Revolution -- a sudden, radical, or complete change; a fundamental change in political organization; activity or movement designed to affect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation
1) is due by 11:59pm on
2) is worth 10 points
3) should:
- A. give one specific (= names, dates, events, etc.) historical fact or quote showing that the American Revolution was revolutionary and give one specific historical fact or quote showing that the American Revolution was not revolutionary (think about social, political, and economic things that did/did not change) . . . these specific historical facts and/or quotes (cite your quote sources) must be unique . . . you may NOT use the same facts/quotes as anyone else! Use the readings from class, your textbook, your internet search skills, etc.
- B. give your opinion regarding the answer to the question and explain your opinion
29 comments:
A) The American Revolution could be considered not revolutionary due to it being part of a long list of smaller social and political uprisings that shaped the way the colonies functioned. Starting with Bacon's Rebellion to both cause decline in indentured servitude and create a larger free working class, the new lower-class majority staged further uprisings in response to the changing economy. The rich often carried the majority of money at the time and the frequent attempts at taxing caused uproar among the poor majority, like the mobbing of the homes of Andrew Oliver and Thomas Hutchinson. Similar to those small riots, the American Revolution was a similar conflict on a larger scale.
(source: Howard Zinn reading)
However, another point in favor of the idea that the Revolution was truly revolutionary was the change in social structure. The systems that governed the colonies drastically changed in favor of the ideals that the nation would be founded. One specific change came in the North Carolina statute of 1784, stating that the legal devices that only raised "the wealth and importance of particular families and individuals" were to be abolished. This is one example of the many social changes that defined the revolution as such.
(source: Howard Zinn reading)
B) I do believe that the Revolution was revolutionary. It may have been part of a long standing series of battles to make the colonies free and prosperous for all, but it was the only one to completely reform the system. It brought political, governmental, social, and economic changes that would not have come under Britain's tight rule. The Revolution itself was also quite a bit less brutal than other uprisings or revolutions of the time. It was a dignified war (as dignified as war could be) and was generally fought respectably and intelligently. Leaders were smart and revolting followers were informed of the cause. The revolution was based around people fighting for something they knew that they wanted.
A)The American Revolution has several reasons for being considered revolutionary. One reason comes from the drastic change in government for the colonies. Originally, the colonies were under the British Constitutional Monarchy, ruled by a hereditary king and Parliament. After the revolution however, a confederation was set up under the articles of Confederation. When this failed, a republic was set up under the constitution of 1787, and the system is still in use today.
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=274
However, many could argue that the Revolutionary War was, in fact, not revolutionary. We learned in class that only about 1/3 of the population agreed with the decision to go to war with Britain, with another 1/3 of the population siding with Britain during the war. These numbers do not indicate a large social revolution, and the colonists' opinions do not indicate a social revolution either.
Class Notes, American Pageant 13th Edition
B) I also believe that the American Revolution was revolutionary. The overthrow of the British government alone is enough reason to see the revolution that actually occurred. Also, the revolution came quickly. Although many colonists were upset with Britain several years before the war, the war came upon the colonies swiftly, and caused a great deal of change in the everyday lives of the average colonist. With these points in mind, it is obvious that the American Revolution was truly revolutionary.
A) From the facet of political structure, the American War for Independence was quite revolutionary for its time. Formerly, the prevailing attitude throughout the old world and rooted nations was “favor is the source of preferment,” or the idea that in order to receive political office or benefits, one must favor the ruling body or those “with the juice.” As a result of such, political office was confined to those people who supported the ruling faction or met the “requirements” set forth by the ruling body. Contrary to the previous, Americans revolutionaries were of the opinion that anybody who was able and willing was welcome to govern or assist in governing the people, something quite world-shattering for the time. According to David Ramsay in his Fourth of July dialogue, “…all offices lie open to men or merit, of whatever rank or condition…even the reins of state may be held by the son of the poorest man, if possessed of abilities equal to the important station.” (source: Viewpoint 2: “The War for Independence Was a Social Revolution,” Gordon S. Wood)
B) In contrast to the previous, it could be seen that the American War for Independence was also un-revolutionary. For many years preceding the actual “war” for independence, it could be observed that despite the formal British rule over the North American colonists and colonies, the colonists were, for the most part, in control of their own destiny. Britain’s policy of salutary neglect provided the opportunity for individual Houses of Representatives to appear amongst the colonies, examples being the House of Burgesses in Virginia (1619) and both Continental Congresses (text: “Practically every colony utilized a two-house legislative body”). In addition to the House system and lack of enforcement for various matters on the British end, the parliament and government of Great Britain appeased the American colonies through actions such as the repealing of the Townshend Acts by Lord North. Tied together, these actions or reaction allowed the colonists to once again, control their own destiny and create a path of their own to follow. As a result of these things, it can be seen that the actual changes that constituted the so-called “revolution” could actually be attributed to the gradual change in history of British relations with the American colonists rather than a “shock” or immediate action. (source: The American Pageant, 12th edition)
C) In my opinion, despite the two very convincing sides, I believe that the American War for Independence was revolutionary. By definition, to be revolutionary is to be “radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles” (dictionary.com), just as the American Revolution was. The American Revolution blew past the previously held ideals of the new world, such as with the fresh ideas of social governance, and pioneered its own procedures setting the stage for not only a new country, but a new world.
