American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionMonika AhmadiMonika Ahmadi

MonMon

Many factors influences Many factors influences the American rebellion the American rebellion known as the American known as the American Revolution. Though Revolution. Though political influences political influences existed, the American existed, the American Revolution was primarily Revolution was primarily an economic rebellion, an economic rebellion, because of conflict over because of conflict over taxation and taxation and representation in representation in Parliament. The colonists Parliament. The colonists had strong beliefs that the had strong beliefs that the English government was English government was unfair and often unfair and often tyrannical. The conflicts tyrannical. The conflicts over trade, taxes, and over trade, taxes, and government government representation brought representation brought about the revolution that about the revolution that began shaping the United began shaping the United States as it is today. States as it is today.

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Although there were many Although there were many economic influences on the economic influences on the American Revolution, these were American Revolution, these were not the primary causes. The not the primary causes. The colonists believed that the king of colonists believed that the king of England, King George III at the England, King George III at the time, was too controlling over the time, was too controlling over the colonies, with tyrannical colonies, with tyrannical leadership. This is shown in the leadership. This is shown in the Declaration of Independence, Declaration of Independence, declaring the United States free declaring the United States free from "absolute Tyranny over the from "absolute Tyranny over the States." To add to this conflict, States." To add to this conflict, British forces were attempting to British forces were attempting to intimidate the colonists into intimidate the colonists into submission. The colonist's attitude submission. The colonist's attitude towards this policy was that it only towards this policy was that it only gave them more cause and gave them more cause and justification for violence. The justification for violence. The general belief among to colonists general belief among to colonists was that it was God's will that was that it was God's will that America and Britain be separated, America and Britain be separated, and God's will was a pretty strong and God's will was a pretty strong proponent and motivation for proponent and motivation for them. In 1775, the colonists took them. In 1775, the colonists took up arms against the British troops up arms against the British troops in the colonies. They met at the in the colonies. They met at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Lexington and Concord, and some of the captured and some of the captured American soldiers were being American soldiers were being executed. With all of these events, executed. With all of these events, the adversity towards the English the adversity towards the English was growing. was growing.

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RepublicanismRepublicanism

Republicanism and direct democracy, Republicanism and direct democracy, these are two ways that a people can these are two ways that a people can be governed. There is a major be governed. There is a major difference between these two difference between these two systems. In a republican system the systems. In a republican system the government represents the people. government represents the people. The representatives are chosen by The representatives are chosen by popular vote and are given the power popular vote and are given the power to make decisions on behalf of the to make decisions on behalf of the people. The people do not get to voice people. The people do not get to voice their own opinions, the best they can their own opinions, the best they can do is vote for their representative and do is vote for their representative and hope he wins. This can also be hope he wins. This can also be referred to as indirect democracy. referred to as indirect democracy. Direct democracy which was Direct democracy which was exemplified in the ancient Athenian exemplified in the ancient Athenian city-state, or the New England town city-state, or the New England town meeting in modern times, is a meeting in modern times, is a government based solely on the government based solely on the people. The governmental decisions people. The governmental decisions are passed only if the majority of the are passed only if the majority of the people vote for it. "People", that is the people vote for it. "People", that is the key word, the people themselves are key word, the people themselves are included in making political decisions. included in making political decisions.

RepublicanismRepublicanism

The philosophy of a republican form The philosophy of a republican form of government was certainly not a of government was certainly not a creation of James Madison and the creation of James Madison and the Federalists. The idea of such a Federalists. The idea of such a government has been around since government has been around since the beginning of political the beginning of political philosophy. While the definition has philosophy. While the definition has changed over the centuries, certain changed over the centuries, certain constants continue to define a constants continue to define a strictly republican regime. The goals strictly republican regime. The goals and priorities of a republic are and priorities of a republic are distinct yet dissimilar from those of distinct yet dissimilar from those of James Madison’s philosophy. James Madison’s philosophy. Generally, a republican government Generally, a republican government is defined as one which idealizes the is defined as one which idealizes the public interests as the highest good public interests as the highest good and imposes a duty on each citizen and imposes a duty on each citizen to work toward the public interests to work toward the public interests before individual ones. Due to the before individual ones. Due to the influence of natural rights influence of natural rights philosophers, Madison’s ideas are philosophers, Madison’s ideas are not strictly republican despite the not strictly republican despite the fact that he considers them to be so. fact that he considers them to be so.

