American Revolution (1775-1783)

he American Revolution (1775-1783) also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence was a pivotal event that marked the 13 American colonies' break from British rule.

The war not only marked the emergence of a new nation, the United States of America but also had far-reaching effects on the geopolitical landscape, reshaping global power dynamics.

The revolution wasn’t just a military coup; it was more of a complex social, political, and economic upheaval that redefined the relationship between colonies and their parent nations.

This blog post will explore the key facts, causes, and consequences of the American War of Independence for Kerala PSC exams.

Basic Facts

Timeline − 1765 to 1783.
Major Players − 13 American Colonies & Great Britain.
Immediate Cause − The Boston Tea Party of 1773.
Key Documents − Declaration of Independence (1776), Treaty of Paris (1783).

The United States of America gained independence on − July 4, 1776.
The American Declaration of Independence was drafted by − Thomas Jefferson.
Treaty by which Britain recognized American Independence − Treaty of Paris 1783.

Slogan of the American Revolution − "No Taxation Without Representation" (James Otis).
King of Britain during the Revolution − George III.
The migrants from England to North America in the 17th century are known as − Pilgrim Fathers.
Name of the ship on which the Pilgrim Fathers arrived in America − May Flower.
Founding Fathers of the United States − George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay & James Madison.
French King Who Supported the American Revolution − King Louis XVI.
The First President of United States of America − George Washington (1789).
Oldest Written Constitution in the world − Constitution of San Marino (October 8, 1600).
The oldest and longest-standing written national constitution in the world − Constitution of the United States.

ratified on June 21, 1788.
The U.S. Constitution is a single, written document that has been amended 27 times. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added in 1791 to protect individual liberties.

Books /Pamphlets related to American War of Independence −

"Common Sense" − Thomas Paine.
The Virginia Resolves − Patrick Henry.
The Second Treatise of Government − John Locke.
The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved − James Otis.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (anti-slavery novel) − Harriet Beecher Stowe.

The History of Early American Migration and Settlement

The first sustained European settlements in the Americas were made by the Spanish during the Age of Exploration with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 arrived in the Caribbean islands.

After the Spanish, the French and English were the next European nations to establish permanent settlements in the Americas.

The English began colonizing the eastern seaboard of North America, starting with the Jamestown settlement in Virginia in 1607, which became the first permanent English colony.

The Pilgrim Fathers

The Pilgrim Fathers were a group of English Separatists who, seeking religious freedom, migrated to the American continent in the early 17th century.

In 1620, they famously sailed aboard the Mayflower, landing in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.

At the time of their migration, King James I was the monarch of Britain, and the country was officially Anglican — following the Church of England, which was established after the English Reformation.

The Pilgrims, however, were dissenters from the Church of England, seeking to practice their Puritan faith without persecution.

After enduring a harsh winter, they established one of the first permanent European settlements in North America.

Their journey marked a pivotal moment in the history of colonization and religious freedom, as they sought to escape religious persecution and create a society based on their own beliefs.

The Pilgrims' migration played a foundational role in shaping the future of the United States.

Causes of the American War of Independence

The American Revolution was the culmination of multiple factors that spanned economic, political, and social realms.

1. Economic Grievances:

Britain levied a number of taxes on the American colonies in an effort to recover the costs of the French and Indian War (1754–1763).

These taxes included the Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765) and the Townshend Acts (1767), which were intended to increase British control over colonial trade and generate income.

The colonists, who no representation in the British Parliament, viewed these taxes as unjust and a violation of their rights.

a) Mercantilism: The Economic System Behind the Revolution

One of the primary causes of colonial unrest was an economic policy of Britain known as mercantilism policy.

Mercantilism was an economic policy that aimed to increase a nation's wealth by regulating trade, focusing on exports over imports.

Under this system, the American colonies were viewed as a source of raw resources for Britain, with the colonies obliged to sell products to Britain and only buy manufactured goods from the British.

This economic exploitation sparked discontent, especially as the British placed high tariffs on products brought into the colonies, like as tea and paper, while denying colonists any say over trade policy.

b) Boston Massacre (1770)

The Boston Massacre took place on the evening of March 5, 1770, when a group of colonists protested the implementation of unpopular laws and taxes such as the Townshend Acts.

