Radicalism Gary B Nash Summary

Gary B. Nash argues that the American Revolution portrayed “radicalism” in the sense on how the American colonies and its protesters wanted to accommodate their own government. Generally what Gary B. Nash is trying to inform the reader is to discuss the different conditions made by the real people who were actually fighting for their freedom. In his argument he makes it clear that throughout the revolution people showed “radicalism” in the result of extreme riots against the Stamp Act merchants, but as well against the British policies that were implemented. He discusses the urgency of the Americans when it came to declaring their issues against the British on how many slaves became militants and went up against their masters in the fight

It all starts when the Sons of Liberty took action in the streets of New York to look for merchants that abided the Stamp Act. (Hollitz, 70).In fact these merchants would manipulate the merchant for instance, “the stamps, which were brought to the Coffee House; the merchant who had used them was ordered himself to kindle the fire and consume them…” this suggests the definition of what radicalism is upon the American colonists view. (Hollitz, 72). Radical the American colonists were with the people who abide with the British policies. They forced these poor merchants into burning their own belief of British policies or else, they would be burned to death. These people who illustrated radicalism personified the true enlighten of how the American Revolution indeed was with going against British favorites and hitting hard on the British

The alternative outcome of this is that merchants were forced to either sign a contract stating that they will no longer serve for the British, and if not, they would face serious consequences of, “cut off…hair before tarring, and feathering him…” this evidence grants how radical these colonists were in going against the British power.(Hollitz, 74). But not as much how a mob hanged up Stamps of the King and next to the picture the devil. This symbolizes the urgency of how these radicalists feel against the King, they want to overthrow him and have their liberty. The source also suggests that these stamps were, “burnt in a fire for the purpose, together with my chariot, a single horse chair…they insulted their governor, broke into his house, burnt all his furniture…” true radicalism couldn’t be any more noticeable rather than this mob that destroyed and insulted their governor. (Hollitz, 70). They risk entirely everything to demonstrate to the British government that they’ll to anything in regard to free themselves from their ruling, but will go to the extreme to make a statement of what should be