American Revolution of 1775

 

 American Revolution of 1775

        1775 is an important year in the history of United States of America. In this year the War of American independence started. The American War of Independence against Britain is also called as the American Revolution.

      With the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus many Europeans started migrating to this land. America was called as the New World in the beginning. Later on it was named as America after an Italian explorer viz. Amerigo Vespucci.

           The southern part of America was colonised mainly by the Portuguese and Spanish. As far as North America was concerned it was mainly colonised by the French and British. The French were present in what is called as Canada today and the British migrant population established thirteen colonies on today’s eastern coast of United States of America. The names of these thirteen colonies were- Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

        The war broke out between above mentioned thirteen colonies and their mother country Britain in 1775. This American War of Independence or American Revolution resulted in the independence of American colonies from British rule.

        There were various factors or causes responsible for the American Revolution. These causes can be summed up as following:

        The thirteen colonies of America over the years had developed a sense of self-reliant and enterprise. Each of these thirteen colonies had an Assembly. The Assemblies used to make laws of local nature. At the same time there used to be a British Appointed Governor. Over the years the thirteen colonies developed self confidence and thought that they could handle their political matters and administration on their own. This kind of spirit of self-reliance and confidence was one of the factors which prompted the Americans to bring to an end the rule of their mother country that is England.

        The Americans also did not like the approach of the then British king George III towards them. He literally used to consider these colonies as his personal property. This kind of attitude was resented by the Americans. Important laws meant for colonies were made by the British Parliament. It was not liked by the Americans. Because they did not have representation in the British Parliament located in London. There was a huge distance between England and America which were separated by Atlantic Ocean, hence, the contacts between the common Americans and their mother country England were quite less. It automatically resulted into declining love and affection towards England on the part of Americans.

        Apart from above mentioned reasons, the economic factors were essentially responsible for the Revolution. The thirteen colonies of America were tremendously exploited by England. Hence, the colonies resolved to revolt and gain the independence. English Parliament enacted many laws which put lots of economic restrictions on thirteen colonies and it in turn resulted into their exploitation. Some of these British made laws were- Navigation Laws, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Quartering Act and Townshend Acts. All these Acts exploited thirteen colonies of America economically. Rather, these Acts were passed by in order to exploit the colonies and promote the interests of British traders and manufacturers. Ultimately the Americans revolted against British rule in order to bring to an end the economic exploitation. Americans started saying that if the British wanted to make laws related to Americans then they should be given representation in British Parliament. In other words, they were asking for the right to elect American representatives in British Parliament. Britain was not interested in allowing the Americans to elect their Members of Parliament in Westminster Palace. Americans didn’t like the restrictions imposed on manufacturing of different goods, restrictions on selling their certain goods in European markets, using the British ships for export and import purposes at higher rates and compulsory use of stamp papers on legal documents. They were demanding for stoppage of this type of British policy. When their demands and aspirations went unheard they had only option and that was to revolt which they did in 1775.

        We have seen that today’s Canada was under French control in the beginning. Due to the French presence in North, the Americans were not taking any decisive step against England. They were under the fear of looming danger of French invasion in case they had overthrown the British rule. They thought that if British rule was brought to an end by them then French would invade them and colonies them. But, this danger was taken care when England defeated France in Seven Year’s War fought between 1756 to 1763 and French were forced to leave Canada. After Seven Year’s War, Americans realized that if they could overthrow the British rule then there would be no danger of French invasion.

        Americans were greatly inspired by the writings and thoughts of philosophers and thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Pain. John Locke was British thinker and Thomas Pain was American philosopher. These intellectuals had said that if the rulers are not doing their job properly and ruling the country appropriately and neglected the welfare and rights of the ruled then people have every right to overthrow such governments. Apart from these two thinker’s others American intellectuals like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton also motivated Americans for Revolution through their writings as well as speeches.

