Introduction
The American Revolution was one of the most important events in the early history of the United States. Starting as a conflict between the colonists and the British rule, tensions slowly escalated with both sides taking more and more extreme measures each step of the way. The conflict gradually peaked with an open military conflict and the involvement of other countries. The revolution has played a large role in the establishment, growth, and development of the United States of America. Without the events of the 1700s – 1780s, a strong, independent nation known as America could not have existed. The Revolution has served as a turning point in the country’s history, allowing it to gain sovereignty after decades of unfair taxation, oppression, and infighting. This essay intends to focus on the proceedings of the American Revolution, the important events, and the role it played in the lives of people, white and black.
Causes of the American Revolution
Seven Year’s War and the Economic Status of Britain
There are many underlying factors for the American Revolution, and this paragraph will be focused on the long-term causes. One of them was that the British have failed to define a strict relationship between the Empire and its colonies (Locke & Wright, 2019). This failure was justified by several internal problems, including political and economic drain from participating in wars. The Seven Year’s War, in particular, was a significant financial waste leaving Britain in debt 13.5 times bigger than its annual revenue. Britain also did not manage to introduce timely reforms and policies, leading to American colonists getting used to the methods of self-governance. British approach has largely focused on letting the Americans regulate themselves, losing the control an empire might have had otherwise (Locke & Wright, 2019). The haphazard way of regulating America has allowed its inhabitants to get used to the principles of freedom and self-sufficiency.
Unlawful Reforms
The British Empire has introduced several unfair and expensive reforms with the intent to control and financially hinder the development of the colonies. One such law was the Sugar Act of 1764, intended to combat smuggling. The law has increased tax on sugar and molasses, while also making the customs enforcement more strict. Enacted largely as an excuse for the Empire to raise military funds and counteract debt, the legislation was extremely unfavorable to the American colonists. Many protests have arisen in response to the Sugar Act, combined with a plea to decrease the duty on molasses. The protests ended only when the tax was lowered, two years later.
Another piece of legislation that led to escalating tensions between the Empire and its colonies was the Currency Act. Colonies have suffered from a considerable shortage of currency, and with no possible ways to mine gold or silver, they had to rely on trade with Great Britain to obtain it. Many individual colonies felt that this system was inefficient and sought to use paper money instead. The main problem with this approach is that the paper currency was abundant and unregulated, with no standard value to base the notes on. The Currency Act of 1964 was introduced to remedy this problem but brought more issues with it. The British parliament has taken control of the colonial currency system and banned the usage of bills. Instead of issuing a model paper currency to revitalize the economy and provide the colonists with the ability to stabilize their trade, the British have abolished paper currency.
The third piece of legislation was The Stamp Act in 1765, which was a direct tax on the paper used in the colonies. The law prohibited the use of ordinary paper for printing purposes, instead of requiring special British-stamped papers. The paper had to be paid for using British currency and the Act was used as a direct attempt to raise funds for Britain. Mass riots and protests ensued, with many colonists considering the act to be unconstitutional and refusing to use the stamped paper. As a result of numerous violent protests, the act was repealed in 1766.
The Tea Act, introduced in 1773, was an attempt to support the financially struggling East India Company which needed to sell eight million pounds of tea. While the act did not introduce new taxes, it posed a large threat to the businesses of local American merchants and the colonists found it to be detrimental to New England’s economy. Enforcement of the Tea Act has directly caused the events of the Boston Tea Party. All of the aforementioned acts were enforced as a way to exact control over the colonies by the British Empire, as well as to make back the wartime losses. The heavy taxation and the regulations by the British government were a major source of conflict and served to fuel the flames of the American Revolution.
The leadup to the Revolution
Several major events were leading to the proceedings of the American Revolution, including the aforementioned Boston Tea Party. The event is one of the most memorable parts of American history, occurring as a result of the introduction of the Tea Act of 1773 and the taxes previously imposed (Young, 2015). American colonists, unhappy with a lack of representation in the British parliament and the monopoly on tea distribution granted to the East Indian Company, have dumped the company’s cargo into the water (George, 1834). A total of 342 chests of tea were destroyed. The event has served as a culmination of long-brewing discontent with the way the British rule has treated its American colonies.
