The American Revolution

American Revolution is the most important topic in World History. It is one of the favorite topics coming in government exams like SSC, State PSC, Railways, etc. Questions are coming from this topic frequently hence we are covering American Revolution in detail so that students get most of the questions correct on exams.

American Revolution :

The American Revolutionary War (American Revolutionary War) is considered one of the most important milestones in modern world history because it was the world’s first anti-colonial struggle.  

This revolution resulted in the birth of a new nation, the United States of America. The 13 colonies eventually became the United States and other states eventually joined the United States.

America was discovered in the last decade of the 15th century. In the 16th century, European nations began to settle there. In North America, French, Dutch, Spanish, and British colonies were developed.

After the Second Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the Seven Years’ War, England expelled France from the eastern continent and Canada. In the mid-18th century, there were 13 British colonies along the Atlantic coast. These colonies were under British royal control but exercised considerable autonomy in internal affairs. The settlers enjoyed considerable political autonomy but were subject to various economic restrictions of British mercantilism. 
Landless farmers, merchants, religious freedom seekers, and profit seekers began to settle in America. Most of the people consisted of self-maintained farmers.

Nature of the American Revolution:

The American Revolution was not limited to the United States, but also had connections with other countries. Thus, the Paris Agreement not only dealt with America’s independence but also ceded some territory to France and Spain.

It brought imperialism its first defeat and put the doctrines of nationalism and secularism before human society. The middle class and women played a very important role. The Constitutional Assembly was also dominated by the middle class. A chain of class struggles can be seen in this revolution.

Causes of The Revolution

1. The American Revolutionary War was a conflict between British mercantilism and American capitalism. How British mercantilism tries to subordinate the colonial economies to the economic interests of the American state. Under his influence, the following measures were taken:

• The Navigation Act of 1651 was introduced to promote the interests of the British shipping industry at the expense of the American shipping industry.
• The American was forced to sell only to British merchants his three important commodities: rice, tobacco, and cotton.
• The British government deliberately discourages American industrialization so that America can serve as a market for British goods.

2. All American classes have revolutionized against England for their good. For example:

• Merchants advocated a revolution against England in hopes of economic freedom.
• Political leaders supported the anti-British revolution because it could reveal their bright future in an independent America.
• Students and intellectuals were inspired by Republican ideas to support the revolution.

3. The British tried to emphasize parliamentary supremacy (sovereignty) and all other institutions subordinated to the British Parliament, whereas the Americans (judicial supremacy) had control over everything, including the Acts of Parliament.  It gave priority to the natural rights of man over the laws.

4. Since there was no US representation in the British Parliament, US leaders denied Britain the right to tax them.

5. The Seven Years’ War cost Britain a lot of money. When it decided to offset the costs of war by taxing the people of the British colonies of North America, America came up with the slogan “No taxation without representation” and opposed all taxation. 

6. Many thinkers challenged the status quo, demanded freedom and liberty for the people, and advocated the idea of ​​democratic government.

Main Reasons behind the success of the American Revolution: 

• From the beginning, the British authorities did not attach much importance to American revolutionary efforts, relying mainly on mercenary repression.
  
• British authorities were unable to rally the Loyalist Americans.
  
• A wild spirit of freedom propelled Americans to success.
  
• Military success stems from the extraordinary military leadership of George Washington.
  
• France openly supported her colony in 1778, avenging her defeat in the Seven Years’ War. The French navy also played an important role during the key phases of the war.
  
• Because England is so far from America, the British soldiers had to face great difficulties due to the lack of local cooperation.
  British traders and some leaders were not in favor of fighting America.

Significance of the Revolution:

• As the American colonies were the first to become independent, they became a symbol of decolonization.
  
• In 1789 the United States Constitution came into force. It was the republic’s first written constitution.
  
• The American Revolutionary War established the world’s first democratic republic.
  
• The most important contributions of the American Revolution were the ideas of liberty, equality, fundamental rights, nationalism, and anti-colonialism.
  
• The American Revolutionary War influenced subsequent events, the best known of which was the 1789 French Revolution. 
  
• America has taken initiatives to improve the situation of women.
  
• The industry got benefited in two ways. i.e

  1. American industry removed the mercantilist restrictions imposed by Britain.
  2. The stoppage of imports from England during the war encouraged the development of colonial industries.