American Revolution - Essay Example

American Revolution Introduction The Revolutionary War of independence in America led to their liberation from theBritish Colonial Rule. The American Revolution War took place between 1775 and 1783. However, the struggle for independence had started earlier in the mid 1770’s. The war for independence began when 13 colonies in North America conflicted with the colonial government of Britain. This war brought about many political views and also led to more revolutions across the globe.1 Many British colonists in countries such as India called for their independence following the successful defeat of the Americans over the British. Long before the advent of the Revolutionary war in 1763, poets and essayists predicted the fall of the British Empire in the American States. Religious leaders also supported the opposition of the British colonial rule claiming that it was justified by God. Before its fall during the war, the British Parliament reformed the taxes and the commissions that were involved in corruption and illegal trade. They reformed the government bodies, which were corrupt as a way of incorporating the revolutionists’ ideas. The British government failed because of the hard economic and political issues, which arose at that time. Research shows that the colonisers spent large amounts of money in the war and the British allies such as France withdrew their support for colonisation. Although the revolutionists were geared towards achieving political freedom, they later disunited and, as a result, the American Civil war broke out during the same period. Activists such as John Dickson offered different views upon the declaration of independence.1 He argued that even after removing the British government from power, the Americans would get political freedom since Spain and France will be tempted to attack them.Unlike patriotic leaders such as John and Samuel Adams, Dickson remained as a moderate after the declaration of independence. The Ten Parts of a Revolution Part 12 First, prior to any revolution, poets, journalists and members of the clergy cease to support the old regime and instead condemn it calling for reforms. Such attacks and condemnations even attract the attention of the regime supporters. In relation to the American Revolution writers such as Thomas Pine composed books that condemned the British government. In 1776, Thomas Pine published Common Sense. The pamphlet contained writings, which persuaded the American colonists to outdo the British the colonial rule. He originally broke from England and decided to attack the British government. At that time, there were few writers that motivated the American people to rebel against the government.2 In his pamphlet, Paine exposed the corruption that existed in the monarchy and condemned the taxation policies such as the Stamp Act of 1765 claiming that they were oppressive. His central concern was to convince the people to rise against the British regime and form the first republican government in the world. He was involved in transforming the principles of the Enlightenment into simpler words. In this way, he made people understand the meaning of liberty, thus, motivating them in the rebellion movements. On another different note, religious leaders participated in revolting against the government. As they preached in public places, these leaders indirectly attacked the British government. Some churches of England withdrew their support from the British government and instead exposed the corrupt monarchy calling for revolutions. They confirmed that the opposition was justified by God in order to satisfy humankind. Some ministers of the church persuaded the people to revolt in the name of God. Even during the war many members of the clergy were in the forefront to outdo3 the colonial government from power. Research has shown that the American people were motivated by the anti-colonial songs and poems to start holding the liberation movements. Part 2 After the old regimes identify or prospect on the possible implications of criticisms, they tend to reform some parts of the government. Critics of the government emanate from the government itself and other external parties. Reforms are essentially meant to satisfy the critics, but, ruin the government, as well, by exposing the existing flaws. As a result, people are pressured to call for further changes. During the American Revolution, the British government attempted to reform some parts of government. For example, they established commissions that were meant to stop smuggling and corruption among the local colonial officials. The governments’ aim was to sustain the Townshend Duties Act that was enacted in 1767. The act imposed taxes on the imported goods such as paints, paper and tea. Following their attempt to sustain the Act, the colonial government triggered the motives of the American people. In Boston, the people boycotted the imported goods despite the new corruption controls that were effective in their town.3 It is important to note that Britain failed to retreat even after the emergence of criticisms. Activists such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Thomas Dickson led people in revolting against the government particularly in the 13 North American colonies. They called for ratification of the constitution and their representation in the government. Despite the waves of revolution, Britain never hesitated to reform theirgovernment; instead, they deployed more troops in the colonies and introduced more coercive acts. Part 3 Old regimes usually fall because of the political crises that arise due to the revolutions. These political crises inhibit the government to deal with economic and military problem that arise at the same time. Analysts of the falling