American Revolution overview and historical significance

American Revolution (1775-1783): The Birth of a Free and Liberal American Society

The birth of America as the 'New World' during the early 16th century, as a result of the Age of Discovery in Europe had brought about significant changes in human society, particularly in Western civilization. The discovery of America by Vasco de Gama, and eventually, Christopher Columbus, had prompted Britain to extend its territorial and political powers through colonization. By colonizing America, the British are asserting their power to the world, since their new colony is vast in territory and is virtually 'unexplored,' in terms of economic, political, and social exploits of its early inhabitants (Native American Indians).

Colonial America is comprised of thirteen (13) British colonies, wherein all colonies are subject to the control of the British government. Initially, the early periods of colonial life in the New World or the Americas are productive, although halted sometimes due to diseases and inability of the British to cope with the country's environmental conditions. Other than these difficulties, America thrived as a nation and eventually became a prosperous economic source of agricultural goods not only for Britain, but for other countries as well.

However, the success of British colonies in spurring the social and economic growth of America had led to the imposition of laws by the British government that takes full control and advantage of the economic resources and monetary gains that America produces for itself and Britain. The imposition of these laws, however, had also created a conflict between the British government and its colonies in America. These rigid and strict laws had a significant effect in the emergence and eventual declaration of the American Revolution, wherein the British colonies had fought for their independence from British rule. This paper discusses the dynamics that led to the declaration of American Revolution, its causes and effects. In particular, this paper posits that the American Revolution is a radical historical event, where a free and liberal society emerged, as well as the development of a country that will eventually be considered as the most powerful nation in the world -- the United States of America.

The catalysts that led to the declaration of American Revolution were the sets of legislative acts that the British government implemented, which are mainly economic in their nature. Four acts had influenced the Americans' decision to protest their subjugation to British control: the Navigation Acts, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, and the Intolerable Acts. The Navigation Acts sought to control all import goods to America be transported and checked first in England to impose customs tax to the exporters (foreign nations. The Stamp Act, on the other hand, imposes indirect tax to Americans by purchasing stamps that were put in all legal documents such as contracts, newspapers, bonds, any legal document that reflects transactions.

The Quartering Act is imposed in 1765 as a result of increasing hostility between the British and the Americans. Through this legislation, the British redcoats, sent by the government to ensure that the Americans were not cheating on the government by conducting transactions illegally (without paying the necessary taxes), constantly guarded Americans. In response to the unfair imposition of the above-mentioned regulations, Americans protested, which led to the occurrence of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. As a result, Britain reacted by imposing yet another set of laws that limited the freedom of Americans in conducting economic and political transactions domestically and internationally -- the Intolerable Acts. This new set of laws concerns limitations and imposition of taxes that closed the Boston sea trade and placed limited freedom (the right to exercise a colony's political, social, and economic freedom) on specific British colonies (Dolan, 1995:18-27).

Due to this unfair and corrupt nature of these sets of laws, Americans decided to protest, and when met with violence by the British militia, eventually led to the declaration of the American Revolution. In this conflict, Americans sought to free themselves to British rule, and to develop America as a new nation with a new society, the American people. The success of the Americans in the American Revolution had led to various effects, which are beneficial and at the same time, detrimental to the growth of America as a new nation and society. The most important legacy that the American Revolution contributed to America is that it allowed the people to live in a free and liberal society, where there are no unreasonable legislations and dictatorship from European colonial forces.

The American Revolution produced America's most valuable character -- that is, a country free and independent from control of other nations. During the 18th century, being a free and independent country is already an accomplishment for a nation that has been discovered by few centuries past only. Through the birth of a liberal and free society, America was able to develop its own political and legal organizational structure, made possible by the Declaration of Independence and eventual formulation of the Constitution. The Declaration of Independence of America embodies the essence of the country as a nation: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..." (King, 2003:93).