Past events often weave themselves in and out of history, as it takes place, creating similar themes throughout the span of time. When an event is taking place, however, it is difficult to understand just how much previous decisions impact the present reality. It is not usually until one is well removed from a period of historical significance that one begins to comprehend the scope of influence. The American Revolution is one of these such events. At the time, it was easy to view it as a removed, separate event that was paving its own path, but now it is significantly visible that the American Revolution was heavily impacted by a period of previous history: The Enlightenment era and its roots in the rest of the Atlantic World. In history class, …show more content…
One such illustration would be the impact of the state of nature notion. If the state of nature is to be believed then it is fair to look at colonial-America and see their frustration with being, at times, unable to control their own decisions. The first such practical example of the aforementioned concept would be the White Pine Acts, created by the British, that was discussed by Pauline Maier. These acts were enacted to prohibit the cutting down of certain white pine trees and, by prohibiting them, directly impacted the local economies of towns in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. In what can be seen as a practical application of John Locke’s ideas on the state of nature, the colonists pushed back against the government in the form of riots. This forceful, yet distant, form of governmental rule continued to further an atmosphere of absolutism. Absolutist rule kept most of the colonists in line for some time, but some colonists took hold of the idea as one of their own personal reasons to oppose Great Britain’s rule over the colonies. Another aspect of the American Revolution that can draw a direct correlation from the Enlightenment era is personal freedom. Of all the conditions that the Enlightenment period hinges on, and the American Revolution exemplifies it would be personal freedom. Kant states that “for the public to enlighten itself; indeed, if it is only given freedom, enlightenment is almost inevitable.” It is clear to see that, at least in Kant’s eyes, Enlightenment was, in most cases, a byproduct of freedom for the individual. Maier makes the point that, while many colonists had not been keen on splitting from Britain, they were extremely interested in the rights and freedoms that would come along with it. This concept can draw distinct origins from John Locke’s state of nature that has
In regards to the American Revolution, the point that armed rebellion became inevitable arrived when after nearly five constant years of American colonist protesting. American 's had enough and needed to take a stand for the numerous inequalities they were forced to deal with. It was foreseeable that the American Revolution took place due to the unfair taxes that the British were giving Americans. Also, England was not allowing Americans their freedom, along with violence and the political dominance by the Parliament over the colonies by announcing the Stamp Act in 1765, which happened to nearly affect all Americans tremendously.
The American Revolution started when Britain started to tax the colonists without their consent. The stamp acts started a chain reaction of discontent. The colonists realized they were being treated unfairly and unequal to the citizens in Britain. Around this time when the Americans were facing discontent, many Enlightenment ideas were spreading. The colonists took many ideas like John Locke’s into mind when they planned their revolts. They were fighting for natural rights of
Between 1770 and 1776, resistance to imperial change turned into a full-on revolution. The American Revolution, also known as the Revolutionary War, was a time of revolting and political uprising, in which the 13 colonies separated from the British Empire, forming the independent nation known as the United States of America. Though the American Revolution began because the colonies wanted independence from Britain, many important historical events and revolts also lead to the tensions and resistance to what resulted in freedom and independence for the colonies from British rule. Events such as the Stamp and Sugar Acts, the Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Intolerable Acts, and the Continental Congress led to expanding tensions and soon to the outbreak of the American Revolution.
This is about the American revolution and the taxes the King of England put on the American colonists and how the American colonists thought that King George was a tyrant. The reason that writing this is to show how the American colonists reacted to the Acts that the King put on them. One of the laws was the sugar act of 1764 and the imports from Britain. There was also the stamp act of 1765 that made the colonists real mad . The result of the Tea act was the Boston tea party lead by the Sons of Liberty. The quartering act was the direct cause of the Boston massacre where eleven people were shot and five of them died.
There are many different views on how the American Revolution came to be and how it actually was. One way is that the colonists that had money and were known as the elite were trying to preserve their power from the British and this is what caused the revolutionary war. Then on the other hand before the revolutionary war occurred when the colonists were being over controlled by the British, then in result of the American Revolution the colonists were able to win against the British and become stronger, more united, and have the type government they wanted. As described in Gordon S. Wood’s essay Radical Possibilities of the American Revolution, the colonists only wanted to be free from the control of the British and the only way they could accomplish that was to have a war with Britain to show that they could hold their own.
