American Revolution
It was a watershed event in the history of world, giving it its first written constitution and a democracy. It is the dominant pattern in the world politics today but at its origin, it was truely revolutionary. There were certain pre-conditions and conditions that led to the american revolution. Let us analyse the events in a timeline-
1) Thirteen British colonies; Virginia (1607) to Georgia (1733)
2)1750- French expand into the Ohio Valley (immediate of penniselvania and south of Canada). They were already present in Canada and Carribean Isalnds. This brought the colonies the threat of aggresion from the north and southern borders.
3) Albany Congress- 1754 saw the colonies of britain forming a union for their security.
4) Seven year war 1956 to 1963. British Victory. ( End of other hostilities in other parts of the world viz. Carnatic wars, Europan wars, philipines and african wars)
5) Navigation acts of 1951, 1960 and 1963. Trade could be carried out only in British ships, exports to americas had to go through britain, certain goods like rice and tobaccho could be shipped to Britain only and colonies werent allowed to export enumerate goods causing damage to industries as to iron production in 1750.
6) In 1765 British passed the stamp act which required many printed material in colonies to use stamped paper produced in London.
7) Townshed act of 1767 was to raise revenue from colonies to pay salaries of governers and judges to make them impartial.
8) Tea act of 1773 to reduce surplus tea in the godowns of East india company.
9) Lord North compells parliament to pass an act repealing all duties except on tea.
10) Boston tea party
11) Retaliation from governors in form of boston port act and Massachusetts government act.
12)1774 saw the meeting of first continental congress attended by 12 colonies. Issue of declaration of rights.
13) 1775 saw the meeting of the second continental congress whoch declared itself the government and declared George Washington as the commander in chielf of the newly formed continental army.
14) Armed comflict between continental army and British troops started in 1775.
15) on 4th july 1976 Congress adopted the declaration of independence.
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16) in 1778 France entered the revolution on the side of the colonialists.
17) Surrender of British troops in 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia.
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18)1787 saw the world first written constitution with fundamental rights.
Analysis:-
Prior to the seven years war(1756 to 1763) the british treated the colonies high handedly under a partiarchal rule. However there were considerable difference in the conditions of British Isles and the colonialists in north america. While only 1/5 of men owned land in britain, 2/3 of white colonialists owned land in the colonies. As a legacy to their British past, they were introduced to the concepts of constitutional monarchy and parliament with ministerial responsibility. They were open minded and bent towards democratic ideals.
During the seven year wars, the colonialists fought on the side of British while the native indians sided with the French. George washington, thought never gaining comission in the British troops gained considerable war experience leading the local miliia. The war proved costly for both British and French. At the end of the war, British gained
considerable territory in Canada and the threat of french attach on the colonies vanished.
After the war, British finances were in ruins and they tried to raise the funds by taxing the colonialists under the pretext that they were fighting the war to protech them. This lead to monopolistic trade policies which were opressive to the locals.
The difference between the British and the colonialists started to emerge now. The difference of religion ( anglican and puritarian), social (patriarchical and contract), political (parlimentarian and military governors).
This lead to a standoff where the colonies organised themselves into a congress and tried to put forward their demands. When the royal decree declared them traitors, the last hopes were shattered. The war eruped with George Washington leading the militia against the British army. The French already looking for retribution from their loss in the seven year war sided with the colonialists. Their efforts in men, money and naval efforts saw the colonialists winning and the British left to ponder upon their mistakes.
Aftermath -
The british had to revisit their policies regarding their colonies. They gave them more autonomy with local bodies governing the subjects. Also trade saw more liberalization and less interference. With the reforms Britain was able to make up for its losses of the colonies.
France however went bankrupt due to its efforts in war. This lead to the French revolution in 1789 which saw the overthrow of the absolute monarchy.
.jpg)
In due course of time American revolution became an inspiration for nations world over. Many a countries have adopted the concepts of American revolution and USA's constituion.USA would expand to capture more land in the west, taking its current shape and with time replace Britain as a World super power.
