American Revolution: A Radical Revolution

On April 19, 1775, a confrontation between British troops and a local patriot militia in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts ignited a revolution: The American Revolution. Once the first shots were fired, they were heard around the world; the American Revolution kindled a spirit of world-wide autonomy. Even though the American Revolution was not a normal revolution because it did not lead to a total destruction of a current society, the American Revolution was insurgent and radical because of the change in government, transformation of the terms and quality of life, and independence ignition sparked around the world. The American Revolution was a social, economic, and global revolution. The British colonists were governed under an English …show more content…
Once the revolution began, Thomas Jefferson began to work on “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America,” also known as the “Declaration of Independence.” He wrote, “that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator wit certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… governments are instituted among men deriving their just power from the consent of the governed,” (Document B). This quote from Jefferson states that there should be a government made by the people by the people and that the peoples’ rights should be protected by the government. The British did not allow the colonists to represent themselves; Parliament and the monarch made most of the decisions for the people. The Declaration of Independence stated the core values and purpose of the new government and is still the reason for government in …show more content…
The definition of a subject is “a person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.” The definition of a citizen is “a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.” Colonists were “dealt with” but because of the revolution, they became “legally recognized” and had rights. The people of the colonies were no longer abiding by a king’s rule from a distant country; they were running a government based on the people’s needs and wants. The people of the colonies began to feel like true member of society with real responsibility and real importance. Becoming a citizen was not only a legal change, but it was also a morale boost. The American Revolution did not only change the government or society of the colonists, it changed the