770 where 5 citizens were killed and 6 people were wounded. This is a huge event that had a big part of the American Revolution. The people and families that were hurt in the massacre I can only imagine were not happy to be under the control of the country's troops that had hurt them and their beloved ones. Jumping to 1773, the Boston tea party takes place. After the Boston Massacre, colonists protested the tax on tea by refusing to buy it from the British. Their protest worked because the British were failing in their business. This is important because the citizens believed because of the Tea Act, that the British were trying to steal their independence and freedom. Wrapping up on the timeline, in 1774, the First Continental Congress met to discuss a unified plan of action in response to the Intolerable Acts passed by the British Parliament.
This is so important because The American citizens were slowly getting more and more independent. In 1775, the battles of Lexington and Concord occurred. This battle was important because the Americans could prove themselves to Britain. Finally, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued. This meant freedom from Britain. At this point all ties were cut off with Britain and this ultimately led to the American Revolution.
Of course every event that had happened in this time period had something to do with the American Revolution, but these ten in my opinion are what really stands out. For deeper research, I could go many more years back where just the thought of independence was introduced. But for now, I think this gives me a very clear idea on how over time the things that happened everyday in this time led to a Revolution, the American
Revolution.
Lucia Raatma’s “The Battles of Lexington and Concord” is important because it describes why the battles were fought and their effects. The American Revolution as a whole was fought to “give colonies freedom from British rule” (Raatma 4) due to unfair taxation from King III of England (Raatma 8). This shows that the driving force of the revolution was the dissatisfaction of the colonists concerning the treatment they received from the king. As a result, the colonists had had enough of the unfairness and tyranny and decided to take matters into their own hands. Several acts of protests, such as the Boston Tea Party, made the British king “furious” (Raatma 10). As a response to these protests, the king sent more soldiers and made stricter laws, which only made colonists even more upset. The back and forth tension between the colonists and the British government was the reason why the Battle of Lexington and Concord occurred, and in turn, why the American Revolution began. The American Revolution caught attention from the entire world, giving the nickname to the first shot fired the “shot heard ‘round the world” (Raatma 5). The 13 colonies who were weak economically and militarily, were taking on Great Britain, a world power with a strong military, a situation which naturally other countries wanted to see. The firing of the first shot at Lexington marked the beginning of a revolution that other countries, such as France and Haiti, would soon attempt to mimic. There were several factors that contributed to the beginning of the revolution, which are significant around the world.
Being unjust and unfair to someone will eventually lead up to something major in this case it was the break away from Britain. The question “Were the American colonists justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain?” is important because it really expands and expresses the dangers and struggles the colonists faced back then. It proves the decision the colonists had made was the right decision to make. This is especially important today because if the colonists hadn't decided to split from the British then we would have not reached the freedom we have
The battles of Lexington and Concord were neccessary battles to the American Revolutionary War because they started the very thing that made our country free. Many people have always wondered how the historic American Revolutionary War got started. Sure, they have heard the stories of Paul Revere and the Midnight Ride: There was even a poem written about his ride, but Paul Revere didn’t start the war. It was a much bigger deal than just that.
From the time period 1775-1800, the American Revolution would impact the United States in political, social and economic ways.
The American Revolution is without a question one of the, if not the most, important period in the beginning of American history. Between 1765 and 1783, the colonists rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy after a series of taxes and tariffs were forced upon them, finally the colonists then ultimately overthrew their authority and founded the United States of America. Many historians and authors have debated over the exact reason and overall effects of the War for Independence, however, all agree of the significance and importance of this event. The colonies, which were created as a resource for raw materials and a means for generating profits for Parliament and the Crown, began to desire managing their own affairs and worked towards
The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a war between England and the colonies which were settled earlier by the English. There were many factors and events that led to the American Revolution. The Revolution was mainly an economic rebellion that was fueled by taxation without representation following the French and Indian War. The English Parliament was more often than not considered cruel and unfair by the colonists. With conflicts over trade, taxes and government representation, the colonies were at a starting line of a revolution that would later transform into the basis of the United States of America.
