American Revolution

Basics 

• Occurred in colonial North America between 1765 and 1783. 
• It was an ideological and political revolution.
• It was the first decolonization movement in the world.
• Thirteen North American Colonies of Great Britain got Independence from the ‘Mother Country’ (Great Britain).

Causes for the Revolution

1. Economic Causes
   • Attempts to levy taxes in the Boston Tea Party. 
   • Export limitation – tobacco, sugar, and cotton were to be exported only to England.
   • Enactment of certain laws- navigation Acts mandated the use of only British ships for international trade. The Stamp Act of 1765 mandated the affixing of stamps on all legal documents.
   • Restriction on Industrialisation – heavy industries like iron, steel, etc. were not allowed in the colony.
   • Heavy import duties 
2. Political Causes
   • Role of Seven Year War (1756-1763) which resulted in “No Taxation without Representation”  
   • French presence in Canada and the resulting war helped in mobilizing and training soldiers for the war resulting in the arousal of capable officers like George Washington.
3. Ideological Causes
   • Enlightenment philosophers like Locke, and Voltaire.
   • Believed in inalienable rights that no government should be allowed to infringe.

Reasons for the success

• Motivated Americans and overconfident British
• French support – Louis XIV supported the ideals of the American Revolution.
• French entry into the war in 1778 was decisive.
• Expensive war for Britain (overseas mobilization of resources was required).

Result

• The Treaty Of Paris was signed in 1783 where English recognised the independence of 13 former Colonies.

Impact of the American Revolution 

1. In America
   • Establishment of Republican State 
   • Separation of power between various organs 
   • Democracy was established 
2. On Other Parts of the Globe
   • Triggered a series of Trans-Atlantic revolutions like the French Revolution and led to the Irish independence of 1798.
   • It proved to be a major blow to the invincible image of Britain.
   • British Colonialism strengthened in India due to the loss of other colonies.
   • The concept of federalism was popularised which included division of powers between the Central and regional governments.
   • Inspired the French declaration of the rights of man and the citizen.
   • Popularised concepts of Democracy and Republic.
   • Ideas of individual rights and liberties were introduced.
3. Impacts on India
   • Inspiration for the Indian Constitution 
     • Federal form of government
     • Fundamental rights – Inspired by the Bill of Rights in the American Constitution.
     • Judicial Review and Independent Judiciary
     • Democracy and Republic – India adopted a democratic form of government with a republic head of the state.
   • Nonviolent resistance and civil rights movements
     • The principle of nonviolence by American leaders like Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. had influenced Mahatma Gandhi.