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1. The American Revolution could be seen as revolutionary from several points of view. For one, the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 is one of the most revolutionary ideas of the entire time period. That a country could be governed by the people living in that country, and not simply by a monarchy dictated by lineage and power struggles, was a totally new way to run an entire country. I quote, "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..." This quote shows that the colonists believed that they controlled their own destiny of the future of their country, that they held the reins. No other peoples of the day held these ideals, and this further inspired other populations to rebel - the French Revolution is often seen as a direct result of the American Revolution, with the poor 3rd Estate rising above their monarch. (sources: http://www.history.com/topics/declaration-of-independence, Declaration of Independence; http://www.articlemyriad.com/46.htm, A Comparison of the French and American Revolutions)
2. In other ways, however, the American Revolution was not very revolutionary. African slaves were promised freedom when they went to either side during the war, and when the British left North America, they left all the African slaves that had fought for them back in the colonies. These African slaves were forced back into slavery by the new government, and were treated even worse than they had been before. A new invention in 1794, the cotton gin, brought in a new era of southern agriculture. The slaves now could cultivate cotton much faster, leading to a large increase of agricultural production, causing a higher demand for slaves in the south. In this way, the Revolutionary War was not revolutionary at all. (source: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr4.html, The Revolutionary War)
3. I beleive that the Revolutionary War was one of the most revolutionary acts that happened in the entire 18th century. It changed the way the world looked at government, it changed the way people looked at wars and fighting in wars, and it changed the way people looked at other people. To this day, every person in America has a core belief that when they cast a vote, they will have an influence in who becomes the next person to lead the nation. This belief comes from the ideas displayed in the Declaration of Independence, which came out of the Revolutionary War. Many people throughout the world were inspired by the colony's efforts, and when they were successful, it changed the world entirely. No longer was the grand empires of the world so terribly powerful. All you needed was a common goal, and one very big idea.
A) The American Revolution could be seen as not revolutionary due to the fact that it did not completely follow the definition of "revolutionary." Viewpoint 1 of Howard Zinn's reading states that the Revolution, through its numerous documents and ultimate effects, falsely portrayed the fact that "it was on behalf of a united people." In reality, the harsh measures taken to empower the British "escalated colonial rebellion to the point of revolution." Therefore, the revolution could not be considered neither sudden nor radical. Rather, it was the slow progression of colonial rebellion that led to unhurried changes in America. In addition to this, the American Revolution could not be considered a complete change because it did not affect a major part of the American population as it had portrayed itself to. Indians, black slaves, women, and indentured servants all saw little change to their situations.
(Howard Zinn Reading, Viewpoint 1)
The American Revolution, however, is sometimes considered one of the most revolutionary events in history. This is supported through the fact that an essentially entire new nation was created with the adoption of the idea of democracy. With the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolution, absolute governing of the colines by the English King was eliminated. The Declaration of Independence created through the Revolution put the idea of democracy into place, and the Constitution that followed put the idea into practice.
http://history.howstuffworks.com/revolutionary-war/american-revolution-revolutionary.htm
B) Personally, I believe the American Revolution was revolutionary. Despite the fact that it may have been a gradual change, it was nonetheless one of the biggest and most significant changes ever seen in American history. Had it not occurred, there is no telling the extent of independence, or lack thereof, we would have today. Government would be totally changed and society would not be the equal one we live in.
A). The Revolutionary War could be called not revolutionary because in the end only 10% to 15% of the people could qualify as “freemen” “in the fullest sense.” Negroes, servants, women, and minors couldn’t vote and weren’t “free”. They were ~80% of the population. The adult white males with little to no property also couldn’t vote and they were 5% to 10% of the population.
(Source: Howard Zinn reading)
One the other side, the war could be called revolutionary because even though the social conditions that are supposed to be behind all revolutions such as “poverty and economic deprivation” weren’t in colonial America.
