American Revolution as the Turning Point in History

Introduction

• The conflict between the colonists and the British leading to the revolution;
• The Americans winning the war and establishing the new constitution;
• Thesis: The Revolution became the turning point in American history, allowing the country to obtain independence after years of oppression, taxing, and severe fighting.

The Causes of the American Revolution

Seven Year’s War leading to a substantial national debt:

Doubled after the seven-year’s war and was 13.5 times Britain’s annual revenue.

Unlawful reforms:

1. The Sugar Act (1764) to combat smuggling;
2. The Currency Act (1764) restricted producing paper money;
3. The Stamp Act (1765) required the documents to be stamped to show the duty had been paid;
4. The Tea Act (1773) repealed all the duties except on tea.

The Events Leading to the Revolution

1. The Boston Tea Party (1773) following the Boston Massacre during the protests against the British taxes;
2. First Continental Congress, where the representatives of thirteen colonies united in response to the intolerable acts.

The Revolutionary War

The Beginning;

1. Battle of Lexington and Concord where the first shot started the war;
2. The capture of Fort Ticonderoga and the battle of Bunker Hill.

The Ending;

1. The adoption of the Declaration of Independence;
2. The alliance with France and the treaty of Paris.

The Results of the Revolution

1. The American Independence established by the Constitution;
2. The democratic inspiration for the colonies.

Conclusion

• The most significant losses and achievements during the revolution;
• The establishment of the U.S and the constitution;
• The relevance of the revolution to the modern-day U.S.

Annotated Bibliography

Jefferson, J. (1776). Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. National Archives. Web. 

The transcript of the declaration of independence presents unique historical material that directly affected the American Revolution course. The declaration establishes the ground for the colonies’ independence through the main principles of equality and rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. The declaration also names the king of Great Britain and Parliament guilty of many cases of abuse. The history of the interactions between the heads of the colonies and Great Britain are listed and established fruitless because of the inability to reach a peaceful agreement. Concluding the declaration, Jefferson names the new nation the United States of America and lists its rights. The following source is useful in the paper since it establishes the causes of the conflict and the foundation of the country. It is credible because it is written by one of the Founding Fathers and signed by the congress members.

George R. T. Hewes, A Retrospect of the Boston Tea-party, with a Memoir of George R.T. Hewes (New York: 1834), 37-41.

The memoir of George Hewes is the reminiscence of the Boston Tea Party that he witnessed himself, which makes it a credible source. The event is described in great detail with an orderly development of actions. The memoir is divided into several days of the event and covers the Boston Party from the causes to the ships’ destruction. The source is highly useful since it provides insight into the events’ actual occurrence with an overview from one of the participants and survivors of the Boston Tea Party and Massacre.

Locke, J., & Wright, B. (2019). The American Revolution. The American Yawp (pp. 109 – 143). Stanford University Press.

The American Yamp chapter covers the American revolution’s origins, causes, the war, and its consequences. The chapter proves to be particularly useful since it identifies the historical event’s fundamental points and explores the development of the American revolution systematically. It gives a detailed historical explanation of the phenomenon in chronological order, which creates a distinct timeline. The chapter is useful to the paper as it gives a general understanding of the incident and outlines the paper’s structure. The American Yamp is credible as a source because it uses citations from primary and secondary sources to prove the statements. Compared to the primary sources used for the research, the American Yamp uses a combination of several sources to provide an overview of the picture and covers more extensive material.

Young, R. (2015). Revolution. In Dissent: The History of an American Idea (pp. 57-78). NYU Press.

The chapter of the book covers the history of the American revolution, combined with the dissent ideology. The author implies that the dissents that started at the Boston Tea Party were the leading force in the revolution and the establishment of independence. The chapter describes the triumphant impact of the americans’ organized protest under the oppositional spirit. The chapter is especially relevant for the paper as it shows a different perspective on the revolution issue. Compared to the books and journals in the bibliography that describe the chronological order of the events and their justification, this chapter presents the American revolution’s ideological perspective. The source is credible because of its publicity and reviews on the jstor website. The work avoids being biased and presents evidence from various sources and historical events.