The Revolutionary War

The colonists were tired of being used by Britain for monetary gain. They were ready to make major changes in their economic system. This was evident in the engraving of the Boston Massacre done by Paul Revere. The colonists chaffed under the constant array of acts, such as the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act, and went to do the customs houses to protest their oppression. This showed how badly they wanted to change what they considered the unjust taxation that Britain had forced upon them. Another open revolt based on economics was the Boston Tea Party. This was caused solely by what the colonists saw as a tax used only to save an English company. Another example of how greatly the economy was altered was the huge change in the borders of the colonies. Previously, Britain had limited how far the colonists could expand. With the end of the revolution, the colonists rapidly began to expand westward, not stopping until they reached another ocean to hem them in. This change in borders completely altered the entire economy of the colonies. It allowed them much greater land to farm in and also helped their population expand. Not only that, it was a complete break from the Proclamation of 1763 which had set the western border on the colonies. The Boston Massacre and the rapid expansion of the colonies illustrate how much the colonists chaffed under England’s rule and how radical the economic revolution in America really was.

The government of the colonies was also completely altered after the revolution. The complete alteration of the form of government can be seen in Galloway’s Plan of Union. Previously, the colonists had absolutely no say in the election of the Parliament that ruled them. They now had formed a plan that called for the open election of their own ruling body, one that would not be affected by the Parliament in England. This illustrates what a complete reversal the governing style that the colonists had gone through. Another example of the political change that the colonists experienced were the resolves passed by the First Continental Congress. This departure from previous governing style can be seen when the Congress said, "The several Acts which impose duties for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, extend powers of the admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American subject of trial by jury, authorize the judges’ certificate to indemnify the prosecutor from damages that he might otherwise be liable to, requiring oppressive security from a claimant ships and goods seized before he shall be allowed to defend his property; and are subversive of American rights." The colonists also feared the power of Parliament as was stated in the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms. This said that there had to be some limiting of the power that the government could hold over an individual. These complete departures from the previous governing style that England had used illustrate how radical the political revolution that occurred in America really was.

The structure of America was forever changed by the Revolutionary War. This was exemplified socially by things like Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and the radicalism of Patrick Henry. The desire for economic change was illustrated by The Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. And the change in political life was demonstrated by things like Galloway’s Plan of Union, and the resolves of the First Continental Congress. The revolution in America was actually very radical, with their belief that "you can’t let the tail wag the dog."