Radicalism of the American Revolution: Causes and Legacy

Introduction: Rethinking Revolutionary Radicalism

Although the American Revolution may not stand on the same level as the French Revolution or the Russian Revolution of 1917—because the changes it implied were not achieved through the same degree of bloodshed those two encountered—many scholars have been keen to develop the subject of radicalism in the American Revolution. Their focus has been primarily on the changes the Revolution implied after its achievement, rather than on the means by which those changes were obtained during the Revolution itself.

In this sense, perhaps the first idea to consider when discussing the radicalism of the American Revolution is that it served as a catalyst of social change.

Social Hierarchy and the Catalyst of Change

American society up to the Revolution was characterized by the same hierarchical structures that dominated every territory of the British Empire. As a colony, the American territories were ruled by the King's representative, who sat at the top of the pyramid. The aristocracy—mostly British—subsequently followed, including British colonists, while the peasantry and especially the native population and the enslaved people were at the bottom.

The Revolution, and the ideals it promoted of democracy and social change, did not necessarily transform this structure into a fully egalitarian one, but it did contribute to creating equal status for most white males. As Gordon S. Wood notes in his book, they destroyed what were the "ligaments…that had held the old monarchical society together." Breaking these interconnections and changing the existing relations in society is a clear sign of radicalism in the American Revolution.

It is important to note, however, that the African American population—still enslaved—as well as Native Americans and women were not included in this hierarchical reformation. They would not be so until later in the nineteenth century (in the case of African Americans) or even the beginning of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, the significant social changes that did occur remained a meaningful sign of the Revolution's radicalism.

A second consideration when discussing radicalism concerns political change. The American Revolution produced political transformations whose reverberations were felt not only at the local and national level, but also on the European continent, especially during the French Revolution. Historically, the American Revolution was the first instance in which a successful republic and functioning republican institutions were founded. By the time the French Revolution began, these institutions were already well established and the first American president was beginning his term in office.

Political Innovation and the Export of Republican Ideals

The importance of this achievement cannot be underestimated. The Americans had carried out a successful revolutionary act that replaced monarchical government with a republic, elaborated a Constitution, and paved the way for a stable republican regime. This demonstrated to other nations that such a radical experiment could actually work, and France was the first country to test it.

As a corollary, one should not underestimate the role of the "American revolutionary school." Several French revolutionaries had fought for the achievement of the American Revolution—figures such as Lafayette, for example. These young enthusiasts returned to France with revolutionary ideas firmly planted and went on to lead the bourgeoisie to its own victory.

Although it was never proclaimed as such, the American Revolution succeeded in exporting its ideas overseas—something the Russian Revolution also attempted but never achieved. Even if one cannot point to explicitly proclaimed universal revolutionary doctrines, the fact that the American Revolution had a universal character cannot reasonably be denied.

Following the same source, one can draw yet another argument for the radicalism of the American Revolution: it "focused and released the energies of an expansive imperial people." This seems to be among the foremost arguments for radicalism, measured through the consequences and subsequent evolution of American history.

Conclusion: The Subtle Depth of American Radicalism

Even if the means used in the American Revolution were nowhere close to those of other revolutions in terms of radicalism, the subsequent effects the Revolution produced can be classified among the most serious. In this sense, one can point to the export of revolutionary ideals—a practice many radical revolutions pursue—the social and moral radical changes that followed, and, perhaps most importantly, the profound and subtle transformations such as the people's fundamental credo and the release of national energies in the pursuit of happiness at almost any legal cost.