The Glorious Cause the American Revolution, Research Paper Example

“The American Revolution was not a great social revolution like the ones that occurred in France in 1789 or in Russia in 1917 or in China in 1949. A true social revolution destroys the institutional foundations of the old order and transfers power from a ruling elite to new social groups. ” (Mintz, 2007). Essentially the American Revolutionary was a political one, nevertheless it had far wider consequences. It established democratic politics and the development of individual rights, intolerance of corruption and equality for all.  The building blocks for American Society and ultimately the United States. The newly won American states resulted in some abolishment of slavery; it would be a further 51 years before the British eliminated this in its’ colonies. (Middlekauff, 1985).

After the war ended a great many loyalists remained and resumed normal lives. It was estimated that 62,000 loyalists relocated to Canada. Of the loyalists that remain some later became notable US leaders i.e. Samuel Seabury. Quakers that continued to do business with the British were attacked as pro supporters of British rule ” The American revolution and the formation of the constitution remain central in the History of the United States”. (Brown, 2000).

One of the most important aspects of change related to how society was reformed from a monarchical people i.e. subjects of the King to that of a Republic. It helped form a middle class of artisans, merchants and traders with political rights.

Perhaps the last say is Washington’s final message to congress in 1796  “The situation in which I now stand for the last time, in the midst of the representatives of the people of the United States, naturally recalls the period when the administration of the present form of government commenced, and I can not omit the occasion to congratulate you and my country on the success of the experiment, nor to repeat my fervent supplications to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and Sovereign Arbiter of Nations that His providential care may still be extended to the United States, that the virtue and happiness of the people may be preserved, and that the Government which they have instituted for the protection of their liberties may be perpetual.” (Washington, 2009)

Works Cited

Brown, R. (2000). Major problems in the era of the American Revolution 1760-1791. In B. R, Major problems in the era of the American Revolution 1760-1791. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Middlekauff, R. (1985). The Glorious cause the American Revolution, 1763-1789. In R. Middlekauff, The Glorious cause the American Revolution, 1763-1789. New York : Oxford Unicersity Press.

Mintz, S. (2007, ). How revolutionary was the American Revolution? . Retrieved October 10th, 2009, from Digital History: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=274

Washington, G. (2009). The American Revolution. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from The American Revolution: http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/