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The American Revolution is best viewed as a rapid evolution rather than a sudden revolution, with events demonstrating a mix of accelerated growth and change. Despite some radical decisions that hint at a cataclysmic revolution, politically the American Revolution tended more towards accelerated evolution. The roots of this political shift can be traced back to British parliament imposing taxes on the colonies in response to expenses from the French and Indian War. Colonists grew resentful of these distant government actions, leading to acts of resistance like the Stamp Act.
In 1765, the Stamp Act imposed a tax on printed items in America to fund British troops.
Colonists protested, demanding representation in taxation. Delegates from nine colonial assemblies gathered in New York City to challenge the act, asserting that only elected representatives could impose taxes. The Stamp Act Congress petitioned for repeal peacefully but was disregarded by Britain. Calls for self-rule intensified as new acts were passed. Battles at Lexington and Concord marked a political evolution towards the American Revolution rather than a sudden upheaval.
The colonists' increased desire for independence resulted in the creation of a continental army and marked the beginning of their fight for change.
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In 1775, Massachusetts was declared to be in open rebellion, prompting British General Thomas Gage to take action by sending 700 soldiers to Concord on April 18th. Paul Revere and other riders managed to alert patriots of the impending attack, leading militiamen to confront British troops at Lexington and then Concord at dawn. The battles resulted in casualties on both sides, with 73 British soldiers dead, 174 wounded, and 26 missing, as well as 49 Massachusetts militiamen killed and 39 wounded.
These conflicts exemplify a more aggressive approach by the colonists in their pursuit of independence from Britain during the American Revolution.
The American Revolution was a slow build-up of dissatisfaction with each new British government action, leading to increased resentment. Politically, it was a steady advancement rather than a sudden change, culminating in the battles of Lexington and Concord for American freedom. Economically, the Revolution can also be viewed as a quick transformation rather than a total upheaval.
Despite political tensions between America and Britain, colonists were primarily angered by the economic influence. The Stamp Act imposed taxes on a variety of items, making it difficult for them to make a living and pay for necessities such as newspapers, pamphlets, bonds, leases, deeds, college diplomas, dice, and playing cards. Even after the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, the Declaratory Act gave the government power to impose any tax they saw fit. The Townshend Act of 1767 added to colonists' financial burden by taxing tea, glass, paper, and paint. Frustrated and angry, many colonists boycotted British goods in hopes that peaceful resistance would lead to the removal of these taxes.
The Sons of Liberty were a symbol of rapid change during the American Revolution, as colonists frustrated with British control resorted to extreme measures like breaking into tax collectors' homes and destroying tax records. Tensions escalated in 1773 with the passage of the Tea Act, which gave the British East India Company exclusive rights to trade tea in America and sparked allegations of bribery and misconduct within the British government.
The Sons of Liberty prevented East India Company ships from delivering tea to various cities by boarding the ships and destroying 342 chests of tea in Boston harbor on December 16, 1773. Governor Hutchinson's insistence on landing the ships to collect the tea tax was thwarted by about 50 colonists disguised as Indians. This bold act caused significant financial loss to the British government and demonstrated the potential for a cataclysmic revolution in the American Revolution, as colonists resisted to bring about change. The Boston Tea Party was a crucial event that fueled the start of the American Revolution, showcasing the determination of Americans and influencing its economic impact significantly through efforts like those of the Sons of Liberty.
The American Revolution can be viewed as a rapid evolution rather than a dramatic upheaval in terms of social dynamics. In colonial society, there were three distinct classes - upper, middle, and lower. The taxes imposed by the British predominantly affected the middle class, who eventually rebelled against them. The Stamp Act and Townshend Act specifically targeted the middle class because they were able to afford the newly taxed items. While the wealthy also felt the impact, they did not express their discontent as strongly as the middle class did. The lower class, already struggling financially, faced even more difficulties in purchasing non-essential goods. Consequently, the middle class and other colonists utilized boycotts, protests, and other peaceful methods to advocate for change. This peaceful process illustrates how socially the American Revolution was an expedited evolution.
In England, many government officials believed they were superior to the colonists and had the right to rule over them, causing unrest among the colonists. To address this threat to their rights, the Committees of Correspondence were established as a more proactive approach to gaining independence than protesting. The first Committee was formed in Massachusetts in 1772, allowing patriots to communicate with leaders in other colonies about threats to their liberty. The colonists' desire for independence was fueled by the inequality perceived between themselves and the people of England. By 1774, all colonies except Pennsylvania had established Committees of Correspondence. Social problems such as heavy taxes on the middle class and the condescending attitude of the British people further motivated the colonists in their pursuit of independence.
The American Revolution was not a cataclysmic revolution but rather an accelerated evolution, primarily driven by efforts to address social inequalities between Americans and the British through the Committees of Correspondence. However, when examining the political, economic, and social aspects of the revolution, it becomes clear that more violent and drastic events played a crucial role in forcing government change.
The American Revolution was a quick evolution for the colonists as they gradually came to desire a republic, but once they were determined, they worked to make it a reality. They sought representation, equitable taxes, and equal rights for all. The focus on the accelerated evolution of the American Revolution, rather than a sudden upheaval, can be seen in events like the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Boston Tea Party, and the Committees of Correspondence.
The American Revolution: Accelerated Evolution to Independence. (2016, Apr 22). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/american-revolution-accelerated-evolution-vs-cataclysmic-revolution-essay
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