Analyze the extent to which the American Revolution represented a radial alternation in American political ideas and institutions.

The American Revolution began in earnest at Lexington on April 19, 1775, and was formalized with the passing of the motion for independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. We, Americans of the 21st century tend to take our freedom and constitutional protections for granted, but they were hard won, and the result which was achieved was never a foregone conclusion. Surely the United States would eventually have broken out of the British Empire, but the path might well have been similar to that of Canada, without a revolutionary war. Throughout the time of hard struggles and confusion, American people changed many of their views and tactics. A lot of political ideas and institutions were improved and fought for.

On May 5, 1775 the Second Continental Congress met. There were mixed feelings about what should be done about the continued hostile acts of the British Parliament. Some delegates wanted immediate independence no matter what the cost was. Others were still loyal to King George III and even though they did not like the British taxation without representation, they wanted to avoid an all-out war with England. Finally, they decided to go slowly and to not make any drastic moves that might start a major war. However, on the other hand, they also felt they needed to protect themselves, so they established the Continental Army and named George Washington as Commander-in-Chief. They also passed a "Declaration of Causes of Taking up Arms," which named England as an aggressor and gave the Colonists the right to take up arms against the British.

After King George III officially called the Colonies in rebellion, which was after Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" was circulated and read, the Patriots realized there was no way to solve the problems peacefully. They decided to declare independence and they drafted the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted and ratified on July 4, 1776.

Two events in January 1776 pushed colonies a long step before the break. First came the news that the British were sending hired Hessian soldiers to fight against them. The second decisive event was the publication of Common Sense. The tone of the debate changed sharply as Paine's slashing attack acquired effect. In March the Congress unleashed privateers against British commerce; in April it opened American ports to foreign shipping; in it urged the extortionate provincial convention that had been set up by the Patriots to frame constitution and institute state governments. Virginia resented its neighbor's efforts to grasp these valuable lands by indirection, but with the British about to advance into the state, Virginia agreed to surrender its claim to all land west and north of the Ohio River.

The articles merely provided a legal basis for authority that the Continental Congress had already been exercising. Each state, regardless of size, was to have but one vote; the union it created was only a "league of friendship".

However crucial the role of Congress, in an important sense the real revolution occurred when the individual colonies broke their ties with Great Britain. On the surface the new government were not drastically different from those they replaced. Power was concentrated in the legislature, which the people had come to count on to defend their interests. A majority of the constitutions contained bills of rights protecting the people's civil liberties against all branches of the government.

The state government combined the best of the British system, including its respect for status, fairness, and due process, with the uniquely American stress on individualism, and a healthy dislike of too much authority. The war opened direct paths to freedom for some slaves. In November 1775 Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, proclaimed that all slaves "able and willing to bear arms" for the British would be liberated. During the war, conflicts erupted over economic issues involving land taxation, yet no single class or interest triumphed in all the states or in the national government. The American Revolution had a great influence on liberal thoughts throughout Europe. The struggles and successes of the youthful democracy were much in the minds of those who brought about the French Revolution, and most assuredly later helped to inspire revolutionists in Spain's American colonies.