American Revolution
The American Revolution was a war for independence from England: the Founding Fathers had political, social and philosophical motivations. Philosophically, they were rooted in the Enlightenment, with men like Thomas Paine advocating for freedom and equality in his treatise The Rights of Man. Politically, the revolutionaries wanted independence so that they could govern themselves without any influence from abroad. As Holton (1999) explains, many of them wanted to be in control of the expansion of American territory and they did not like the fact that the English Crown was preventing them from doing so by signing treaties with the natives. Socially, the American Revolution was caused by a new American culture that was fostered by fierce independence, religious freedom, and a pioneer spirit. However, while the philosophical motives for the Declaration of Independence are very much set in the philosophy of Thomas Paine, the founding of America failed to fully incorporate these Enlightenment ideals, as equality was not really a bedrock of the Constitution. The fact is that the American colonists who wielded great power and influence in the colonies were most interested in expanding their land holdings and business operations, which they could only do by overthrowing Englands claim...
…(slavery still existed and would for another hundred years); women did not have any rights when it came to voting; and the propertied-classi.e., the aristocracyessentially reserved all power for itself. It was a very unequal and unfree society, top to bottom, in spite of the high-sounding principles voiced in the Declaration.Thus, one sees that at the root of it, the American Revolution was really driven by a desire among the colonists to be free from their debts, free from English taxation, free from interference by the Crown, and free to pursue expansion as they saw fit. By throwing over the Crown, the colonies could then…
References
Holton, W. (1999). Forced Founders: Indians, Debtors, Slaves, and the Making of the American Revolution in Virginia. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.
American Revolution (1763-1783) American colonists went through the hard time before revolution. The 13 colonies faced various problems due to supremacy of Great Britain. They were imposed with certain illegal acts by the Britain Parliament that placed them under risk to their freedom and independence. Britain Parliament specifically enforced such series of Acts that influenced the colonists in trading. Roots and Significance of Stamp Act Controversy The Sugar Act was among the first
American Revolution's Emphasis On Individual Rights The American Revolution was in many ways a conflict over liberty -- a war between the ideology of the old world (as represented by the monarchy and the crown) and the new world (as represented by the Romantic/Enlightenment doctrine illustrated in Thomas Paine's Rights of Man). This paper will discuss the ways in which the early political experiences of our nation's forefathers gave the American
In a democratic society, however, the responsibility for making governmental decisions is transferred to the citizenry and it is incumbent that the citizenry be provided with at least a rudimentary education so that they are in position to make such decisions. Although the original U.S. Constitution did not initially grant women the right to vote and otherwise participate in the government, women were afforded, on a limited basis, to
American Revolution New American History is full of many relevant events that have made a significant impact on the American History. Despite all the relevant things, it should be noted that America itself might not have been conceived if it had not been for the struggles that took place in the American Revolution. It was the starting point of the American history and the time when people were beginning to find
The British Parliament came out with further unjust laws, designed to recoup war losses, that further fanned the flames of revolution. In 1765, parliament passed the Stamp Act, requiring all legal documents and permits, newspapers, and even playing card produced in the Americas carry a tax stamp. The law caused widespread resentment, and was never fully enforced. Economic growth The period of 1690 to 1760 saw massive changes in the social, political
American Revolution, written in 2002 by Gordon Wood on this seminal event, won the Bancroft Prize that is awarded annually by Columbia University for its distinguished portrayal of American history. In a short 166 pages, Wood conquers over 20 years in a very concise and interesting way -- despite the fact that this topic has been covered time and time again, often in a very dry fashion. The American Revolution is
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