Effects Of The American Revolution: The Road To A Powerful Nation

The Road to a Powerful Nation
The American Revolution shaped North America politically and socially. The American Revolution ended British rule in North America; paving the long curvy road towards a strong independent nation. It was an inspiration for other nations as while as an enlightening process for the United States.
The American Revolution was a political turmoil between 1765 and 1783. The French and Indian war left the British in debt, therefore Parliament passed laws to tax the colonies. The colonist disagreed with Parliament stating, “No taxation without representation.” What the colonist meant by this was since they did not have any members in Parliament that it was not fair for Parliament to tax them. Due to these political uprisings
the British sent troops to Boston to keep peace, but snowballs were thrown at a group of soldiers and in return the soldiers fired their guns killing five citizens and wounding six. This event was later named the Boston Massacre. It encouraged the patriots to revolt against the British more than they ever had before. The Boston Massacre lead to the Boston Tea Party, it was a less violent event. The patriots wanted to protest the tax on tea, so they dump the tea into the harbor, off the ships importing them to North America. The Boston Tea Party was one of the many sparks that lit the fuse igniting the war. (Tucker, The Road to Revolution) While the war was still going on Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet, “Common Sense.” He stated political and moral arguments to urge the colonies to fight for independence and for equal government. He argued that independence from the British was a natural right for the colonies. Before Paine’s pamphlet there was not a public case for independence and had not been given much consideration (Thomas Paine). Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. In general terms it stated that independence was necessary for the colonies. The Declaration of Independence not only encouraged the colonies it had an influence in the French Revolution. (Tucker, American Revolution) Before the Revolutionary war the colonies did not participate in political disputes, it showed them that they have a voice too.
In addition to the events stated above after the war the United States had to create a government for this new independent nation. A meeting was held called the Continental Congress they recognized a need for a written set of nation rules and drafted the Articles of Confederation. The Articles formed a national government but did not give much power to a central government. The Individual states had more power than the federal government, for instance, congress could pass laws, but congress did not have the power to enforce the states to follow the laws (Tucker, Early Government Part 1). When the Treaty of Paris was signed it ended the war and then the United States had to figure out a better system of government. Therefore, they held the next meeting to solve their problems called the constitutional convention. Each state sent representatives to this meeting with the intention to change the Articles. However, they drafted a new document called the United States Constitution. The Constitution limited the power of government and protected individual rights. This new government was based off republican principles (Tucker, Early Government Part 2).
The American Revolution had social effects on women, African Americans, and Native Americans.
The Revolution was the first step for the women’s rights movement. For instance, women became more independent and self-sufficient because they had to look after the farms while the men were away at war. This enlightened the idea of Republican Motherhood led to the acceptability of education for women. The Revolution sparks the growth of the abolition movement to abolish slavery. For example, in the Declaration of Independence it states, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” this contradicts slavery and added to the idea of abolishing it (Jefferson). The growth of free black communities, because during the war slaves could get emancipated by the British or by Americans if they fought in the war. After the war in 1807, the importation of slaves was banned. The Native Americans lost land and civil treatment. Such as, the Americans expanding westward resulted in the Native Americans losing their land. During the Revolution the Native Americans sided with the British. However, the Treaty of Paris stated that Americans will treat Native Americans as a conquered nation and the British granted Americans land that was Native American territory (Tucker, Social
Revolution).
In conclusion, the American Revolution molded the United States politically and socially. The events leading up to the war was the encouragement they to fight for their independence. The Revolution was also the first step for women’s and African Americans’ rights, but a step back for Native Americans. The American Revolution was a important event in American history paving the road to a strong independent nation.