Introduction
Historians regard the American Revolution as an epic struggle for independence by American colonists against Great Britain. The Revolution was started by the breakaway of the 13 American Colonies from the British Crown.
Great Britain was unwilling to grant independence to the American colonies and this led to an armed conflict as Britain sought to reassert imperial authority over the American colonies.
The revolution was characterized by significant upheaval lasting for about two decades starting from 1765. The struggle led to the defeat of British forces and the successful formation of an independent United States of America.
This paper will argue that the Revolutionary War, which was sparked by opposition to British rule over the colonies, led to significant changes in American society.
Reasons for the Revolution
By the 18th century, many immigrants from Europe inhabited the American Colonies. France and Britain were the two major powers that initially exerted influence over North America. However, Britain succeeded in expelling France from North America and the British established control over the American colonies (Andrews, 1961).
In spite of being the only colonial power, Britain faced significant contentions from the colonists. These contentions eventually led to the outbreak of the American Revolution. A major issue leading to the Revolution was the taxation of the American colonies by British authorities.
The British government had for decades taxed the American colonies and administered the states through a colonial government. However, the colonists lacked representation in Parliament in spite of being subjected to constant taxation.
This situation led to protests as the colonists demanded for representation in Parliament. Instead of responding to the grievances of the colonists in an amicable manner, the British authorities deployed soldiers and passed even more stringent laws against the protesting colonists.
The American Colonists were opposed to the manner in which their colonial masters treated them. They felt that they had a right to be given the rights and protections afforded to British Citizens. The colonists therefore engaged in protests to compel Great Britain to extend basic political rights and social equality in the American colonies (Morton, 2003).
However, Britain did not see the need to grant any liberties since the British government felt that the American colonies were Crown Property that was to be used in a way that benefited Britain. Colonists were deprived of the rights normally extended to British subjects and instead ruled over without consultation.
Due to these realities, the colonials protested against British oppression, tyranny, and the intention of the British Empire to enslave the Americans (Gary, 2006).
Changes in American Society
Due to the grievances expressed by the colonists, a Revolution Took place. Paige (2009) documents that the first shots of the American Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord in April 1775, officially marking the beginning of the American Revolution.
The American Revolution led to the creation of a United States through acts of military, political, and ideological aggression against British Colonizers. Following the successful defeat of Britain, a number of changes occurred in American society.
A significant consequence of the American Revolution is that it led to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 (Armitage, 2007). This document, which is considered one of the United State’s most important documents, articulated the intention of the 13 colonies to become independent of Britain.
After the political upheaval caused by the revolution, the document became a symbol of liberty for Americans (Vile, 2005). Its tenets are enshrined in the American constitution and the ideals expressed in the document continue to be upheld by American.
Arguably the most important impact of the Revolution is that it led to the formation of the United States. Before the Revolution, the American colonies were separate entities governed over by the British Crown. The proposal to form a Union of the States was a strategic plan aimed at giving the colonists a better chance at opposing the British Empire (Swindler, 1981).
The colonies therefore joined in a loose confederation that was to wage war against Great Britain. After independence was attained in 1783, most Americans supported the idea of maintaining the union of the States (Swindler, 1981). This led to the formation of the United States as the previously independent colonies surrendered their sovereignty in order to create a unified government.
The American Revolution led to the formation of a strong Central government that fostered the political, economic and military prosperity of the nation in future centuries.
Following the formation of the United States, a Federal Constitution, which created a strong Central government, was ratified (McNeese, 2001). This constitution led to the formation of a Central government that was able to operate effectively due to its far-reaching powers.
The Revolution promoted the concept of social egalitarianism within the American society. This is a concept that has prevailed to modern times where social democracy is highly regarded in the US. Before the revolution, America was not a land of equal opportunity since the vast majority of the country’s wealth and power was in the hands of the elite who had inherited aristocracy.
The aristocratic elite within the American colonies held all the political power and most of the wealth in society (Andrews, 1961). The Revolution led to the banishment of thousands of loyalists, who included the aristocratic elite, from the American colonies.
The notion that success and prosperity were possibilities for all members of the society also began to grow. After the Revolution, there was a widespread belief that all Americans, regardless of their social class, could achieve success in society (Morton, 2003).
The Revolution had an impact on the rights of women in society. Before the Revolution, women were second-class citizens whose only significant role in society was to raise families. Following the Revolution, the position of women in society improved slightly.
To begin with, the American population embraced the philosophy of liberty, which denoted that man was free and equal (Morton, 2003). Women who had previously been considered the property of their husbands could therefore demand for greater rights in post-revolution America.
While the rights enjoyed by women in the years immediately following the Revolution were minimal, they set a trend, enabling women to gain greater rights in the decades to come.
Conclusion
This paper set out to highlight the causes of the American Revolution and document some of the major changes in American society that this Revolutionary War led to. The paper began by noting that the Revolution is of great importance in the country’s history.
It then highlighted the various grievances advanced by the colonists against Great Britain. The paper has demonstrated how a large segment of the colonial population in the New World rose to throw off the yoke of British tyranny.
The Revolution led to the formation of a United States of America and the ratification of the Federal Constitution. The paper has shown how the American Revolution promoted egalitarian values and the attainment of rights for all members of the society.
References
Andrews, C.M. (1961). The Colonial Background of the American Revolution: Four Essays in American Colonial History. Boston: Yale University Press.
Armitage, D. (2007). The Declaration of Independence: A Global History. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Gary, N. (2006). The American Revolution in Red and Black. Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 86(3), 19-22.
McNeese, T. (2001). U.S. Constitution: American Experience. Boston: Lorenz Educational Press.
Morton, J.C. (2003). The American Revolution. NY: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Paige, N.B. (2009). For God, King, and Country: Loyalism on the Eastern Shore of Maryland during the American Revolution. International Social Science Review, 84(3), 135-156.
Swindler, W.F. (1981). Our First Constitution: The Articles of Confederation. ABA Journal, 67(1), 166-169.
Vile, J. (2005). The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of America’s Founding. NY: ABC-CLIO.