(Source: Howard Zinn reading)
B). I believe that the Revolution was revolutionary. It left the country open to new ideas. Anti-slavery and women’s rights movements were made possible by the new ways of thinking that Britain wouldn’t have allowed. It also allowed those with talent a chance to rise above the conditions they were born in.
A) The revolution has many facts pointing that it in fact was not revolutionary. One of the main facts I observed was from Howard Zinn when he said that 40 riots, 6 slave rebellions, and 18 uprisings had happened during the revolutionary time period, showing that change was being attempted, but that it was not being accomplished. Gordon Wood countered back in the article given for homework when he said that 40 to 50 percent of the labor force for America was made by slaves, but by 1800, only 2 percent of labor was done by African slaves.
B) I believe that the revolution wasn't revolutionary mostly due to the idea that many people who were poor before the revolution, were still living in poverty even after the Revolution. Zinn made an excellent impression on me of how the rich simply used the poor by using their anger against the British by making them seem to be the bad guy's. Though I believe that the revolution wasn't revolutionary, I have to give some credit to Gordon Wood who made me question and refer constantly back to Howard Zinn's say in the matter.
1.) The American Revolution could be considered not revolutionary due to the fact that the core principles that the colonists rebelled against Britain in defense of were mostly ideas that branched off of a philosophy that already previously existed in the world- the idea of republicanism. Republicanism was an idea that had already been previously thought up and developed by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The cause for the revolution, therefore, was somewhat unoriginal and therefore, not revolutionary. (Source: The American Pageant, 12th Edition, Chapter 7, "The Deep Roots of Revolution.") 2.) For other important reasons, however, many could argue that the American Revolution was, in fact, revolutionary. One point that strongly qualifies the American Revolution as revolutionary is the fact that it profoundly altered social expectations, specifically within the voting process. Prior to the American Revolution, common Englishmen had zero influence over what occured in political office, and therefore, remained simply "ordinary" people in the sense that they held no power. With the success of the revolution, however, society was presented a whole new world of opportunities in which to question the social norms of the voting system. Why can't Negros vote? Why can't women vote? Why must one own property to vote? The American Revolution opened the door for people to question what made someone eligible to vote, the opportunity to argue that requirement, and ultimately, to change it. This idea of questioning social norms, specifically the ones that applied to the process of voting that had existed for hundreds of years, was something radically new for the time period. (Source: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=274) 3.) I believe that the American Revolution was not only revolutionary, but arguably one of the most revolutionary events that ever occurred in all of world history. The American Revolution completely changed the way the world saw, well, the world. Democracy had been an idea talked about and philosophized on for hundreds of years, dating back to the ancient Greeks, but had never been fully acted out and established in civil society, particularly during a time period when the trend of absolute monarchies was so ruthlessly defended and preserved. The American Revolution was revolutionary because it is the sole reason that we are sitting here today living the free life that we are. Many nations today still struggle in their government systems and have been left behind in the old world of dictatorship-like thinking while we have the absolute blessing here in the United States of political freedom, liberty, and most importantly, voice, that no other nation in the world has so flawlessly perfected as we, the people of the United States, have. And none of this would be true if it weren't for the American Revolution- what started it all.
A) The American Revolution can be seen as revolutionary based on our history. Had this thought-altering event not taken place we Americans would not be where we are today. The Revolution was revolutionary because it jump-started what would be the greatest country in the world. It got people thinking about democracy and rights, which ultimately led to the freeing of the slaves and women's suffrage. If this radical event hadn't taken place America would have been comparable to czarist Russia.
However, the American Revolution can also be seen as not being revolutionary. As far as being a complete change in thinking, it wasn't. The colonists weren't changing their ways of thinking, they wanted the mother country to change how they saw them. Since the beginning of Jamestown and Plymouth it was obvious why people were coming to these colonies. Most of the people were fleeing from religious or economic oppression. Every person who stepped off a boat was seeking change. Thomas Paine's book Common Sense proves that this wasn't a radical change. He states plainly that it is common sense that the colonies rebel.
(source: Howard Zinn & Gordon S. Wood readings)
B) I believe that the American Revolution was not revolutionary. I came to this conclusion because I think of the American Revolution as a staircase, rather than an elevator. Each event that happened leading up to declaring independence was like a step. One day a bunch of crazy radicals didn't just decide to go up to the 76th floor with the elevator and declare their independence. Also, when the revolution was over the power ended up going right back to a few ruling elite (like Washington and Jefferson).