The American Revolution, also known as the War for Independence began from 1785-1783. The primary cause for the war was because of a conflict between the 13 British colonies and England. The American Revolution resulted in a victory for the 13 British colonies who would declare themselves as the United States of America. However, there are many questions on whether or not the American Revolution was really revolutionary and if there were revolutionary changes being made to society. The American Revolution was not revolutionary because separation between African-Americans and Whites still existed, no change in women's representation or their voices being valued as high as men, and the Indians were promised the “Utmost Good Faith” but the result
Revolution is briefly described as an attempt to overthrow a government to start a new one. The American Revolution took place between 1775 and 1783 and was a fight for American Independence from England. In 1764, the first of many “Intolerable Acts” were passed. The British Parliament began to excise tax on the American colonies without representation, sparking the great conflict. The British were continuing to incorporate new ways to make more money. England was the most powerful country at the time with an intimidating military, so this wasn’t a hard task to complete. The American Revolution was very Revolutionary because, it jump started the abolition of slavery, it brought about many political and social advances, and served as a stepping stone towards a democracy and a strong centralized government.
The American Revolution was sparked by a myriad of causes. These causes in themselves could not have sparked such a massive rebellion in the nation, but as the problems of the colonies cumulated, their collective impact spilt over and the American Revolution ensued. Many say that this war could have been easily avoided and was poorly handled by both sides, British and American; but as one will see, the frame of thought of the colonists was poorly suited to accept British measures which sought to “overstep” it’s power in the Americas. Because of this mindset, colonists developed a deep resentment of British rule and policies; and as events culminated, there was no means to avoid revolution and no way to turn back.
Revolutions are usually described as “radical” events. A “radical” event is defined as one that greatly changes the political, cultural, social, and/or economic nature of a society. I believe that the American Revolution was a radical event that dramatically changed our society. There were many impacts to the changes such as slavery, primogeniture, the Articles of Confederation, republican motherhood, and government. This was the time in life, that we as America gained our independence from Britain. The American Revolution is what shaped our world to become what it is today.
The connection between Britain and the English colonies was that of the ruling of the colonies by the king of Britain, King George III and his parliament. The king’s ruling was very unfavorable for the colonists because of his tyrannic dictatorship and unjustly taxations. The mere thought of an island ruling an entire continent thousands of miles away with poor communication and lack of supervision of the colonies by the king, did not work in favor of the colonies nor for Britain. Three contributing factors for the outbreak of the American Revolution were (1) the king’s taxes, (2) neglect of the 13 colonies and (3) England’s mercantilism policy. King George III and his decisions were one of the major causes that had the English colonists fumed with anger towards Britain and this eventually led to the American Revolution.
The American Revolution was so much more than just a war, or a time in history. It was a time where America grew, and as the name suggests, revolutionized their way of thinking and governing. It was a time for some great thinkers to get their ideas out there, and these ideas helped shape America into what it is today. These revolutionary thinkers shared their ideas publicly, and that gave the people ways to revolutionize their thoughts as well. They flipped what they knew about government upside down.
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.
The relationship between Britain and her Americans colonies slowly deteriorated between the 1750s and the beginning of the American Revolution. When the first British immigrants settled in America, the relationship of the colonies and their mother country was somewhat peaceful. In the following generations, however, their relationship became tenser as Britain imposed policies and taxes on unrepresented American colonists. The British believed they were right in doing so because they had large debts to pay from ongoing wars with France. These taxes caused uprisings among colonists which contributed to British occupation in America, leading to more rebellions. Eventually, the rift in the relationship between the colonists and the British led to the Revolutionary War and the formation of a new country.
Once everyone was against England, the people were ready for war. The American Revolution started for many reasons, some of the few being social, economic, and political changes. These changes provided America with an independent country with its own government. The increase in strict laws and violent events made many Americans angry, and that’s why the revolution began. The French and Indian war, taxes without representation, as well as the first continental congress.