Another important milestone leading to the American Revolution was the First Continental Congress, a gathering of delegates from 13 colonies. The representatives participated in an open dialogue to formulate a way to resist the Parliament’s taxation. Congress has resulted in the creation of the declaration of rights, which affirmed the colonies’ allegiance to the crown but argued against its right to tax them. The demands made by the gathering were to be answered by 1775, otherwise, the colonies promised to cease the export of goods to Britain.
The Revolutionary War
The revolutionary war itself was a prolonged struggle between the American colonies and the British Empire, with many standout battles and points of discussion. For this overview, however, one will examine its beginning and ending in more detail. Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first major conflict, arising in the Boston area where the majority of the resistance coalesced was subject to increased military presence by the British. The military, following the orders to destroy supplies in Concord, has started advancing through the colony’s land (Locke & Wright, 2019). The Rebels, having caught wind of the upcoming advancements, dispatched their militia forces to repel the British. The first shot of this conflict has kickstarted the American Revolution in full force.
Clashes between the two forces were fierce, and both sides were using different tactics to gain an advantage. The first American victory in the conflict was the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, which gave the rebel forces access to much-needed artillery for the upcoming battles. The colonist forces have managed to catch the British in a surprise attack, effectively overwhelming their enemy and securing a tactically viable position. This battle served as a way to boost both the morale and fighting proves of the rebel forces. The Battle of Bunker Hill, a month after the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, was another significant event in the early war efforts (Locke & Wright, 2019). It served as a way to improve morale for later conflicts and show the British forces that the war would be a major financial investment for their country.
Discussing the end of the war, there are a few key events to consider as well. While Britain’s surrender at Yorktown, Virginia can be considered the final confrontation, the war only officially ended with the Treaty of Paris signed two years later (Locke & Wright, 2019). The treaty acknowledged the united states as a separate entity from the British Empire. As a result of that long struggle, the colonies have also adopted the Declaration of Independence. The declaration reflected the colonies’ belief that they were separate from the British rule, fit to govern and legislate themselves (Jefferson, 1776). The document, approved by the Second Continental Congress in 1776, was the first step towards the creation of the United States of America.
The Results
The overall results of the American revolution were multi-faceted, with a large amount of advancement in the fields of democracy and independence being made. After several decades of militaristic, financial, and cultural oppression from British rule, the former colonies finally could govern themselves without outside interference. Black people, the majority of whom were enslaved, actively joined both sides of the conflict to gain freedom (Crow, 1992). In the later stages of the conflict, the leaders of many states realized that enlisting black people and offering them freedom from slavery could considerably boost the revolutionaries’ military prowess. Maryland allowed slaves to enlist, and in states such as Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Delaware, and Connecticut free African-Americans could also join the war effort. By joining their forces and standing in opposition to the empire, the states have managed to achieve their goals. The war effort was shared by different social classes and racial groups. Many slaves have managed to earn freedom during the war, starting the long road towards racial equality in America (Sesay, 2016). The major principles of the United States’ independence and sovereignty were outlined legally, in the declaration of independence. For a majority of white American people, this event signified the start of a better life, a life lead by the notions of freedom and choice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the American Revolution was one of the most important military conflicts in the history of the United States, establishing the principles of independence from British rule in written form. The war between the exhausted British Empire and the Combined efforts of its colonies has ended in a loss of the former and the formation of the United States of America. The victory has led to the formation of a separate nation, with its unique customs, history, and culture. The country created as a result of this event has managed to become one of the most well-known, powerful, and respected players in the world arena, with the military power and the financial influence to rival any other.
Works Cited
Crow, J. (1992). Liberty to Slaves: The Black Response. Web.
George R. T. Hewes, A Retrospect of the Boston Tea-party, with a Memoir of George R.T. Hewes (New York: 1834), 37-41.
Jefferson, J. (1776). Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. National Archives. Web.
Locke, J., & Wright, B. (2019). The American Revolution. The American Yawp (pp. 109 – 143). Stanford University Press.
Sesay, C. (2016). The American Revolution and the Hope of Black People. AAIHS. Web.
Young, R. (2015). Revolution. In Dissent: The History of an American Idea (pp. 57-78). NYU Press.