As divided as historians are over the causes of the American Revolution (1775-1783), they are in even greater disagreement over its consequences. In one interpretive camp are those who assert that the
Revolution was "the most radical and most far-reaching event in American history," while their opponents claim that it was "culturally, politically, socially, and economically a conservative movement." This disagreement, in part, is the product of varying views of what constitutes a revolution. Those scholars belonging to the conservative school of interpretation define revolutionary in terms of the more violent and tumultuous French, Russian, and Chinese revolutions. These revolutions involved crowds of the poor and oppressed demanding food, …show more content…
Moreover, the common folk, who enjoyed widespread political opportunities and economic and social mobility, did not resent the leadership of the powerful and, therefore, did not demand social or political leveling. They, too, were conservatives who joined the American cause to oppose British efforts to infringe on their rights as Englishmen. In short, the Revolution was a defensive movement to maintain the rights and liberties that Americans had always enjoyed.
Those historians who maintain that the American Revolution was revolutionary argue that there is radicalism in ideas, values, traditions, and customs. They, therefore, measure innovation by the amount of social change that actually took place, especially in regard to how people related to one another. For example, they point out that during the revolutionary generation Americans were transformed
Revolution was "the most radical and most far-reaching event in American history," while their opponents claim that it was "culturally, politically, socially, and economically a conservative movement." This disagreement, in part, is the product of varying views of what constitutes a revolution. Those scholars belonging to the conservative school of interpretation define revolutionary in terms of the more violent and tumultuous French, Russian, and Chinese revolutions. These revolutions involved crowds of the poor and oppressed demanding food, …show more content…
Moreover, the common folk, who enjoyed widespread political opportunities and economic and social mobility, did not resent the leadership of the powerful and, therefore, did not demand social or political leveling. They, too, were conservatives who joined the American cause to oppose British efforts to infringe on their rights as Englishmen. In short, the Revolution was a defensive movement to maintain the rights and liberties that Americans had always enjoyed.
Those historians who maintain that the American Revolution was revolutionary argue that there is radicalism in ideas, values, traditions, and customs. They, therefore, measure innovation by the amount of social change that actually took place, especially in regard to how people related to one another. For example, they point out that during the revolutionary generation Americans were transformed