Instigating the American Revolution Essay examples

In attempting to describe the origins of Revolution, American abolitionist Wendell Phillips once stated, â€Å"Revolutions always begin with the populace, never with the leaders. They argue, they resolve, they organize; it is the populace that, like the edge of the cloud, shows the lightning first.† However, when looking at the foundations of the American Revolution, this was simply not the case. Yes, while it is true that the colonists did organize and argue over how to communicate their grievances effectively with Great Britain, the idea of cutting their ties from Britian was the last thing that came to their minds. In this sense, it was the the British Parliament and King, not the populace, who instigated the American Revolution. The†¦show more content†¦the affection of all her colonies. 3 Therefore, in order to communicate their grievances, the Colonists chose to boycott all British goods, a commitment that would be hard for some. While the British did listen to the colonists by repealing the Stamp Act in 1766, they made one more attempt to lure colonists into consuming their exports: the Tea Act in 1773. While this act was seen as a way to prevent the East India Trading Company from falling into bankruptcy, the Colonists saw this as an insult – it attempted to tempt away those who werent as committed to keep non-consumption under the guise of cheap Indian tea. As a result, many non-consumption advocates in Boston decided to dress up as Indians on December 16, 1773 and throw the  £10,000 of tea over the Boston Harbor, an action that resulted in the Boston Port Bill, a bill which closed down the ports and replaced the leadership in Boston with British commander Thomas Gauge as governor.4 Thus, by ignoring the non-consumption protests by passing the Tea Act, the British made the first steps towards Revolution by inciting colonists to act the way they did inShow MoreRelatedThe American Revolutionary War Essay1322 Words   |  6 Pag esStates of America the American Revolution is called the American War of Independence but in Europe it is more commonly referred to as the American Revolutionary War. Though it is a minor terminological difference it impacts how a reader will view the war. Naming plays a large role in the perception of an event. With this said, one must also note that Sarson, though teaching in Britain, received his PhD at John Hopkins University in Baltimore. This would give Sarson an American viewpoint on many aspectsRead MoreWas the American Revolution Conservative?1246 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Was the American Revolution Conservative? (Order A2098864) During the 1950s the mainstream historical thinking concentrated on the idea that the American Revolution was a conservative movement which did not cause great political or social upheavals. Many looked at the later French Revolution as an example of a more radicalized and revolutionary movement and determined that the American Revolution was tame by comparison. And while it is true that many of the legal and political arguments madeRead MoreThe Fight For Separation From Great Britain s Condescending Control851 Words   |  4 Pagesrule, as well as to reconsider the value of their natural rights. Additionally, Britain’s ongoing quarrels with the Native American people as well as British financial issues with accumulating parliamentary debt caused further infuriation within the colonies. Most importantly, the colonists’ lack of representation in Parliament catalyzed boycotts, protests, and the revolution itself. Intellectual advances stemming from the Great Awakening and Enlightenment era allowed colonists to think and reflectRead MoreCommon Sense Primary Source Critique903 Words   |  4 Pagesaccused of producing a â€Å"crapulous mass† by none other than John Adams, we see just two examples of the many attacks on Paine, who prevailed to claim such titles as, The Father of the American Revolution (â€Å"Thomas Paines Achievements†). According to history.org, some scholars say that by the end of 1776 at least half of American colonists had read or been aware of the arguments that Paine presented in Common Sense (â€Å"Primary Source of the Month†). Because Paine’s belief in the importance of â€Å"the DoctrineRead MoreAmerican Influence and Foreign Policy in Iranian Revolution and Iranian Hostage Crisis1366 Words   |  6 PagesDid American foreign policy and influence lead to the Iranian revolution and spark the Iranian hostage crisis? Part A This investigation determines to what extent American foreign policy, within the years 1953-1982, caused the Iranian embassy siege. Furthermore, it questions the role that the Carter and Kennedy administrations had in furthering the American agenda within Iran. In order to assess the role American influence played, this investigation evaluates the relations between the Carter administrationRead MoreThe Birth Of America Is Well, The Biggest And Greatest1228 Words   |  5 PagesThose are just a few things that America powered through to get where we are today. Our Forefathers attempted to rectify what some would consider harsh actions made by the kingdom of Britain in the mid 1700’s. 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The most famous of the Ilustrado’s was Jose Rizal. During the time of Rizal and after his death the Philippines underwent its revolution from Spain. The revolution was triggered by a number of events and people most notably Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. Rizal with his education and wisdom from all around the world sought reform and equality among Spain, and Bonifacio wanted revolution. The extra ordinary life of Jose Rizal changedRead MoreHow The Romantic Period Was Characterised By Political And Social Upheavals1318 Words   |  6 Pagesmiddle classes grew. The Romantic epoch also witnesses revolution and war. First the American Civil War, followed by the French Revolution later. They brought concepts of popular freedom, and of the power of the proletariat. In England, these ideas were well received by radical thinkers. However, the later petrifying and grotesque stage of the French Revolution dampened approval for this form of Republicanism. In England, the time of revolution was one based on fear, particularly for the ruling classRead MoreThe Causes Of The Civil War1409 Words   |  6 Pagesissue involved in slavery that Northerners and Southerners could meet on any common ground. (Goldston, 79). The time came in which our great country would finally address the moral issue of slavery. Although there are many different causes to the American Civil War, the main cause w as slavery because other causes are rooted in the issue of slavery. States rights were one of the major causes in the Civil War. The idea of state sovereignty was a controversial topic between republicans and democrats