Lecture-22: American Revolution and Independence of United States

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The American Revolution was a pivotal moment in history, marking the emergence of the
United States as an independent nation. It was characterized by political upheaval, military
conflict, and ideological transformation, fundamentally altering the colonial relationship
between Britain and its American colonies.

1. Background
The American Revolution had its roots in the British colonies' growing dissatisfaction with
British rule, primarily due to taxation without representation and the lack of colonial voices
in British Parliament. This discontent was fueled by the aftermath of the Seven Years' War
(known in the colonies as the French and Indian War) and Britain's attempts to recover war
costs from the colonies. The conflict was not an inevitable separatist movement but a crisis
within a large empire. Britain and the colonies clashed over what it meant to be part of that
empire – who had rights, who could tax, and how much say colonists should have in their
governance. While the end goal was independence, not all colonists were equally
enthusiastic. Factions formed based on how radically they wanted to break from Britain, with
some favoring negotiation while others embraced violent revolt. Economic grievances are
well-known, but the intellectual ferment was equally important. Circulating pamphlets
debated Locke and Enlightenment ideals, shaping not just the will to revolt, but what kind of
nation America could be.

2. The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was part of a larger global conflict, the Seven
Years' War. The war forced a greater degree of unity upon the disparate colonies, something
that would not exist previously. It also shifted the power balance away from Native American
tribes, fueling later conflicts further west. While Britain secured North America east of the
Mississippi, this came at a tremendous price. The war debt triggered increased British
oversight and attempts to tax the colonies, the very actions that spurred resentment and sowed
the seeds of conflict.

3. Series of ‘Intolerable Acts’

In response to colonial resistance and events like the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament
passed the Coercive Acts in 1774, known in the American colonies as the Intolerable Acts
that followed the preceding acts like Sugar Act (1764), Stamp Act (1765) and Townshend
Act (1767). These measures included closing the Boston Harbor and revoking Massachusetts'
charter, aiming to quell rebellion but instead uniting the colonies against Britain. It is
important to remember that these laws were meant to isolate Boston after the Tea Party.
However, they backfired spectacularly, making other colonies see Boston's defiance as a fight
for their own potential future restrictions. What was initially local outrage over economic
policies became politicized. Committees of Correspondence sprang up, creating a network of
communication vital for coordinating resistance across the geographically isolated colonies.

4. Boston Massacre and Tea Party

The Boston Massacre (1770) and the Boston Tea Party (1773) were key events that escalated
tensions. The Massacre, where British soldiers killed five colonists during a confrontation,
and the Tea Party, a protest against the Tea Act where colonists dumped British tea into
Boston Harbor, galvanized opposition to British rule. The event itself is messy, but more
important was the way it was portrayed. Paul Revere's famed engraving depicted a one-sided
British slaughter, cementing the image of 'redcoats' as brutes and the colonists as innocents,
despite the reality on the ground being far more chaotic. More important than the lost revenue
was the symbolism. Parliament never revoked its claim to tax the colonies. The Tea Act was
a visible assertion of that power, even if the tax burden itself was not onerous. It became
about principle rather than pounds of tea.

5. Key Players in the Independence War

Key figures can be divided into Patriots (Freedom from British control), Loyalists (Not in
favor of war), and Neutralists. Patriots consisted almost 40-50% of the white population,
included George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army; Thomas
Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence; John Adams; Benjamin Franklin; and
other founding fathers. Their leadership was instrumental in navigating the colonies through
war and diplomacy. Beyond a few token figures, women were essential. They boycotted
British goods and produced homespun replacements, wove cloth to make soldiers' uniforms,
and some even disguised themselves as men to fight alongside the Continental Army. Local
leaders like Samuel Adams were skilled political operators who stirred up popular defiance
alongside the more famous Founding Fathers. Figures like Baron von Steuben (a Prussian
officer) were critical in transforming the Continental Army from enthusiastic amateurs into a
fighting force that could defeat Britain's professional soldiers.

6. Major Events and Battles

Significant battles included those at Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and
Yorktown. The Battle of Saratoga (1777) was a turning point, leading to French support for
the American cause. The Siege of Yorktown (1781) effectively ended the war, with British
General Cornwallis's surrender.

7. The Declaration of Independence and Treaty of Paris

Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of
Independence proclaimed the colonies' separation from Britain, articulating the
Enlightenment principles of individual liberty and government by consent. While heavily
influenced by Enlightenment ideas, it was not pure philosophy. It contains a list of grievances
against George III, justifying the break with Britain on a practical level that ordinary people
could understand. Thomas Jefferson's assertion that "all men are created equal" rang hollow
with the existence of slavery. This contradiction would remain a stain on the American
experiment, yet it also laid down an ideal that future generations could use in struggles for
true equality. The Treaty of Paris (1783) formally ended the war, recognizing American
independence and establishing borders for the new nation. It represented a significant
diplomatic victory for the United States.

9. War on Home Front: Minorities and Life of Loyalists

The war impacted various groups differently. Many Native American tribes sided with the
British, hoping to protect their lands. African Americans fought on both sides, with the
British offering freedom to enslaved people who joined their cause. Loyalists, colonists who
remained loyal to Britain, faced persecution and often fled to other parts of the British Empire
post-war.
The American Revolution fundamentally reshaped the political and social landscape of North
America, leading to the establishment of a nation based on principles of liberty, democracy,
and republicanism. Its consequences influenced subsequent revolutions and the development
of modern democratic governance.