A: Contrary to its name, the Revolutionary War was not entirely revolutionary. It is often debated by learned historians that the war was merely a consequence of unavoidable circumstances, and a progression of underlying causes, such as imposed British taxes like the Stamp Act and the Townshead Act. For many, the Revolutionary War was some passing fad that did not affect many of the day to day activities, especially those living in rural areas. Some people didn’t even know a war was going on.
(http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/revolutionary-or-not)
On the other hand, the Revolutionary War does have its name for a reason. The rise of the radical idea of total rebellion and overthrow of one of the largest empires in the world was a virtually insane idea of the time. And the way in which it was executed was neither expertly planned nor ruthlessly barbarian. It was graceful and diplomatic in a way that collected the theories and beliefs of a nation and mixed them together to form one cause in which to fight for, something rarely seen in other nations revolutions. This defensive republicanism eventually became the standard model for other countries in revolt.
(Gordon S. Wood Article)
B: Upon personal reflection, the Revolution was a radical transformative event in the history of every American. The War for Independence was the first example of patriotism and pride. Though separated in the ideals of what is right, the colonists managed to rally a support group and exercise the rights they believed such as freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and the liberty of self expression. This mentality is what makes America so great today. The ability to hold and voice different opinions and to have them count for something is so radically different from many countries in today’s modern world.
A. 1. The American Revolution could certainly be considered revolutionary because of the radical changes that occurred within the governing body of the former colonies. The switch from a monarchy to self-rule went hand in hand with new leaders, offices, and liberties for the colonists. When writing the new Articles of Confederation which would decide America’s new form of government, John Dickinson, who lead the committee, supported a strong central government. After he created the articles, the rest of the committee rewrote them, giving Congress far less power. The new Americans were wary of the strong government that had ruled them from Britain, so they decided to keep their new one weak, with no potential to have major influence on state affairs. This weaker government was a far cry from what the states had been facing prior to the revolution.
2. On the other hand, the American Revolution was not revolutionary in some ways. It could be seen that the states were merely achieving their lost state of salutary neglect, since there was once again higher authority, in this case Congress, which the states wished to simply ignore. The states were behind the making of the new puppet government, which was set up by their own representatives, and the states themselves ratified the Articles of Confederation on March 1, 1781.
B. I believe that the American Revolution was, in fact, revolutionary. This is because not only did the governmental structure and the economic status of many Americans change, but almost every aspect of their lives was affected. The American people were also recognized as a new nation by the world, and their ensuing freedom and political liberty lead the way for many future revolutions around the globe. Domestically, religious freedom, the protection of varius liberties like that of the press, and electing their own officials made this a true revolution for the American people.
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aoc1777.html
A. The American Revolution can be considered un-revolutionary. After all, the idea that men must have certain rights to live in a fair society stems back to ancient Greek times, when Aristotle said “The basis of a democratic state is liberty.” (http://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_basis_of_a_democratic_state_is_liberty/154782.html) It wasn’t a revolutionary idea, but rather quite old. The Americans weren’t even fighting for their independence at the beginning, but for their rights as Englishmen. They wanted their lifestyle to return to its state before the French and Indian War. The Americans had been functioning under a democratic system almost since the first Englishmen set foot on the continent. They were fighting to maintain their lifestyles, not change them.
B. That being said, the lifestyles that they were living were quite revolutionary. Most British colonies at that time, such as Quebec didn’t have legislatures or the right to a trial by jury. (American Pageant pg. 133) The fact that the Americans thought so much of themselves and decided that they had the right to their own destinies was a very revolutionary idea in British society. The Americas had always been something of a blank slate, were experiments and sanctuaries could be formed. That was revolutionary.
C. I believe that though the Revolutionary War was not revolutionary, it was the product of a larger Revolution, the great American revolution that started with the formation of the House of Burgesses and continued until the United States became a country. The War for Independence was nothing but a product of its time, of the clashing of two ideas that could no longer coexist, but they had been mutually present for quite a long time. The colonists were not inciting a new type of lifestyle, but rather trying to maintain their usual one, so it cannot be classified as a true social revolution, but the process that brought them to possess the lifestyle that they did was a revolution.
The American Revolution was revolutionary because it allowed for a newfound ability to increase social statuses. Families, such as that of Moses Cooper, could go from being poor farmers one year, to owning acres and hundreds of slaves the next. The new radical ideas of America allowed for the social pyramid to become more flexible, it was easier to either jump up, as in Cooper's case, or jump down as in many other cases. Sons of poor white farmers were encouraged to broaden their horizons and attend universities such as Harvard or Princeton. (Zinn Reading)
However, the American Revolution was also not very revolutionary. Yes the Patriots did believe strongly in a cause, but them being victorious in the Revolutionary War was not just because they strongly believed in this cause. Almost all white men in the colonies owned a gun or weapon of some sorts and most were prepared to fight. When you include the fact that the French sent supplies and soldiers, such as their navy to Yorktown in 1778, to the colonies to fight, it is no miracle that they came out victorious.
