The Radicalism of the American Revolution - Essay Example

The Radicalism of the American Revolution: A Book Review Introduction Gordon Wood in his book “The Radicalism of the American Revolution” defies the historians who referred American Revolution as a conservative rebellion in justification of the status quo. The author disputes that the country took an original transformation on its social aspect. His viewpoint goes into the transition of the country from monarchy to republic and then shifts into democracy. A monarchy puts people into a hierarchy and clearly states ones position above or below. Republicanism took over the monarchical society where in the leaders visualized the country as a new place for the free people and will be governed by selfless leaders. Eventually, America has made to become a society which permits ordinary people to lead the government and give every citizen their right to vote. The transition of America into a democratic country had also been easy considering that the patriot leaders leave no interest for the powers that the position gives them. Wood (1992) emphasizes that "the Revolution was the most radical and far reaching event in American history" (p. 8). It means that the revolution significantly affected the American society and politically changed the rules from British to American ideals. Accepting the radical nature of the American Revolution is important within the context of the socio- political society especially during the eighteenth century. Also, it is important to highlight the appreciation for the political and social aspects of the colonial society that is impossible to disentangle. The leaders then are not just revolting against the political system of the British government but also its colonial society in America. Wood thinks that the republicanism society had affected British thoughts in a wide sense. Accordingly, republicanism is not accepted to any political life of an English society. However, monarchical and republican values are present in their culture and there are many considerable monarchists that accepted the ideals of republicanism regardless of the long-run consequences they might face. They do not always use the term though, but republicanism is regarded as a set of values and a kind of life where it is more understandable and liberal. Discussion Yet, the mid-18th century is the era when the social change took place, the past remains obstinate. American colonists are the English; they share the statement that order and stability in society came from the monarchical type of society. The king is subject to as dependent being and less autonomous. But, the American people see Englishmen as instinctively unruly, impertinent, and reluctant to be ruled. The colonists have these traits though, but are more conventional than those who are in their land. They feel more intimately attached to the crown rather than to their colleague and share the behavior and principles of the mother country on a more modest way. The revolution is said to be far-reaching through many writings. For the author, he tries to comprehend with the revolutionary society by the point of the real nature of its roots and outcomes with the consideration of the people involved. It is not his purpose to investigate about how liberty and equality is presented. Wood agrees to the ideas of Berry as emotion is depicted through his interpretations of how the people accepted the resentment they had for the hereditary aristocracy. Wood uses emotion by looking at the actions and motivations of the revolutionary leaders. It serves as the most essential element to be able to understand the sincerity of their actions and what they believe in. On the other hand, Berry adheres on the influence of social rage into the power shifts. Social rage, as how he simplifies it, is a social emotional manifestation. His ideas generally pertain to how the social forces impact the whole society. As such, taking how a monarchical society shifts into a republican society, it constitutes Berry’s idea of how such economic conditions and power shifts have taken its role to the transformation. Social rage has been effective somehow for its result but is failed on achieving a long-term social change such as what happened to the American Revolution for it became too emotional and disreputable; hence, the futility of social revolution made it significant to view the failure of social rage. With that in mind, the sense of terrorism came upon how people wanted to bring changes in the society most especially on the political aspect. Revolution should not be viewed as an act of terrorism because it highlights more on the brighter side of its effects such as it showed patriotism for the leaders and the people. Legally, Wood depicts terrorism in his book as how the leaders should act and hold their position and power for ruling the government. Although there is not much blood present on the revolt, the massive influence of the Englishmen appears to target the people in the society through lack of independence and taking away their own rights. The Enlightenment idea contributes to the viewpoint of the revolutionaries that a republican society can have equal opportunities; thus, it gives everyone to educate themselves and the right to take the leadership in order to seek for more changes in the society. Terrorism can be defined in that way though, where in the Englishmen have tried to set limitations for the leaders denying their power and flaunting the hierarchy. Wood (1992) somehow falls out to the idea that United States is holds its power through the terrorist regimes because the modern society and the emergence of industrialization, urbanization, and modernization are not part of these political complexities (p. 60). Conclusion The inequality goes beyond with the society in the sense of the limitations on the social power. It is a pressure to be a leader and how he must conform to the ideals of the people just to satisfy his duties and responsibilities. However, Wood (1992, p.197) says that, people should appreciate first his sincerity with how he takes the ideals of republicanism before people could understand the character of a unique leader. Wood tries to clearly state the reasons why the leaders during the revolution are highly motivated to make a difference in the world today. He flaunts the mistakes how the motives are interpreted before. He shows that the revolutionaries were no less great for the reason that they were not demanding to make an equal society. Also, the revolution appears to be not dramatic because it did not resulted in a massive death. They made the situation where in the organization of society is questionable as it appeared to be nothing more than an individual assembly. They also tried to create a society that depended on a true idea in enlightenment principals. Eventually, they made it in making possible what were just merely conceptual. Works Cited Wood, Gordon S. (1992). The radicalism of the American Revolution. New York: A.A. Knopf. Berry, Bonnie. (1999). Social Rage: Emotion and Conflict. Garland Publishing, Inc. New York. Read More