regimes have ascertained that most governments are overthrown4 due to the weakening systems of the state, but, not due to the strengthening revolutionaries. Regimes suffer from weak military commands and low economic supplies just before their fall. The American Revolution depicts these facts particularly during the declaration of independence in 1775. In the advent of the Revolutionary War, in 1775, Britain deployed much money in hiring and recruiting more soldiers to fight against the militiamen. Before 1775, they had huge amounts of debts payable to states such as Spain and Germany. The war disrupted the sources of revenue obtained from taxes.4 Additionally, the imports and export trade greatly reduced leading to ashortage in money supply in the government. They spent much money looking for men for the army and even hiring the German soldiers. For example, following the incidents at Lexington and Concord in 1775, the British government deployed many soldiers to conquer that area. After Declaration of Independence in 1775, the British adopted the revolutionists’ ideas until later when they declared North America free in 1783. Research shows that, Britain was defeated by the American people both in 1775 and 1783 due to the economic problems. Towards the Declaration of Independence in 1775, many countries condemned the British government due to its coercive acts over the American people. Also, the British Allies pressured the colonial government, which resulted to the defeat. For example, France had fought with Britain severally and, therefore, they were in the forefront to remove the British regime from power (Bonwick, 1991, p. 76). Part 4 After the revolutionaries win against the old regimes, people disunite due to different political views. The conflicts emanating from the revolutionary group affects the new governments in many ways. 5 Usually, there are conservatives, radicals and moderates who steer the new governments in order to achieve political change. In the American Revolution, Thomas Dickson portrayed moderate behaviour towards the new regime. Before 1775, Dickson was a patriot because he led the opposition towards the Stamp Act of 1965. He rebelled against the colonial government due to the taxes, which were charged on the American people. Only until later in 1775 that Dickson refused to participate in the declaration of independence. He argued that removing Britain from power would have increased their risk of attack by other colonial governments of Spain and France. Even after the war he was partly against the new government and partly supportive to the British government. On another hand, Thomas Pine was a radical who called for immediate changes after they defeated the British colonial government. In 1774, before their win, Samuel Adams actively engaged in outlawing the Coercive Acts that the British government directed against his town, Massachusetts. In 1776, Thomas Pine argued in his writings that all the American colonies ought to be independent in their own political rules. He was one of the radicals who demanded further changes and removal of the British men from the American land. After the American Revolution, there were no conservatives who supported the colonial government. Most revolutionists were in urge of seeing a politically independent nation. Part 5 Another common part of revolutions is where moderates took over from the old regimes. After the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of independence in 1775, moderates took over the government.The Continental Congress raised the need for a national government that would establish relations with other states; borrow money and engage in war. They were geared towards achieving the state sovereignty. Sovereignty was one of the characteristics of the fallen British6 government. They created the so called Articles of Confederation, which were declared effective in 1781. In 1783, America gained political independence where Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Samuel Adams took over since they were moderates in the Continental Congress, which fought for independence. The election held in 1789 reveals how moderates dominated the new government because George Washington won that election. Later in 1800, Thomas Jefferson with the Democratic-Republican Party won the presidential election. His opponent, John Adams, failed during that election with his Federal Party. Both elections have revealed how the moderates were influential and admirable to the citizens. Part 6 After revolutions, the moderates seek to reconstruct the government through incorporation of some aspects of the fallen government. In the course of implementing their ideas, radicals usually bring in other organizational rules that are too strict and hard to follow.As a result, more conflicts erupt causing delays in forming effective governments. After 1775, the moderate Continental Congress faced lots of difficulties from the Patriots Societieswhen forming a new government. Few days after signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Dickson of Pennsylvania headed a committee in drafted a blueprint for the national government. Additionally, they developed a plan that would unite their state with the other nations. Shortly after representing the plan in parliament, the radical deleg7ates rejected it, claiming that it was a very loose article of confederation. Most radicals from Pennsylvania were totally against the British colonial government and, therefore, formulated laws, which did not include even a single British rule. The most democratic constitution was drafted in 1776 by the same radicals. In the ratification of the constitution in 1787, many radicals were against the moderates’ motives in uniting the Northern American colonies to form the United