I believe that the Revolution was in fact revolutionary. The Patriots created a nation that was unlike any that the world had ever seen before. It combined the ideas of republicans and democrats under one government and was led by a leader whom was eleted on the bases of popular sovernigty. The concepts that branched off of the Revolution were also very radical, such as the ideas of Civil and Women's rights; ideas that never would have occured had the Revolution not been a radical uprising.
A) Some people may consider the American Revolution not revolutionary. Some people consider the the American Revolution to be a continuation of the uprisings that were occuring in the colonies. Rebellions caused policies to change, and protest created the repealing of act by parliment. People consider the American Revolution to be a continuation of "freedom acts" but on a larger scale. To some the Revolution just brought freedom from the crown and not social or economic change. People may not believe it was a total revolution based on the defination "a sudden complete change". To some revolutionary does not apply to the American Revolution becuase it was not a total change from Britian.
(Source: http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/perspectives_global.html and http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/revolutionary)
B) On the other hand one could argue that the American Revolution was infact revolutionary. Due to the tightening grip of England over the colonies, America looked for reform and freedom. Protests and uprisings, such as the Boston Massacare and Boston Tea Party, were not enough to shake the tyranny of Britian's control. The colonists decided that they needed freedom from Britian. The signing of the Decelaration of Independence in 1776 marked the begginging of the Revoltuion. It was time for the colonies to change from British was. After the Revolution was won, America adopted the Articles of Confederation and later the Constitution. These historcal events , to most, prove that the Amercian Revolution was in fact revolutionary.
(Source: http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/perspectives_daily.html)
C) I believe that the American Revoltuion was revolutionary. Even though it was a movement like others in the past, it was on a much larger scale and it provide much more change than any of the other small uprisings did. The American Revolution created political change which created the effect of change throughout the colonies. The revolution was not supported buy all, not even half, but it still created enough change among people and state to call it revolutionary.
A. The American Revolution would not be considered revolutionary because not every single colonist was for the revolution. Therefore, their lives did not change at all, and no revolution took place. Some Quakers, merchants, middle-class men, loyalists, frontier settlers, southerners, and land owners were against revolution and would have preferred a peaceful negotiation or, in some cases, no change what-so-ever. In addition, Crane Brinton described a true revolution as the following: "destroys wicked people and harmful and useless institutions". But was British rule useless or harmful? Some may say it was not. While there was obvious change in America, this evidence concludes that the "Revolution" was more of a change.
Source:
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/E/revolution/revo3.htm
The American Revolution also has evidence proving it was a true revolution. One must call to mind the quote "History is written by the victors" (Winston Churchill) If the American Revolution had failed, Britain would have dubbed it the "American Revolt", meaning a failed revolution by the people. However, the 13 Colonies were victorious so, by definition, the clash was a revolution. Another piece of proof is that a radical shift in government is textbook revolution if done in one swift motion or in an elongated period of time. Going from monarchy and long distance rule to a representative democracy and local rule is defined as revolutionary. So, in that sense, the American Revolution in fact was a revolution.
Source: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=274
B. I believe that by textbook definition and historical tendency, the American Revolution cannot be accurately labelled a full-on revolution. Take for example the French and Russian revolutions that totally uprooted a previous social structure and forced a new, progressive way of life in its place. They received overwhelming support, were as only about 1/3 of Americans actually wanted a revolution. Also, post-war America was not terribly different than pre-war colonial America. The social structure was mostly unchanged in America. The only real economic change was the fact that "smuggling" became legal "trade". In that sense, the American Revolution unfortunately was not a real revolution by definition.
A.) The American Revolution can very well be considered revolutionary. Many social aspects changed for the colonists in America. Specifically, slavery shows how the changing views tied along with the American revolutionary movement affected how slavery was later dealt with. Before, people would take slavery for granted, but in a new age, many people gained a different perspective on the matter. This led to the formation of the first anti-slave group in the United States in 1775 by the Quakers in Philadelphia. This shows that the American Revolution did cause some rapid changes to society. (Viewpoint 2, Gordon S. Wood)
There is also evidence to support the contrary, that the American Revolution was not revolutionary. A revolution requires a new social class to come to power, and in the case of the American Revolution, this was not the case. George Washington, for example, was the wealthiest man at the time, and several other men who came to power were also very wealthy. This doesn’t represent a revolution because the people who were once already rulers of colonial society continued to rule. (Viewpoint 1, Howard Zinn)
B.) Despite the fact that the leader positions relatively stayed the same in America, I believe that the American Revolution was revolutionary. This revolution brought such a dramatic change to the lives of the Americans, and it introduced a new view on radical ideas that would’ve never been implemented. I believe that the changes brought upon by the American Revolution were too extreme to be considered un-revolutionary.
