How revolutionary was the American Revolution? The revolution is briefly described as an attempt to overthrow one government and create a new one. The American Revolution took place between 1775 and 1783 and was a fight for American independence from England. In 1764 the first of many “Intolerable Acts” was passed. The British Parliament began imposing excise taxes on the American colonies without representation, sparking the Great Conflict. The English kept incorporating new ways to make more money. At the time England was the most powerful country with an intimidating army, so it wasn't a difficult task to complete. The American Revolution was very revolutionary because it started the abolition of slavery, brought about many political and social advances, and served as a stepping stone to democracy and a strong centralized government. The American Revolution was a “light at the end of the tunnel” for slaves, or at least some. African Americans played an important role in the war for both sides. Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia, promised freedom to any slave who joined the British army. The colonists had previously denied conscription among African Americans because of the South's response, but hesitantly changed their minds for fear that the slaves would rebel against them. The North had grown to despise slavery and wanted it gone. In contrast, the South's booming cash crops were bringing huge profits to landowners, making slavery widely popular. After the war, slaves began petitioning the government for their freedom using ideas from the Declaration of Independence, including the idea of natural rights and the idea that government was based on the consent of the governed. (Keene 122). The North began to move out of the middle of the charter, Pennsylvania sought to keep the right to vote limited to certain property requirements, but extended it to any male taxpayer who had lived in the state for at least one year could vote. With each state drafting its own constitution, it was a spark for the newly independent colonies to start their own democracy and a set of laws that the majority of Americans were happy with. In conclusion, the American Revolution was very revolutionary. It was a huge milestone in American history. The war not only gave America its independence from the most powerful country in the world, but it gave the American government the foundation on which it functions today and brought about many social and political changes. Although many historians see the war as a change of power from one greedy power to another, Americans would not have a democracy and citizens would not have the rights they have.
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