The American Revolution is typically looked at as a conservative movement, but it seems most of the actions taken were very radical. They were fighting to defend their rights, governed and natural. The American Revolution was as radical as any other revolution, in a special 18th century way, and this seems to hold true while looking at the new waves of thinking. It involves the Whigs and Tories, and while they are at opposite sides of the spectrum, they consecutively agreed to not address and higher-law principles so they would not have to rework their entire system.. The Revolution worked against this, and the parties chose to pretend it was not a serious movement and act, as they believed it would not take any effect. More people got involved and all aspects of life began to be questioned and revolutionized. The Revolution seems to be radical in a more definitive way as it caused segregation of beliefs, the Declaration of independence, and
war, it is a sign of radical action. Britains' army was four times as big
The Road to the Revolution was the product of 40 years of abuses by the British authorities that many colonists regarded as a threat to their liberty and property. The Revolution resulted from the way the colonist interpreted events. “You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you make good use of it” that quote was from John Adams.“Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have war, let it begin here’’ - Captain John Parker, 1175. Captain John Parker was an American colonial farmer, mechanic, soldier, and colonial militia, he faced British troops on Legington common; he was in the revolutionary war he died in Bunker Hill because, what is called Tuberculosis.
The year 1770 had inflamed many colonist in the Americas into blind uncontrollable wrath, while the colonists tried to become a self-ruling state and discard the strong unbreakable clinch the British had on the Americas, the British had established several obstacles making the colonists having to work harder to become an independent country. Several acts was placed upon the American colonists such as the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, and the Currency Act that had restricted America to broaden their horizons and become economically stable to grow and flourish and imposed additional taxes on common products imported into the colonies such as paper, glass, and tea, The colonists soon started smuggling (moving goods illegally into and
The American Revolution has provided no shortage of patriotic and romanticized images and ideals for the general public throughout history. Indeed, to this very day, Americans hark back to this ‘glorious achievement’ with pride and use it as fuel for everything from selling jeans (Levi/Strauss) to the creation of video games (Assassin’s Creed.) But the question has remained, for all the hoopla and “remembrance” that surrounds this period in western history – was this revolution justified? As the evidence will help provide, the American Revolution was indeed justified.
The American Revolution was one of the most vital events in American History lasting form 1775 to 1783, it effected the nation socially, economically and politically. The American Revolution brought upon many changes in America, and freedom of the nation. The Revolutionary War was a stepping stone to what we are as a nation today, it created both short and long-term effects on the world. When wanting to blame a certain side, the British politicians or the American agitators, several key points lead to one considering the British Politicians being at fault for the events that led up to and occurred during The American Revolution.
On the night of January 2, 1777, patriots left there campfire burning along the Delaware River to make the British believe they were still there, while in reality they circled behind the British troops. Washington attacked and rejoiced as he saw his army destroy the British. This was significant because now, new soldiers joined the army and other re-enlisted. This affected the colonists because now the army and the revolution was saved.
From the late 17th to mid 18th centuries, the thirteen British colonies were under a period of salutary neglect. However, everything would shift when Great Britain defeated the French in the French and Indian War in 1763. Due to the financial debt Britain was put into, King George III abandoned salutary neglect and strictly controlled the colonies. To raise revenue to pay off the debt, Britain passed several economic acts which were met with great resistance from the colonists. Moreover, political and social controversies and differences increased the tensions between the motherland and her colonies.
History never teaches fatalism. There comes a moment when the will of a handful of a Freeman breaks through the determination and opens up the roads. Human history has always been filled with individual liberty ideas. Liberty is known to be the idea that is firmly held by men in their hearts, as they were willing to fight or even die for it. It was an ecstatic feeling when they finally achieved it. The people had an idea of a constitutional freedom and the moral quality, which was strongly held in the people’s hearts in America, and it consequently spread to other countries in the world. It is believed that American Revolution was the most important chapter in human history just because it was their action that made the ideals of liberty,
The revolution was revolutionary at all. All the revolutionary information that was told to us wasn't really even a revolutionary because it didn't say much about the details and what didn't change. The american revolution happened in the years 1765 and 1783 and it was about the colonies were becoming independent from England control. The american revolution was a conflict of great britain and the 13 colonies. How revolutionary was the american revolution. It is just a moment in time that really just helped the whites that didn't have power to have power and the whites that did have power to stay that way. In addition, other groups of people stayed the same or changed in a not so positive way. The American revolution to me means something that has changed for the better of everyone and everything about a certain situation. The American Revolution (was / was somewhat / was not) revolutionary. The american revolution wasn't really a revolution at all because of how much things didn't change for the better of the majority. This can be shown by looking at the political, social, and slavery, effects of the Revolution. I don't think the american revolution was revolutionary at all because it didn't really change any of the things that were going on except the fact that the revolution made us separated from England but the rest just stayed the same or made it worse for the people of color.