During the 18th century much of the world was changing, evolving, industrialising, and generally (though probably unknowingly) working for a better future. Throughout the many events that occurred in this time, one stands out, not because it was the most important at the time, but because it turned a local event, into a worldwide phenomenon, that has changed everything around the globe for over 200 years now.
But before we enter into how this American Revolution changed things, we must first understand the events that happened during this period. Even though it was not the first act of defiance against the British, it is what springs to everybody’s mind when they think about the subject. The Boston Tea Party is probably what actually started the revolution movement nationwide. Even though it might sound amusing today, in 1773, the throwing of a whole shipment of tea into the ocean was something that angered the British Government, and started an exchange of retaliations between the two parties. The whole action happened as a result of one of the many “acts” of law that were anti-American from the British. The famous tea act stated that British tea should be taxed less than American and other teas, and thus favouring the British product on the market. It is a small step that enabled everything that followed.
The moment the British forces finally had to abandon Boston, thus leaving all 13 colonies to be controlled by the revolutionaries, the Continental Army was led by George Washington, a great military figure, and one of the most important revolutionaries. This action of his has enabled the development of a document of great importance. In 1776 Thomas Jefferson made the first draft on the declaration of independence. At first, it had been divided into five sections, and it mostly outlined a definite need of separation from the British, and how this action was “necessary” for the colonies. It was also here that the very famous passage appeared: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
The congress formed on the 1st of July in order to revise the draft, and during the next 3 days, independence was voted in all 13 of the colonies. Congress officially and definitively adopted the Declaration of Independence. And the rest, as they say is history. Seeing as we now know how it happen, we can more easily talk about the societal influences it has had on the world. It is an interesting example, this, of the American Revolution, because it is different than most other revolutions. There was no totalitarian rule to bring down, there wasn’t a striving of men wanting to be in the place of the ruler, as it happened in the Bolshevik revolution. It was just pure “American” spirit, which has recently been seen as laughable, and the ones who laugh have a point, nowadays, national pride for an American is difficult if you look at the present, but that is not what should be done. It was the American attitude to life. Freedom. From voting, to slavery, to women’s rights. Almost none of these were solved at the time, but the important thing is that they were eventually, and most of them found their “revolutionary” nucleus in what came to be known as The United States of America.
As extras, you can see for a limited time, a documetary made by the PBS, regarding the American Revolution. This video is property of their owners (PBS).