American ResistanceAmerican Resistance Independence was the main focus of the Independence was the main focus of the

colonies after monarch rule of the colonies after monarch rule of the British. During this key period of British. During this key period of American history, "The American American history, "The American Revolution" would be a more appropriate Revolution" would be a more appropriate term instead of "The War for term instead of "The War for Independence." In the dictionary, the Independence." In the dictionary, the term "revolution" is defined as an term "revolution" is defined as an overthrow of one government and its overthrow of one government and its replacement with another. The American replacement with another. The American Revolution gives a broader sense of what Revolution gives a broader sense of what is going on; starting from the initial is going on; starting from the initial ideology of independence, the acts and ideology of independence, the acts and protests carried out based on this protests carried out based on this ideology, and the war that resulted from ideology, and the war that resulted from it. "The War for Independence" is only a it. "The War for Independence" is only a small section of the whole spectrum of small section of the whole spectrum of The American Revolution. In this paper, I The American Revolution. In this paper, I will show differences between the two will show differences between the two ideas by providing concrete examples ideas by providing concrete examples from Thomas Paine's Common Sense from Thomas Paine's Common Sense along with historical events discussed in along with historical events discussed in the text book and in class. the text book and in class.

America has grown vastly apart from the America has grown vastly apart from the British Empire culturally and politically. British Empire culturally and politically. Instead of the colonies becoming an Instead of the colonies becoming an extension of England, it has become a extension of England, it has become a new country in itself. new country in itself.

American ResistanceAmerican Resistance Independence was the main Independence was the main

focus of the colonies after focus of the colonies after monarch rule of the British. monarch rule of the British. During this key period of During this key period of American history, "The American American history, "The American Revolution" would be a more Revolution" would be a more appropriate term instead of "The appropriate term instead of "The War for Independence." In the War for Independence." In the dictionary, the term "revolution" dictionary, the term "revolution" is defined as an overthrow of one is defined as an overthrow of one government and its replacement government and its replacement with another. The American with another. The American Revolution gives a broader sense Revolution gives a broader sense of what is going on; starting of what is going on; starting from the initial ideology of from the initial ideology of independence, the acts and independence, the acts and protests carried out based on protests carried out based on this ideology, and the war that this ideology, and the war that resulted from it. "The War for resulted from it. "The War for Independence" is only a small Independence" is only a small section of the whole spectrum of section of the whole spectrum of The American Revolution. The American Revolution.

RevolutionRevolution The causes of the Industrial Revolution The causes of the Industrial Revolution

were complex and remain a topic for were complex and remain a topic for debate, with some historians seeing the debate, with some historians seeing the Revolution as an outgrowth of social and Revolution as an outgrowth of social and institutional changes wrought by the end institutional changes wrought by the end of feudalism in Great Britain after the of feudalism in Great Britain after the English Civil War in the 17th century. The English Civil War in the 17th century. The Enclosure movement and the British Enclosure movement and the British Agricultural Revolution made food Agricultural Revolution made food production more efficient and less labor-production more efficient and less labor-intensive, forcing the surplus population intensive, forcing the surplus population who could no longer find employment in who could no longer find employment in agriculture into the cities to seek work in agriculture into the cities to seek work in the newly developed factories. The the newly developed factories. The colonial expansion of the 17th century colonial expansion of the 17th century with the accompanying development of with the accompanying development of international trade, creation of financial international trade, creation of financial markets and accumulation of capital are markets and accumulation of capital are also cited as factors, as is the scientific also cited as factors, as is the scientific revolution of the 17th century. revolution of the 17th century. The presence of a large domestic market The presence of a large domestic market should also be considered an important should also be considered an important catalyst of the Industrial Revolution, catalyst of the Industrial Revolution, particularly explaining why it occurred in particularly explaining why it occurred in Britain. In other nations, such as France, Britain. In other nations, such as France, markets were split up by local regions, markets were split up by local regions, which often imposed tolls and tariffs on which often imposed tolls and tariffs on goods traded among them goods traded among them

