Despite the connotation revolutions are relatively conservative events. Discuss in relation to the American Revolution. The American Revolution was truly the first modern war however it can be argued that the revolution
Despite the connotation revolutions are relatively conservative events. Discuss in relation to the American Revolution.
The American Revolution was truly the first modern war however it can be argued that the revolution was barely a revolution at all. It was "limited, decorous, even prosaic with little social upheaval or class conflict, no radical re-organisation of government or the economy, no challenges to existing religious believes, no bloodthirsty mobs, no carnivals of pillage, no descent into anarchy or dictatorship, no reign of terror"1 One might even argue that the revolution was scarcely a revolution at all but "simply a successful war of independence which ended British rule but otherwise left things pretty much as they always had been"2 the Americans did wish to preserve much of their past, but their struggle was not conservative for it was shot through with hope for the future.3 Nevertheless the American Revolution was indeed a revolutionary event that "shaped the United States and moulded its future development. It created a republican system of government based on the supremacy of the people in place of traditional monarchic society, drastically altered the relationship between elites and their social inferiors and introduced a sequence of major reforms"4 Some may argue that this is a gross overstatement. The American Revolution was not a great social revolution like that in France 1789 or in Russia 1917. " Principles announced in the declaration of independence was not fully implemented, American republicanism was not synonymous with radical equalitarianism and the Unites States did not immediately become a democratic society"5
While the War of Independence continued the American radicals were helping to create a new America. 'The American Patriots believed that all governments exist for the benefit of the governed. When a government violated peoples fundamental rights they had to overthrow it'6 Thomas Paines Common sense published in 1776 stated that "everything that is right or natural pleads for separation....'its time to part'" " we have it in our power to begin the world over again-the birthday of a new world is at hand"7 Common sense was a plea for liberty that encourages the Americans to move towards independence. Jefferson summed up these radical ideas in the Declaration of Independence when he talked about "equality" and " inalienable rights". ' When the government fails in its duty to protect those rights, the people may organise a new government. John Locke stated that equality meant, " by nature no body had the right to rule another human being without that persons consent". It was the radical thinking during the revolution that led to the great social change that occurred in the years following the revolution. Similar radical ideas were supported in the Articles of Confederation. This document was completed by Congress in 1778 and clarified the relationship between state and Congress. Each state had separate control over taxation, trade and issuance of money and were each represented in Congress by one vote. Important decisions required the approval of at least nine states while amendments to the articles had to be accepted by all states. Despite the fact that Congress was in charge of war and diplomacy it was financially dependant on the states for these functions. It was a system designed to protect liberty from a distant central government.
The American Revolution was truly the first modern war however it can be argued that the revolution was barely a revolution at all. It was "limited, decorous, even prosaic with little social upheaval or class conflict, no radical re-organisation of government or the economy, no challenges to existing religious believes, no bloodthirsty mobs, no carnivals of pillage, no descent into anarchy or dictatorship, no reign of terror"1 One might even argue that the revolution was scarcely a revolution at all but "simply a successful war of independence which ended British rule but otherwise left things pretty much as they always had been"2 the Americans did wish to preserve much of their past, but their struggle was not conservative for it was shot through with hope for the future.3 Nevertheless the American Revolution was indeed a revolutionary event that "shaped the United States and moulded its future development. It created a republican system of government based on the supremacy of the people in place of traditional monarchic society, drastically altered the relationship between elites and their social inferiors and introduced a sequence of major reforms"4 Some may argue that this is a gross overstatement. The American Revolution was not a great social revolution like that in France 1789 or in Russia 1917. " Principles announced in the declaration of independence was not fully implemented, American republicanism was not synonymous with radical equalitarianism and the Unites States did not immediately become a democratic society"5
While the War of Independence continued the American radicals were helping to create a new America. 'The American Patriots believed that all governments exist for the benefit of the governed. When a government violated peoples fundamental rights they had to overthrow it'6 Thomas Paines Common sense published in 1776 stated that "everything that is right or natural pleads for separation....'its time to part'" " we have it in our power to begin the world over again-the birthday of a new world is at hand"7 Common sense was a plea for liberty that encourages the Americans to move towards independence. Jefferson summed up these radical ideas in the Declaration of Independence when he talked about "equality" and " inalienable rights". ' When the government fails in its duty to protect those rights, the people may organise a new government. John Locke stated that equality meant, " by nature no body had the right to rule another human being without that persons consent". It was the radical thinking during the revolution that led to the great social change that occurred in the years following the revolution. Similar radical ideas were supported in the Articles of Confederation. This document was completed by Congress in 1778 and clarified the relationship between state and Congress. Each state had separate control over taxation, trade and issuance of money and were each represented in Congress by one vote. Important decisions required the approval of at least nine states while amendments to the articles had to be accepted by all states. Despite the fact that Congress was in charge of war and diplomacy it was financially dependant on the states for these functions. It was a system designed to protect liberty from a distant central government.
