The American Revolution

This section explains the build up to the American Revolution. From the early 1600s, settlers from England began migrating across the Atlantic to North America, claiming land from the Plains Indians and establishing colonies. By 1775, there were 13 separate British colonies in North America, with a combined population of around 2.5 million people, including both colonists and enslaved individuals.

Over time, the relationship between the American colonists and Britain, often referred to as the ‘mother country’, began to fray. Many colonists felt growing resentment over taxation and felt they had outgrown their dependency on Britain. Tensions escalated following violent incidents where British soldiers opened fire on American civilians. Ultimately, this led to the colonies declaring their independence from Britain, triggering a war that would result in the formation of the United States of America.

The Causes of the American Revolution

The American Revolution was caused by a combination of gradual developments and sudden events. The resentment that simmered over many years finally erupted into bloodshed and full-scale war.

Long-Term Causes of the American Revolution

• Colonial Identity: By the 18th century, many colonists were born in America and had never set foot in Britain. They did not know anyone in Britain and began to view themselves as distinctly American, disconnected from their European roots.
• Outgrowing Britain: The colonists no longer felt they needed Britain’s protection or leadership. They had developed their own economy, political structures, and way of life, which made them feel independent and capable of self-rule.
• The Seven Years’ War (1756-1763): Britain fought a war against France in North America, known as the French and Indian War. When Britain emerged victorious in 1763, it gained control over vast new territories in North America. However, the war was costly, and Britain’s need to finance the war effort led to new taxes on the colonists.
• Taxation without Representation: To pay off the war debts, Britain imposed new taxes on the American colonies, including taxes on sugar, tea, and paper. The colonists were angry because they had no representation in the British Parliament. Their rallying cry became: "No taxation without representation!" They argued that if they were to be taxed, they should have a say in how taxes were levied and spent.

Medium-Term Causes of the American Revolution

• The Navigation Acts (1651-1673): A series of laws that restricted colonial trade, the Navigation Acts required that American colonists could only trade with Britain or its colonies, often forcing them to buy expensive British goods even when cheaper foreign alternatives were available. This enraged many colonists, who felt their economic freedom was being restricted.
• The Stamp Act of 1765: The Stamp Act imposed a direct tax on all printed materials, including newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards. This caused widespread anger and resistance, with colonists viewing it as an infringement on their rights. Protests erupted, and in some places, mobs attacked British officials.
• The Quartering Act: Another grievance was the Quartering Act, which required colonists to provide housing and provisions for British soldiers stationed in America. This was deeply resented, as it meant the colonists had to support a standing army they did not want.

Short-Term Causes of the American Revolution

• The Boston Massacre (1770): Tensions between British soldiers and colonists boiled over in March 1770 when British troops fired on a crowd of colonists who were harassing them with snowballs and sticks. Five colonists were killed, and the event inflamed anti-British sentiment across the colonies. Thousands attended the funerals of the victims, which became symbols of British oppression.
• The Boston Tea Party (1773): In response to the Tea Act (which gave Britain the exclusive right to sell tea to the colonies), a group of colonists calling themselves the Sons of Liberty boarded British ships in Boston Harbour and dumped 342 chests of tea into the sea. This bold act of defiance became known as the Boston Tea Party and was a major turning point in relations between Britain and its colonies. In retaliation, Britain imposed the Intolerable Acts, which included closing the port of Boston until the tea was paid for.
• Lexington and Concord (1775): The first shots of the American Revolution were fired in April 1775 when British soldiers attempted to seize weapons and gunpowder from colonial militias in Lexington, Massachusetts. When colonists resisted, the British troops fired on them. This event marked the start of the American War of Independence, with battles erupting across the colonies.

The Declaration of Independence

By 1776, the 13 colonies had united in opposition to Britain’s continued control. The colonies were determined to seek independence.

• Unifying Factors: The colonies were united in their frustration with Britain’s disrespectful attitude towards their grievances and its refusal to allow any representation in Parliament. In 1775, the colonies appointed George Washington as the commander of the Continental Army to lead the military struggle for independence.
• The Continental Congress: In 1776, representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to form the Second Continental Congress. After much deliberation, they issued the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776.

The Declaration outlined the following key principles:

• All men are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• The government derives its power from the consent of the governed, and it is the right of the people to abolish or alter any government that threatens these fundamental rights.
• The 13 colonies declared that they were no longer subject to British rule and were henceforth independent.

The Battle of Yorktown (1781)

After declaring independence, the American colonists faced the formidable task of defeating the well-trained British army. Initially, the British army, led by General Cornwallis, won several early battles.

• French Involvement: The conflict shifted in favour of the colonists when France decided to support the American cause. France provided significant military aid, including troops, naval support, and financial resources. The French contribution played a crucial role in the eventual victory of the colonies.
• The Battle of Yorktown: In 1781, the decisive battle took place in Yorktown, Virginia. General Cornwallis, the British commander, was trapped by American and French forces on a peninsula. With no escape and supplies cut off, Cornwallis was forced to surrender his army of 8,000 soldiers and 214 artillery pieces to the Americans. This was a humiliating defeat for Britain and effectively ended the war.

Impacts of the American Revolution

• Formation of the United States: Following the victory in the American War of Independence, the 13 colonies united to form the United States of America. In 1788, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the new nation. The United States rapidly expanded westward, acquiring vast territories, but this expansion had devastating consequences for Native Americans, who were displaced from their land.
• Global Influence: The American Revolution had far-reaching effects on the world. The United States became known as the ‘land of the free’, and its struggle for independence inspired other revolutionary movements. The French Revolution in 1789 was directly influenced by the ideas and success of the American colonists.
• Social Change and Limitations: Despite the revolution’s emphasis on freedom and equality, these ideals were not extended to all. Slavery remained legal in the U.S. until 1865, and women did not gain the right to vote until 1920. Many Americans were still excluded from the promises of liberty and justice.
• Britain’s Loss and Global Expansion: Britain’s loss of the American colonies marked the end of its dominance in North America. However, the British Empire continued to expand in other regions, including India, Australia, and large parts of Africa.
• New Global Dynamics: The United States emerged as a new global power, while Britain’s relationship with France was soured by France’s support of the American colonists.