RevolutionRevolution

The following events represent the major events along The following events represent the major events along the way to war. While it would be hard to point to any the way to war. While it would be hard to point to any one event that singularly led to the Revolution, there is one event that singularly led to the Revolution, there is no doubt that the American view that they were entitled no doubt that the American view that they were entitled to the full democratic rights of Englishmen, while the to the full democratic rights of Englishmen, while the British view that the American colonies were just British view that the American colonies were just colonies to be used and exploited in whatever way best colonies to be used and exploited in whatever way best suited the Great Britain, insured that war was inevitable. suited the Great Britain, insured that war was inevitable.

Constitution-Constitution-Making and WarMaking and War

The Constitution of the United States, the fundamental law of the The Constitution of the United States, the fundamental law of the United States of America. Drafted by the Constitutional Convention in United States of America. Drafted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pa., between May 25 and Sept. 17, 1787, it is the Philadelphia, Pa., between May 25 and Sept. 17, 1787, it is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect. The document world's oldest written constitution still in effect. The document presents a set of general principles out of which implementing presents a set of general principles out of which implementing statutes and codes have emerged. As such, it embodies the essence of statutes and codes have emerged. As such, it embodies the essence of constitutionality--that government must be confined by the rule of constitutionality--that government must be confined by the rule of law. The House of Representatives, Congress, The President and Vice law. The House of Representatives, Congress, The President and Vice President were executive powers outlined in key sections within the President were executive powers outlined in key sections within the Constitution. These people represented all of the colonies together as Constitution. These people represented all of the colonies together as one, the United States of America. one, the United States of America.

Constitution-Constitution-Making and WarMaking and War

The Constitution consists of a preamble, The Constitution consists of a preamble, 7 articles , and 27 amendments. The 7 articles , and 27 amendments. The first part of the constitution is the first part of the constitution is the Preamble. The Preamble explains the Preamble. The Preamble explains the purpose for writing the Constitution and purpose for writing the Constitution and the main ideas to be carried out by the the main ideas to be carried out by the government and the people in order to government and the people in order to make a more perfect union. Each make a more perfect union. Each purpose of the preamble had a special purpose of the preamble had a special meaning to statesmen in seventeen meaning to statesmen in seventeen eighty nine. The purpose was one, to eighty nine. The purpose was one, to form a more perfect union of people form a more perfect union of people living together. Two, to establish justice living together. Two, to establish justice for creditors by given them the right to for creditors by given them the right to take away the possessions of people who take away the possessions of people who don't compensate them. Three, to don't compensate them. Three, to ensure domestic tranquillity, or prevent ensure domestic tranquillity, or prevent events such as Shays Rebellion. Four, to events such as Shays Rebellion. Four, to provide common defense or to protect provide common defense or to protect the nation from adversaries such Indians the nation from adversaries such Indians and the pirates. Five, to promote and the pirates. Five, to promote general welfare, which relates to the general welfare, which relates to the depression the country was in depression the country was in economically (by the way our nations economically (by the way our nations economy is called Capitalism). And lastly economy is called Capitalism). And lastly six , to secure the blessing of liberty by six , to secure the blessing of liberty by enforcing the idea of freedom in every enforcing the idea of freedom in every way possible. way possible.