The crowd gradually grew aggressive, pelting snowballs, rocks, and obscenities at the British sentry guarding the Custom House.

The soldiers, commanded by Captain Thomas Preston, opened fire into the crowd, killing five colonists and injuring several more.

Among the dead was Crispus Attucks, an African American sailor who became one of the first martyrs of the American Revolution.

Colonial leaders such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere aggressively publicised the incident, using it to mobilise public opinion against British authority.

The Boston Massacre played a key role in inflaming colonial resistance, fueling the growing push for independence and setting the stage for the American Revolution.

c) The Boston Tea Party (1773)

The Boston Tea Party was the iconic event and the immediate cause that heightened relations between the colonies and Britain.

On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists masquerading as Native Americans seized British ships in Boston Harbour to protest the Tea Act (1773).

The Tea Act granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies and allowed it to circumvent native merchants.

They hurled 342 chests of tea into the harbour to protest the tea tax and the erosion of their economic independence.

The Boston Tea Party sparked harsh reprisals from Britain, known as the Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts (1774), which closed the Boston port and limited Massachusetts' self-government.

These actions fuelled colonial anger and rallied the colonies in their opposition to British rule.

2. Ideological Factors:

Enlightenment ideas, such as liberty, individual rights, and the rejection of monarchy, inspired many colonists to challenge British authority.

Works like Common Sense by Thomas Paine and speeches by figures like Patrick Henry (‘Give me death or independence’) galvanized support for independence.

The Philosophical Society of America established by Benjamin Franklin whose motive was to awaken the people against British exploitation also played a major role.

3. Influence of Earlier Revolutions:

The Glorious Revolution (1688) and events like the English Civil War demonstrated that challenging royal authority was possible. These earlier uprisings inspired the American colonists to pursue their own revolution.

The Seven Years’ War (1754-1763), also known as the French and Indian War, was a conflict between Great Britain and France over territorial claims in North America.

It also left Britain with significant war debts, leading to increased taxes on American colonies to recover the financial losses.

Continental Congress

The Continental Congress was a critical institution in the American Revolution. It served as the de facto national government during the war and played a crucial role in coordinating the colonies' response to British policies.

First Continental Congress

In response to the Intolerable Acts, the 12 American colonies convened the First Continental Congress from September 5 to October 26, 1774 in Philadelphia under the leadership of George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry.

Representatives from 12 of the 13 American colonies (Georgia did not attend) gathered to coordinate a collective response to British oppression.

The Congress called for a boycott of British goods and petitioned the King George III to address colonial grievances.

The petition had two conditions:

Americans should be given representation in the British Parliament.
Britain should immediately remove all restrictions on trade and commerce.

Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress, which met in 1775 immediately after the start of hostilities at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, first military clashes of the American War of Independence.

It was attended by all 13 colonies, including Georgia.

Olive Branch Petition

On July 5, 1775, in a final attempt to prevent war between Great Britain and the American colonies, the Second Continental Congress drafted a letter to be sent to the British King, George III.

The petition, written by Thomas Jefferson, emphasised the colonists' loyalty to the British monarch and their rights as British citizen. It also indicated the colonists' pessimism that they would be allowed to partake in the benefits of peace.

However, the King did not even bother to read the petition and instead issued a Proclamation of Rebellion on August 23, 1775.

Accomplishments of Second Continental Congress:

Establishment of Continental Army under the command of George Washington.
Declaration of Independence in 1776

Course of the American War of Independence

The American Revolutionary War officially began in 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

The Continental Army, led by George Washington, clashed with the better-equipped and experienced British forces.

Declaration of Independence

In the Second Continental Congress of 4th July 1776, a five-man committee comprising Thomas Jefferson, Franklin and John Adams drafted the Declaration of Independence.

There are 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence.

The first signature on the Declaration of Independence was that of John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress.

As a result, the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, officially ending relations with Britain.

The early phases of the war were challenging for the American soldiers, with major setbacks, such as the Battle of Bunker Hill. However, with crucial support from foreign allies, particularly France, the balance of power began to shift.