A)The Revolutionary War could very well be seen as revolutionary, as states in the name. It was revolutionary in that it was a true Revolution. How can one say it is not when it demonstrated a powerful social movement toward change. It was a true revolution because of things like the first ever anti-slavery group in the world being formed in Philadelphia in 1775.
(Wood Reading)
In contrast, the Revolutionary War also presents itself as counterrevolutionary at times. In the coming years of the revolution many farmers revolted at their landlords for being “oppressed.” These riots and retaliations serve as proof that there was certain harsh feeling between the classes of the time. The Regulator Movement in North Carolina was one of the biggest movements of the time. It was back-country whites demanding better treatment as tenants of the upper-class, rich whites. In the end, the Revolutionary War ended up having things stay the same as before with the lower-class farmers being given fewer benefits than their richer counterparts.
(Zinn Reading)
B)In my opinion, the American Revolution was highly revolutionary. When you take a step back and look at it you see a small union of people fighting a bigger power for a worthy cause and justified change. It may have had its lapses, but it certainly upheld a great number of the ideals necessary for a revolution to be revolutionary.
A) The Revolutionary War could be considered revolutionary for a variety of reasons. Even though the political structure remained largely the same, social structure changed dramatically. New ideas such as women's rights appeared after the war and colonists of the new nation had new opinions towards many topics. For example, in 1784 a group of people in New York released a shipload of indentured servants and public subscriptions were made to pay for their passage. The group believed that IS was "contrary to...the idea of liberty this country has so happily established." (Howard Zinn reading viewpoint 2)
On the other hand, it can be argued that the revolutionary war was not revolutionary. The polital structure did not change after the war in any drastic way. The main reason the war was fought was not to change political structure within the colonies, it was to gain independence from Britain. Carl Degler said, "No new social class came to power through the door of the American Revolution. The men who engineered the revolt were largely members of the colonial ruling class." (Howard Zinn reading viewpoint 1)
B) I believe the American Revolution was not revolutionary. Although there were changes socially and economically, politics were not drastically changed. The war was not fought for this reason, unlike the French and Russian revolutions that would occur later. It was revolutionary in some aspects, but the definition of a revolution does not describe what was happening in the colonies during and after the Revolutionary War.
Many facets of the American Revolution point to the view that it really was considered to be revolutionary. An instance of this would be in the way America traded. Now that the colonies were no longer under mercantilism,they could now trade freely with foreign nations.American merchants now were able to profit from trade with the Baltic and China seas. This was revolutionary from an economic perspective because it provided an economic boom that made the nation more independent.(The American Pageant,170) An example of a way that the American revolution was not revolutionary would be that the Articles of Confederation didn't really unify the colonies as a whole country. It was more the linking together of states that were completely independent of one another.Congress was weak as was the entire executive branch by a world standard at that time.(The American Pageant,173) In my opinion,the American Revolution was not revolutionary because it was not an overnight change in the workings of American society but a gradual one. The Revolution and documents that came from it such as the Articles of Confederation were more of just a step in the right direction towards a republic instead of complete and radical change in the making of a new nation.
A) "The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I Am Not A Virginian, But An American!" -- Patrick Henry in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party.
(source: http://www.pleasantridge.k12.ca.us/magnolia/studentlinks/websites78/social_studies/revolutionary_war/quotes.html)
Above all, the Revolution popularized certain radical ideals--especially a commitment to liberty, equality, government of the people, and rule of law. However compromised in practice, these egalitarian ideals inspired a spirit of reform. Slavery, the subordination of women, and religious intolerance--all became problems in a way that they had never been before.
(source: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=274)
B) I believe that the revolutionary war was revolutionary. The American War for revolution fits the given definition: a sudden, radical, or complete change; a fundamental change in political organization; activity or movement designed to affect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation. If it were not for the war the changes that occurred would not have been allowed under Britain's careful watch.
