Introduction
1776 was a pivotal year in world history because it was the year the thirteen colonies in North America proclaimed their independence from Britain. This event ultimately led to the establishment of the United States of America. The Glorious Revolution, the enormous population growth in the 18th century, the economic prosperity in the colonies, the European Enlightenment, and the Great Awakening all contributed to the Revolution.
If the Glorious Revolution of 1688 had not occurred, there would never have been a separate nation in the American colonies. Once William of Orange ousted King James II of England during the Glorious Revolution, parliamentary supremacy and constitutional monarchy could be founded in England (El Sharkawy 5). As a direct consequence, the British government provided the colonies with a model of government that emphasized the importance of individual rights, the rule of law, and the concept of representative government. Each of these aspects significantly impacted the way of life in the colonies. The majority of colonists held these beliefs because they saw them as a means of protecting themselves from the oppression of the British government.
Economic Strain and Colonial Experience from War
For England to cover the costs of the war, it imposed severe taxation on the American colonies. Many colonists were resentful as a result, which accelerated the momentum toward revolt. A direct consequence of the conflict was the extension of British control over North America. As a result, tensions arose between the colonies and Britain and the Native American people.
Due to their participation in the conflict, many colonists obtained combat expertise that would serve them well throughout the Revolution. These included George Washington, who was a colonel in the Virginia militia. The colonists’ reliance on British armed forces for safety grew steadily throughout the conflict. The colonists’ perception of this dependency as an impediment to their freedom fueled their drive for independence.
Due to the combination of natural increase and new arrivals, the colonial population skyrocketed throughout the 18th century (García-Mascaraque 1). The promise held by the colonies resulted in people from all over the world, including Europe, Africa, and even farther afield, rushing to live there. Its growth resulted in the establishment of new cities and towns, a rise in agricultural and industrial output, and the beginning of the formation of a uniquely American culture. Each of these developments had a significant impact on colonial society. The economic prosperity of the colonies was one of the primary driving forces behind the expansion of colonial society and the beginning of the American Revolution (Bernecker and Hans).
The colonies sent their abundant timber, fur, and salmon to Britain and other European countries for monetary compensation for using their natural resources. In massive quantities, cash crops like tobacco, rice, and others were cultivated in the colonies for export. A powerful merchant class rose to power as a direct consequence of the newly discovered wealth in the colonies. This elite held a significant amount of political and economic sway.
Enlightenment and the Rise of Revolutionary Ideas
The European Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that began in the 17th century and continued into the 18th century. It was characterized by a stress on reason, scientific inquiry, and individualism. The Enlightenment, which focused on freedom, equality, and democracy, had far-reaching consequences on colonial culture by displacing long-held conventions and beliefs. These changes occurred as a direct result of the Enlightenment. Many colonists held these values because they provided an alternative to British power and the prospect of establishing a more just and equitable society.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher, significantly influenced the formulation of the Declaration of Independence in this way. His theories played an important part in developing the philosophy that underpinned the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Rousseau proposed that the foundation of society should be a social contract in which individuals agree to cede part of their rights to a government in exchange for the promise that the government would act according to their collective desire (Geerlof 224-226).
According to Rousseau, the role of the government is to look out for the interests of its citizens and ensure their well-being in general (Geerlof 224-226). This concept persuaded many people who lived in the American colonies at that time. These colonists believed they were being oppressed by the British government, which they perceived as solely looking out for its own interests.
The emphasis that Rousseau placed on popular sovereignty, commonly known as the concept that political power originates from the people, was another factor that played a role in the American Revolution. The belief that all people are created equal and have the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (Geerlof 224-226) was a fundamental tenet of the United States Declaration of Independence. The proclamation continues to argue that governments get their lawful powers from the agreement of those who are ruled, a theory that is consistent with Rousseau’s concept of popular sovereignty.
The Great Awakening and Democratic Spirit
The concept that people may have a personal relationship with God and save themselves was at the heart of the religious movement known as the Great Awakening, which took place in the United Kingdom between 1730 and 1740 (Ratner-Rosenhagen 1). One of the most significant impacts of the Great Awakening on the American Revolution was its advocacy of religious liberty. Several of the colonies before the Great Awakening had an official state religion. However, the Great Awakening contested this structure by advocating for people’s rights to freely exercise their own religious beliefs outside of the purview of the state (Ratner-Rosenhagen 10). The First Amendment to the United States Constitution eventually codified this principle of religious freedom.
The Great Awakening also influenced the spread of democratic ideals across the colonies. The movement’s core belief was that all people, regardless of their background or station in life, were created in God’s image. This concept of equality had a role in undermining the colonial order of privilege that had long been in place. The colonists developed a strong feeling of individuality and self-reliance because of the Great Awakening’s emphasis on the importance of free thought and the individual’s autonomy (Ratner-Rosenhagen 12).
The Great Awakening also greatly influenced the growth of political awareness across the colonies. A central tenet of the movement was encouraging people to reflect critically on the government. Thus, the colonists became more conscious of the value of exercising their political rights and participating in government. For the colonists to rise up and successfully revolt against British authority, they needed to be inspired and united, and the Great Awakening did just that.
Conclusion
The Glorious Revolution, the tremendous demographic growth of the 18th century, economic success in the colonies, the Enlightenment, and the Great Awakening contributed to the rise of colonial society and the launch of the American Revolution. These factors helped nurture the creation of a distinctly American culture that pushed against existing norms and values.
These forces championed freedom, equality, and democracy and helped encourage the development of that culture. These issues, coupled with British attempts to restrict the rights and autonomy of the colonies, were a primary cause of the outbreak of the American Revolution. The principles of liberty, democracy, and individualism guided the revolutionary movement that formed the United States of America.
Works Cited
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El Sharkawy, Omar. “The Glorious Revolution Reconsidered: Whig Historiography and Revisionism in Historical and Intellectual Context.” Prandium: The Journal of Historical Studies at U of T Mississauga, vol. 9, no. 1, 2020.
García-Mascaraque Marín, Cristian. “On the reasons why the First Industrial Revolution was British: a multisectoral and multifactorial approach.” 2022.
Geerlof, Jaap. “A New Social Contract: Substituting the Neoliberal Public Policy Paradigm with a Participatory Public Policy Paradigm.” World Futures, vol. 75, no. 4, 2019, pp. 222–241. Web.
Ratner-Rosenhagen, Jennifer. The Ideas that Made America: A Brief History. Oxford University Press, 2019.