France, a long-time adversary of Britain, saw an opportunity to weaken British influence and sided with the American rebels.

France formally entered the war in 1778, driven in part by retaliation for losing Canada to Britain. The French gave significant assistance in the shape of financial support, military equipment, and, most importantly, dispatched troops and naval forces to help the Americans.

As a symbol of this enduring alliance and shared ideals of liberty, France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States, which was unveiled in New York City on October 28, 1886, to reflect the enduring spirit of democracy.

The turning point in the war came in 1781 at the Battle of Yorktown when British General Cornwallis was forced to surrender at the Battle of Yorktown with the assistance of French naval forces, essentially ending the battle and securing American freedom.

Effects and Results of the American War of Independence

The success of American Revolution had profound and far-reaching effects, both within the United States and globally.

1. Formation of the United States

The most significant outcome of the Revolution was the creation of the United States of America.

The Treaty of Paris (1783) formally ended the war, with Britan officially recognizing the independence of the United States of America and the new nation expanded westward.

The U.S. adopted a new form of government, initially under the Articles of Confederation and later under the U.S. Constitution, which replaced the Articles in 1789.

The Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris (1783) officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the United States as an independent nation.

Negotiated by American diplomats Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, the treaty established new borders for the U.S., from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and secured fishing rights for American fishermen.

It also required Britain to withdraw its troops from American soil and addressed issues of debt and loyalist property.

The treaty set the stage for U.S. territorial expansion, but the country remained weak under the Articles of Confederation, prompting the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1789.

While the treaty marked the birth of the United States, challenges such as relations with Native Americans, slavery, and foreign diplomacy persisted.

2. Social and Political Changes

Republicanism became the new political ideology, replacing monarchical regimes.

The U.S. Constitution, with its Bill of Rights, laid the foundation for modern democracy, emphasizing individual rights, limited government, and the separation of powers.

Socially, the Revolution inspired some shifts, including the questioning of slavery, although it was not immediately abolished, leading to gradual abolition movements in Northern states and in the emergence of women's rights organisations.

Bill of Rights

Image Courtesy: Library of Congress

The Bill of Rights refers to the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, which were designed to protect individual freedoms while limiting the power of the government.

These amendments guarantee fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press (First Amendment), the right to bear arms (Second Amendment), protection against unreasonable searches and seizures (Fourth Amendment), and the right to a fair trial (Sixth Amendment).

The Bill of Rights, established to address the inadequacy of the original Constitution in safeguarding personal liberties, remains a cornerstone of American democracy, ensuring civil rights and individual freedoms.

3. Global Impact of the Revolution

The American Revolution inspired numerous independence movements worldwide, particularly in France, Latin America, and other colonies under European rule.

The idea of self-governance and the overthrow of oppressive monarchies resonated globally.

4. Economic Repercussions

The American Revolution had a significant economic impact on the newly independent United States, leading to heavy debts and unraveling the mercantilism-based economic system.

New trade relationships with France and Spain emerged. However, the end of British trade restrictions allowed for a gradual recovery and expansion of the American economy, while the loss of American colonies was economically damaging to Britain.

5. Shifting of Power Dynamics & its Global Impact

The defeat of Britain altered the balance of power, diminishing its influence in the Western Hemisphere.

The British Empire's colonial rivalries with Spain and France intensified, while France's support for the Americans during the war led to its own financial and political instability, contributing to the French Revolution a few years later.

6. Military and Strategic Lessons

The revolution showcased the use of unconventional tactics by American militias like the guerrilla warfare and the importance of the strategic alliances in challenging a powerful empire.

The ability of the Continental Army, led by George Washington, to hold its ground despite limited resources and manpower remains a testament to strategic leadership.

Conclusion

The American War of Independence was a transformative event in the world history that not only led to the creation of a new nation based on the ideals of democracy and liberty but also reshaped the entire global political order.

Its causes, rooted in economic, political, and ideological factors, reflect the colonies' growing desire for independence.

The war's aftermath significantly impacted political ideologies, economies, and global geopolitics, influenced numerous revolutionary movements, the evolution of modern democracies and which inturn shifted global power dynamics.

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