It was a watershed event in the history of world, giving it its first written constitution and a democracy. It is the dominant pattern in the world politics today but at its origin, it was truely revolutionary. There were certain pre-conditions and conditions that led to the american revolution. Let us analyse the events in a timeline-
1) Thirteen British colonies; Virginia (1607) to Georgia (1733)
2)1750- French expand into the Ohio Valley (immediate of penniselvania and south of Canada). They were already present in Canada and Carribean Isalnds. This brought the colonies the threat of aggresion from the north and southern borders.
3) Albany Congress- 1754 saw the colonies of britain forming a union for their security.
4) Seven year war 1956 to 1963. British Victory. ( End of other hostilities in other parts of the world viz. Carnatic wars, Europan wars, philipines and african wars)
5) Navigation acts of 1951, 1960 and 1963. Trade could be carried out only in British ships, exports to americas had to go through britain, certain goods like rice and tobaccho could be shipped to Britain only and colonies werent allowed to export enumerate goods causing damage to industries as to iron production in 1750.
6) In 1765 British passed the stamp act which required many printed material in colonies to use stamped paper produced in London.
7) Townshed act of 1767 was to raise revenue from colonies to pay salaries of governers and judges to make them impartial.
8) Tea act of 1773 to reduce surplus tea in the godowns of East india company.
9) Lord North compells parliament to pass an act repealing all duties except on tea.
10) Boston tea party
11) Retaliation from governors in form of boston port act and Massachusetts government act.
12)1774 saw the meeting of first continental congress attended by 12 colonies. Issue of declaration of rights.
13) 1775 saw the meeting of the second continental congress whoch declared itself the government and declared George Washington as the commander in chielf of the newly formed continental army.
14) Armed comflict between continental army and British troops started in 1775.
15) on 4th july 1976 Congress adopted the declaration of independence.
16) in 1778 France entered the revolution on the side of the colonialists.
17) Surrender of British troops in 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia.
18)1787 saw the world first written constitution with fundamental rights.
Analysis:-
Prior to the seven years war(1756 to 1763) the british treated the colonies high handedly under a partiarchal rule. However there were considerable difference in the conditions of British Isles and the colonialists in north america. While only 1/5 of men owned land in britain, 2/3 of white colonialists owned land in the colonies. As a legacy to their British past, they were introduced to the concepts of constitutional monarchy and parliament with ministerial responsibility. They were open minded and bent towards democratic ideals.
During the seven year wars, the colonialists fought on the side of British while the native indians sided with the French. George washington, thought never gaining comission in the British troops gained considerable war experience leading the local miliia. The war proved costly for both British and French. At the end of the war, British gained
considerable territory in Canada and the threat of french attach on the colonies vanished.
After the war, British finances were in ruins and they tried to raise the funds by taxing the colonialists under the pretext that they were fighting the war to protech them. This lead to monopolistic trade policies which were opressive to the locals.
The difference between the British and the colonialists started to emerge now. The difference of religion ( anglican and puritarian), social (patriarchical and contract), political (parlimentarian and military governors).
This lead to a standoff where the colonies organised themselves into a congress and tried to put forward their demands. When the royal decree declared them traitors, the last hopes were shattered. The war eruped with George Washington leading the militia against the British army. The French already looking for retribution from their loss in the seven year war sided with the colonialists. Their efforts in men, money and naval efforts saw the colonialists winning and the British left to ponder upon their mistakes.
Aftermath -
The british had to revisit their policies regarding their colonies. They gave them more autonomy with local bodies governing the subjects. Also trade saw more liberalization and less interference. With the reforms Britain was able to make up for its losses of the colonies.
France however went bankrupt due to its efforts in war. This lead to the French revolution in 1789 which saw the overthrow of the absolute monarchy.
In due course of time American revolution became an inspiration for nations world over. Many a countries have adopted the concepts of American revolution and USA's constituion.USA would expand to capture more land in the west, taking its current shape and with time replace Britain as a World super power.
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