The 1783 Treaty of Paris that formally ended the war between Great Britain and the United States made it clear that Britain’s former colonies were now an independent, sovereign, and self-governing nation called the United States. The American War of Independence had been a success, but was the War of Independence also an American Revolution? Did the period of resistance to Parliament (1763-1776) and the war that followed (1776-1783) help create a new society, with different political and social ideas and structures, or was the new United States merely the old British colonies now under a different flag?
The question posed above is an enormous one, and certainly not one that can be answered in a short paper. However, I want you to think about how some of the historical knowledge you have gained from the textbook, essay, and primary source reading can be used as evidence to support a position on the question I posed above: War of Independence, or American Revolution?
Your assignment: In a paper of about 1.5 to 2 double spaced pages, take a position on the above question and provide evidence from two of the following four areas to support that position: Ideas about rights and governance, democratization (the extent of political participation), the rights and roles of women, and the status of African Americans. It may help you to think of this as a question of what changed and what stayed the same. If these things changed significantly in this time period, then it was an American Revolution. If these things largely stayed the same, then it was just a War of Independence.
Your essay should have a thesis clearly stating which side of the big question you are supporting, supported by specific evidence including quotations from relevant primary source documents.
As a refresher of where you can find relevant material:
Ideas about rights and governance: Yawp, James Otis, Declaration of Independence
Democratization (political participation) Yawp, Ebineezer Mackintosh essay, Declaration of Independence
Right and roles of women: Yawp, Adams correspondence, Benjamin Rush
Status of African Americans: Yawp, Declaration of Independence (esp crossed out sections), Prince Hall
Full Answer Section
A Revolution in Rights and Governance
The colonists' resistance stemmed from a clash of ideas about rights and governance. John Locke's philosophy of natural rights, referenced in the Declaration of Independence, became a cornerstone of the revolution. The Declaration enshrined "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" as unalienable rights, a stark contrast to the British monarchy's focus on hereditary privilege. This shift in focus from the divine right of kings to the rights of the people formed the bedrock of the new American government.
Furthermore, James Otis, a firebrand lawyer, challenged the notion of Parliament's absolute authority in his 1761 writs of assistance case. He argued for colonists' rights based on their inherent rights as Englishmen, foreshadowing the colonists' later rejection of Parliamentary control altogether.
The Declaration of Independence itself serves as a powerful piece of evidence. It not only outlines the colonists' grievances against King George III but also lays out a new social contract based on consent of the governed. The document's very existence stands as a repudiation of British rule and a testament to the colonists' desire for self-governance.
Democratization and Expanding Participation
The concept of democratization also underwent significant change during the Revolution. While the newly formed governments weren't perfect democracies by today's standards, they represented a significant shift from the British model. The Declaration of Independence itself emphasizes the "consent of the governed," suggesting a move towards a government deriving its power from the people.
Ebenezer Mackintosh's essay, "The Deane Papers," also highlights the colonists' yearning for a more inclusive government. He criticizes the British system for its lack of representation and expresses hope for a government "founded on the broad basis of the People." This sentiment of broader participation directly challenged the British system with its limited franchise.
Conclusion: A Nation Redefined
The American Revolution was not merely a war for independence; it was a crucible that forged a new nation based on radically different principles. The colonists' fight for rights and governance, their rejection of hereditary privilege, and their commitment to a more democratic system all point towards a fundamental ideological shift. While challenges like slavery remained, the American Revolution undeniably transformed a collection of British colonies into a new nation built on the ideals of liberty, self-government, and broader political participation.
Note: This essay focused on two of the suggested areas: Ideas about rights and governance and democratization. You can expand on this essay by incorporating evidence from the suggested readings on the rights and roles of women and the status of African Americans to further strengthen your argument.