        British East India Company used to supply tea to Americans. But, Americans in order to teach a lesson to British started smuggling tea brought by the Dutch merchants. Due to it the East India Company started making losses, hence the British Parliament passed the Tea Act so that East India Company’s tea would become cheaper. But, now Americans were not interested in buying the British tea. They resented the Tea Act passed by the British Parliament. The Americans decided to teach a lesson to East India Company and British government. Hence, on 16 December 1773 some Americans disguised themselves as Red Indians and entered the ships of East India Company docked in Boston harbour containing the tea and destroyed it by throwing it into sea. This incident is called as the Boston Tea Party.

        The Boston Tea Party angered the British and strong action was taken against the colony of Massachusetts. The Boston port was closed down and it would be reopened for operations only after the people of Boston would pay for the cost of destroyed tea. The functioning of the Assembly of Massachusetts witnessed massive restrictions. The colony of Massachusetts was put under the direct control of Britain. In order to declare solidarity and support to Massachusetts the representatives of American colonies met in the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania in 1774. This meeting is called as the First Continental Congress. In this Congress the representatives of American colonies drafted the world famous Declaration of Rights. It was also decided to not to have trade relations with England until it reversed the punitive actions taken against the Massachusetts and Boston. One of the features of First Continental Congress was that colony of Georgia did not send her representative to attend it. In First Continental Congress it was decided to convene the Second Continental Congress in the month of May 1775 if England did not respond positively to the demands made in First Continental Congress.

        But, before the Second Continental Congress could be convened the fighting started between Americans and British in the month of April 1775. Nevertheless, the Second Continental Congress met in May 1775 in Philadelphia as decided earlier. This time Georgia also deputed her representative. Second Continental Congress chose George Washington of Virginia as the Commander-in-chief of American forces and firmly decided to fight for their independence.

        By 1782 it became clear that British would lose the fight. The peace talks began soon and the American Revolution or American War of Independence finally came to an end by the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783.

        The American Revolution resulted in to the overthrow of British rule from thirteen colonies of America. These thirteen colonies won the freedom and emerged as new sovereign country on the map of the world. This country came to be known as the United States of America. It was an independent nation lying between Canada in North, Atlantic Ocean to the East, Mississippi river in the West and Florida in the South. Later on in nineteenth century Americans expanded their boundaries and pushed it up to California in West and Mexico in South.

        During the course of American Revolution thousands of American soldiers died while fighting and also in prisons after they were captured by British. It is said that more than twenty-five thousand American soldiers died either while fighting, in prison or due to exposure to diseases.

        Three countries were involved in American Revolution. These countries were United States of America (erstwhile thirteen colonies), England and France. Americans were given help by France during their struggle against England. France has sent her soldiers to America in order to help Americans in their fight against England. All these countries faced tremendous economic and financial troubles due to this war as they had to spend a lot on their war efforts. Newly emerged nation of United States of America introduced additional taxes and was able to meet the economic troubles. England could come over her economic woes by improving trade relations with United States of America. But, France was the ultimate sufferer. The economic strain caused by the American Revolution was so heavy for her that French treasury was literally empty and it paved the way for French Revolution in 1789.

        American Revolution caused French Revolution by putting economic strain on France and also by inspiring them. French soldiers who had been to America in order to help Americans in their fight against England were very much inspired and impressed by the way the Americans had fought with great valour. In 1789 French had revolted against the rule of king Louis XVI in order to establish the regime based on liberty, equality and fraternity these principles were somewhere influenced by the American principles of Democracy and Rights of human beings.

        Unsympathetic attitude of George III towards thirteen colonies was one of the crucial factors responsible for the American Revolution. Due to the loss of American colonies the political changes took place in England. The days of autocratic monarchy were over in England and it made the way for constitutional monarchy. Not only so, but the Whigs also known as Liberals emerged as a major political opponent group to Tories or Conservatives in England.

        England learnt a major lesson after losing American colonies. It started treating her other colonies like Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in proper way. These were called as white colonies of America because many White people had settled down in these colonies. England realised that one or the other day she is definitely going to lose the colonies.

        The American Revolution was the victory for the principles of democracy and liberty. The United States of America established a Democratic government after independence and valued the liberty of its citizens. It also inspired many other people in the world for these ideals.