States. The moderates such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had to deal with the opponents of the Constitutions. Despite the opposition of the constitution by the local anti-federalists, conventions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey still ratified the constitution in 1788. The Federalist leaders John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison drafted some papers to prove to the radicals that the new government was effective. John Jay and colleagues were among those moderates who called for the postponing of the Declaration of Independence in 1775. Radicals criticized them and branded them spies and conservatives. Part 7 Changes in the ruling ideologies usually occur when the radicals succeed in displacing the moderates. As stated earlier, after revolutions, the radicals call for great changes and maintain their perceptions about the fallen regime8. Moderates, on the other hand, incorporate the ideologies of the fallen government in forming the new government. These moderates are known to inherit similar inabilities to deal with the military and economic problems that existed before the fall of the old regime. However, in the American Revolution, the victory of the radicals have been portrayed unpredictable since no radicals ruled America in the consequent governments after independence. Instead, the moderates managed to ratify the constitution, reform the trade and establish international relations with other independent states. It is because they accommodated the conservatives and radicals in forming the new America.The moderate regimes that followed after 1787 in America were able to stay in power despite the criticisms from the radicals. Analysts of revolutions identify the American moderates as outstanding in the way they maintained unity with the radicals during the subsequent regimes. Part 8 When there is the implementation of radical controls countries experience disorders due to powerful rules over the citizens. Radicals are too strict and, therefore, impose intolerable rules through the government and result to conflicts. In America, there were few or no conflicts after independence because no radicals rose to the top positions in the government. Thomas Pine was a radical, but, he never ruled America. The fact that moderates such George Washington and Thomas Jefferson worked together with radicals during their regimes confirm why there were no conflicts after America gained full independence. Part 9 However, George Washington showed his commanding rule and absolute leadership in his first years, in government. He targeted at ending the tensions between the moderates and the radicals and this was common in any revolution. Radicals believed in independence of states without involving other external parties9. Washington aimed at creating an authoritative government that would result to a stable government. Though radicals were against his orders, Washington ordered Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury to harmonize the national debts as a way of attaining a stable government. Part 10 Usually, after the radical controls are over, pragmatism and moderate approaches follow leading to a stable government. The radicals come back to their senses and think logically on how they can steer the government effectively. Note that radicals develop bad perceptions about the old regimes making them unable to incorporate their ideas; whether good or bad.They end up being too strict and authoritative when they rise to power. During the American Revolution, radicals were not represented in the subsequent regimes and, therefore, remained under control of the moderates. That is why there were no significant radical phases even after the second election that took place in 1800. One cannot define the aftermath of coercive radical controls by referring to the American Revolution. Conclusively, the American Revolution satisfies the ten phases that defineany revolution. Before 1775, it is evident that the members of the clergy, writers and poets condemned and exposed the corrupt British government as a way of inviting the Americans to rise against the colonial rule. Thomas Paine is one of the writers who sent his condemnation messages by publishing pamphlets. Even after many criticisms, Britain never reformed the constitution and the Coercive Acts to satisfy the revolutionists’ needs. The British regime failed during the war not only due10 to the powerful revolutions, but also, due to economic and political problems. When the old regimes fall, the revolutionists usually disunite to form moderates, conservatives and radicals groups. Moderates and radicals were the most influential people after the declaration of independence, in America, in 1775. After 1789, George Washington adopted the authoritative rule to stop the radicals’ powerful political ideologies in order to achieve a stable state. One can only refer to other revolutions when describing the nature of radical controls because after independence, America was ruled by moderate leaders. Bibliography Allison, Robert. The American Revolution; a Concise History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Bonwick, Colin. The American Revolution. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia,1991. Gray, Edward and Kamensky, Jane. The Oxford handbook of the American Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. Lancaster, Bruce. The American Revolution. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2001. Raphael, Ray. A Peoples History of the American Revolution; How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence. New York: New Press, 2012. Raum, Elizabeth. The Revolutionary War: an interactive history adventure. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press, 2010. Read More