1.The Revolutionary War was revolutionary for many reasons. One reason is that the Colonies were able to defeat Great Britain the greatest military power in the world. As discussed in our notes Great Britain had the most powerful navy in the world, more people, better supplies, and better trained soldiers. One of the best military leaders for Great Britain was John Burgoyne. He was an experienced general who had fought in the Seven Years’ War. Even though Great Britain had many experienced generals like Burgoyne they were unable to defeat the unorganized and inexperienced colonies. For the Colonies to take down Great Britain was a miracle, or you could say it was revolutionary.
http://www.answers.com/topic/john-burgoyne
2.The Revolutionary War was not revolutionary because the reason a war was started with Great Britain was to relieve heavy taxes. “The colonists wanted to be freed from taxation; they didn't want to radically change government or attempt to gain freedom, which is the basis for revolution.”
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1536871/why_the_revolutionary_war_was_actually_pg2.html?cat=37
In the definition of Revolutionary the one word that jumps out at me is sudden. The Revolutionary certainly wasn’t sudden, and was due to many acts of taxation by the British government. If the British didn’t force these taxes upon the Colonies I don’t think that the Revolutionary War would have happened. So in my mind the Revolutionary War was not revolutionary.
1) The American Revolution is a revolutionary rebellion leading to a new thinking of how to run a government. "They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men." This quote by John Adams shows how the view of the monarchy of Britain defines an idea of governing different than them. They believed in a republic being governed by the people while they believed that was a set of laws decided by the monarch. A country would be more unite and strong if it was run by the people for the people instead of one decision maker. They revolutionized government and changed government permanently for the future which is why they have glory for their uprise against the British.
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/quotes.htm
2) In the contrast, there are facts that support the idea that the American Revolution was not revolutionary. How can something be considered revolutionary when it is not agreed upon? On both sides of the war a large section did not want to fight against their relatives and friends. Although the policies and new laws were placed on the colonies were unfavorable many were still loyal to the mother country and did not want to separate. "Among the many reasons that American colonists would remain loyal to the Crown during this period was that they simply still saw themselves as British subjects. The American colonies retained strong cultural and economic ties to England, and to King George."
http://joseph-mcgowan.suite101.com/loyalist-militias-in-the-american-revolution-a81508
3) I think that the American Revolution was revolutionary. It was another David beats Goliath situation where the right side wins for the right reasons. Although there were negative effects the overall cause was positive and created new ideas and systems of government.
A. When I think of a revolution, especially when a nation is trying to gain independence such as the United States in the late 1700s, I think of an uprising from the bottom of the social ladder against the top, like in the French Revolution. However, this is not true in the American Revolution. What we see here is an uprising from the top of the wealth and social chain in America against the British. People such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin were not peasants, rather they were some of the richest people in the colonies! "But countless Americans, especially land speculators, were dismayed and angered (The American Pageant page 121 par. 3). This was a response to the Proclamation of 1763. The key words here are 'land speculators'. This refers to the rich, because not many people owned enough land to have the need to expand. This just goes to show how the American Revolution was not revolutionary because it was mainly a debate amongst the rich and not of the common people.
The American Revolution is some ways was a true revolution because of the rebel's ability to unite a certain demographic to arms against the British. Knowing that the slaves and Indians would be of little help to the the American cause, the rebels were able to rally virtually all white males to arms. "Just about every white male had a gun, and could shoot (The War for Independence Was Not a Social Revolution by Howard Zinn page 251 par. 4). The fact that all white males were able to unite and win against the British for an un-united nation is quite revolutionary.
B. In essence, the American Revolution was not so revolutionary, just like how the Holy Roman Empire wasn't holy, nor Roman, and yatayatayata ( we've heard it a million times). Because of the fact that all the "revolution" was, was really just rich people fighting while the poor kinda sat back. Also, did this really unite the American people (I.e. Civil War)?
A. "Resolved: That these colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective colonies for their consideration and approbation." - Richard Lee
This quote represents the true want for seperation from the British government. Revolution by defintion is the forceable overthrow of a government to establish a new system. This is exactly what the Americas did once gaining seperation from Britain. They were quick to establish a new system so that they could be taken seriously.
(http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/quotes.htm)
Some people don't consider the American Revolution to be truly revolutionary. "The southern lower classes resistered being mobolized for the Revolution. They saw themselves under the rule of the political elite, win or lose against the BritishThose wishing for freedom were not supported by the whole population. It is also said that 1/5 of the population was treasonous. Not everyone supported the war against the British or thought it would yield results. The Revolution was thought to be a struggle against the British and the upperclass, not the lower class. If it can really be thought to a revolution is up to interpretation.
(Howard Zinn: Viewpoint 1).
