The American Revolution Essay
The American Revolution Essay
HIST 405N Week 2 Discussion Questions
Discussion 1: The American Revolution
What were the causes of the American Revolution? How did the British colonists evolve from good citizens to revolutionaries and back something as unique as the Declaration of Independence?
The American Revolution
Introduction
Between 1765 and 1783, a series of political, economic, and ideological forces drove the American Revolution (Greene, 2000). The Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, two heavy taxes levied by the British government without colonial representation, acted as a trigger (Wolf, 2008). Colonial unrest was exacerbated by the lack of political rights and interventions in trade, which sparked a resistance movement based on the principles of equality, liberty, and self-determination. This The American Revolution Essay assignment looks at what caused the American Revolution, and how they changed from being obedient subjects to revolutionaries.
The causes of the American Revolution
The American Revolution, which took place from 1765 to 1783, was primarily driven by an array of political, economic, and ideological factors. A major driving force behind the revolution was the British government’s imposition of heavy taxes on the American colonies, like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, without providing colonial representation in the British Parliament (Wolf, 2008). This taxation without representation served as a rallying cry for the colonists, who felt that their political rights were being violated. Trade restrictions and the British Crown’s meddling in colonial commerce also played a crucial role in the revolution. In addition, the revolution’s ideological foundations derived from a growing sense of American identity and a desire for increased autonomy (Hebb, 1960) The American Revolution Essay. The American colonies’ quest for independence from British rule was the result of a resistance movement that was sparked by the ideas of liberty, equality, and self-determination.
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Evolution from good citizens to revolutionaries, and Declaration of Independence
British colonists gradually turned from being obedient subjects to rebels as a result of a number of incidents that made them lose faith in the British government. Many colonists initially believed themselves to be loyal to the Crown and tried to settle disputes amicably (Wolf, 2008). However, the colonies’ relationship with the mother country became strained as a result of a series of oppressive policies, such as taxation without representation, the stationing of British troops in the colonies, and limitations on colonial self-governance. Colonial sentiment changed as a result of the growing sense of British overreach, which in turn encouraged a growing yearning for self-determination and independence (Hebb, 1960).
The signature of the Declaration of Independence, a ground-breaking document written mostly by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, marked the culmination of the colonists’ revolutionary experience (Wolf, 2008). The declaration expressed the colonists’ long-standing complaints against British rule and celebrated the inherent rights of every person in a succinct but impactful way. It boldly declared that the consent of the governed was the source of a government’s legitimacy and, more importantly, it affirmed the colonies’ absolute right to break off their political ties to Britain. The declaration, which was based on the Enlightenment principles of individual liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness, served as both a rationale for independence and a thorough philosophical foundation for the founding of a new country. This led to the fight for independence.
As a founding document that not only commemorated the country’s founding but also established the principles of democratic governance and the defense of individual rights, the Declaration of Independence continues to be a key figure in the development of the United States (Wolf, 2008). Its tenets have stood the test of time, shaping the country’s character and course over many centuries, highlighting its lasting importance in history (Hebb, 1960).
Conclusion
InThe American Revolution Essay conclusion, the Declaration of Independence marked the end of the American Revolution. Produced primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the document, that is the Declaration of Independence persuasively expressed the complaints of the colonists while defending individual liberties and the notion that consent from the governed is necessary for government legitimacy. In addition to commemorating the founding of the United States, this revolutionary proclamation established the theoretical framework for democratic government. Its enduring values have moulded the identity of the country and have stood the test of time as a tribute to the spirit of liberty and self-determination.
References
Hebb, D. O. (1960). The American revolution. American Psychologist, 15(12), 735. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0043506
Greene, J. P. (2000). The American Revolution. The American Historical Review, 105(1), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1086/ahr/105.1.93
Wolf, N. (2008). Give me liberty: A handbook for American revolutionaries. Simon and Schuster The American Revolution Essay.