Revolution 101: When The Americans Get Really Mad (1775)

Revolution 101: When The Americans Get Really Mad (1775)

We mentioned the etymological origins and foundations of the revolution in our previous article. Now, let’s take a look at the American Revolution, one of the most important examples in the historical ranking of the revolution. What are the reasons for this revolution that led to the creation of the United States of America and the publication of the Declaration of Independence? What happens when the Americans get really mad and how it affects the course of history?

 

(credit: wikimedia commons)

New Brave World: The America

After America was discovered in 1492, it attracted the attention of Europe’s great kingdoms. The first of these was Great Britain. Especially, Elizabeth I encouraged merchants and citizens to emigrate. A piece of land in North America was named Virginia, due to the byname of Elizabeth I who was known as the Virgin Queen because she was never married.

Colony of Virginia was the first step in the Queen’s colonization policies. In addition to the efficient products and mines being transferred to the England, the citizens of England were also immigrating to the America. The great migration movement increased so much by the time that the number of colonies rose to 13. It was noteworthy that the immigrants were not only merchants but also notorious criminals or ex-prisoners.

 

Colonialism

The discovery of this new continent caused the European kingdoms to compete fiercely. Each kingdom wanted to be superior to other countries. Therefore, they’ve maintained political and military struggles to take control of America. As these conflicts continued, the main inhabitants of the American continent also reacted against the colonization of their country. The colonization effort was strengthened by the kingdom-backed pirates. During what was known as the Age of Pirates, three countries’ flags were flying from ships: Spain, England, and France.

(credit: wikimedia commons)

Spain was concentrated in the south of the continent, while France had its eyes on the northernmost. Britain wanted to take control of the entire continent, therefore it fought with France in the war known as the 7 Years War. As a result of the war, France had to cede most of Canada to the British. Although Britain won the war, it also fell into a huge debt trap. Besides, the resources coming from their colonies started to be insufficient. So, Britain found a way to settle the debt by imposing incredibly high taxes on the American colonies.

 

Everything Started with Tea 

With the successive release of the Stamp Act and the Townshend Act, the taxes on everything from paper to sugar has increased enormously. Due to the severe impact of taxes, merchants began to go bankrupt and the people’s quality of life decreased. The final straw was the high tax on tea which the American people consume quite often.

As time passed, protests and illegal organizations were taking place. Despite the growing rage of the people, the British government was not backing down. In 1773, a group calling themselves the Sons of Liberty sneaked into the Boston Harbor and infiltrated the Dartmouth ship, which was full of tea imported by Britain from China. This protest would later be called as Boston Tea Party.

While tons of tea floated in the sea, the streets of Boston city were overflowing with angry protesters.

Boston Tea Party, 1773 (credit: massmoments.com)


American Revolution: When The Americans Really Get Mad (1775 -1783)

The reactions of the British parliament and George III to all these events were very harsh. All entrances were prohibited to Boston Harbor. The Governor’s British soldiers took to the streets and responded violently to the protesters. There were deaths and injuries during what is known as the Boston Massacre.

As a result of these fluctuations of anger that spread to all the colonies, a congress of 13 colonies was held, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

After this congress, they declared that the American colonies wanted to be independent in establishing their own laws and determining their taxes.

For Americans, that statement was a result of the revolution.

For Great Britain, it was a call for war.

Results of The American Revolution 

From 1775 to 1783, the British army engaged in numerous conflicts with American revolutionaries. 

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was announced that it would lead to the bloodiest revolution in history; French Revolution. The colonies called these conflicts the American Revolution, as they sought to overthrow existing colonial authority in the dream of creating a country of their own decision.

Declaration of Independence, 1776 (credit: dan addison, university communications)

 

Besides Great Britain tried too hard to suppress these rebels, it was shocked by an unexpected attack: its former enemy, France, had declared war on Britain at its weakest moment. So, Britain found itself at a critical point.

In fact, King of France XVI. Louis (who would later be executed in the French Revolution) covertly supported the American revolutionaries. He was the winner in this war with England. Therefore, Britain had to leave its colonies in America and sign the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

From that moment, there was no longer an American colony but the United States of America, and its first president was George Washington. 

 

RESOURCES

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/video/boston-tea-party/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-Independence

AUTHOR INFO
HSY
A sociologist, a bookworm, and an analogue photographer.
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