B. I personally think that the American Revolution was as stated in the name, a revolution. America under British rule is unimaginable, it changed the entire course of history. The colonies overcame the British powerhouse to form their own nation. It took guts and strength, but they did it. The colonists went after what they wanted and gained their independence. They started their own government and created one of the most important revolutions in all of history.
A) The American Revolution can be considered a Revolution because one of the reasons for the war was the quote "No taxation without represeantation" said by Patrick Henry. A big reason the War was fought was because of this reason and because the colonist eventually won the war this was changed which phased a huge change in politicle organization which is part of the definition of a revolution. http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/E/revolution/revo8.htm
B). The american revolution can also not be considered a true revolution because the definition says a complete political change which is not completly true because the the monarchy in England has been around since 1707 and to this day has yet to be overthrown.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom
A) The American Revolution can be considered a real revolution due to the fact that we study it here today and it explains how the colonies became independant. The colonies were at first following the British monarchy rule, forced to follow the Navigation Acts and the Molasses Act. After many events, including the Boston Tea Party and the establishment of the Articles of Confederation, the outcome of the war made the colonies free from Britain and a free nation.
(American Pageant 13th Edition, class notes)
Another point of view could be that this "war" was not even a revolution at all. One definition of a revolution is "a sudden, complete or marked change in something." No drastic change had occurred from the time of being under rule and being independant due to the facts of Salutary Neglect that Britain had on the colonies. The paid little attention to the colonies until a big deal was arousing in the colonies themselves, therefore it is just as if the colonies had only gained their own name.
(Salutary Neglect notes)
B) I believe that the american revolution was definately a revolution, even though both sides have intriguing arguments. The fact that we study these events in history that are known as "The American Revolution" gives the assumption that it is indeed a revolution. Not only this, but the colonies had to physically write two sets of Declaration(s) of Independce, thus showing that they had to fight to become free.
A.) The question can be applied to any war, really, but how revolutionary was the revolution of the United States from Britain? Some argue that it was incredibly revolutionary. While the thought of a smaller, outclassed group of individuals fighting against its government was anything but unheard of, the fight for complete social equality that Americans fought so hard for was completely unheard of. Unlike previous attempts in history, the Americans had set up a government to, in due time, give equal rights to anyone willing to change that. No country at the time, or even today, has such an open field of opportunistic to anyone. This can be seen with Samuel Adams, he pushed for revolution like crazy. While his home might have been a bar stool in some tavern, his push for equality through the colonial system caught on like fire to a pile of hay. The drive for it was ridiculously strong compared to the drive for a change in a political role like past revolutions had shown.
Source:http://launiusr.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/how-revolutionary-was-the-american-revolution/
B.)On the other hand, for every yes, there is a no, and for every reason that the revolution was indeed revolutionary, there is another point that claims it wasn't. In order for a revolution to be truly revolutionary, an entire social uprising is required. As far as the American revolution, more than half of the citizens either didn't favor the decision, or didn't care. Some places that weren't touched by war and were heavily ethnically diverse didn't even know there was a war going on. How could something that affected only 1/3 of the population really be called an American Revolution? Also, even in the 1/3 of people who were for the change, even less actually did anything. Some groups preferred a passive take on things, and stayed out of the war and glory end of the whole thing.
Source: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/E/revolution/revo2.htm
C.) In my opinion, the revolutionary war was completely revolutionary. Even though it didn't have the full support of the civilization, does anything? Even in the great revolutions in China and Russia, there were those were completely against the reformation, and there always will be. Besides, though it may not have been as hyped up then as we think about it being today, if it were not for the revolution, America would never have become the nation it did today. The amount of rights and freedoms that we have is something that immigrants specifically come over for. It just shows how different we have developed from other countries.
A) The revolution was revolutionary because it changed the government. More specifically, it changed the government from a monarchy to a republic. Prior to the revolution, very few men were politically involved with the government. The people that had the greatest involvement were the wealthy merchants, large landowners, and wealthy lawyers. During and after the revolution, however, the amount of men participating in politics increased. There were more smaller farmers, artisans, and laborers that got involved with the politics.
The revolution in a way was not revolutionary because it can't be considered a social revolution. For example, France experience a huge social revolution beginning in 1789. It gradually escalated, and King Louis XVI was executed in 1793, after which the Reign of Terror began. In this revolution, the social classes changed. The wealthy lost power, and the common folk gained power.
B) I think that the revolution was BOTH revolutionary and non-revolutionary. I see the change in government as a result, but the social classes did not change, as in a social revolution. The American Revolution, in my words, had concepts of a revolution embedded throughout the Revolutionary War without making it into a complete revolution.
Source:
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=274
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