Gordon Wood Novel Name Analysis

The Revolutionary War is one intently studied and analyzed. In Gordon Wood’s Novel, Novel Name, Wood shares his analysis of the war and lets the reader ponder his argument that the American Revolution was not the result of the oppressive nature of the crown, but the anticipation of it happening. In his novel, Wood uses examples such as the Seven Years’ War, as well as the lack of structure in King George the Third’s government. Another one of his big points that led to the start of the revolution was the downfall of the American economy shortly after the Seven Years’ War combined with a rise on taxes and restricting laws. The main points of Wood’s book all come together to help prove his point with factual information as well as duly thought …show more content…
If not for this war, many of these reforms may have been suppressed, Gordon Wood writes (Page 17). The regulation of the Indian trade as well as land claims and turf wars between the English settlers and Indians are examples of such reform that Wood cites. According to the British government of the time, in order to keep peace, a standing army was placed in America. The army instilled into the American colonies were well over doubled the size of any troops in the colonies before the Seven Years’ War. The cost to keep the troops in the colonies? Well over three-hundred thousand British pounds a year. This increase of troop size was not one unnoticed. The sudden expanded British authority in the colonies was not met with gratification. Stories of prosperity in the colonies brought back to the motherland were advocated. Soon after the growth in troops the British government started pressing the colonies as a source of revenue more vigorously. The Salutary Neglect and freedom the colonist had withstood for so long diminished. The new laws King George III imposed on the colonies were just the beginning of the rise of the colonies as an …show more content…
This combined with the turmoil of a falling economy led the colonist to reach out to their british superiors. When another act passed after the colonists petitions against it (the Stamp Act), the colonist were infuriated. The colonist themselves found the act unconstitutional and gathered to discuss the matter, but ultimately violence from the lack of support England gave them ended the support of the act. Many other acts were beginning to be boycotted. Although the crown could not afford another war in such a short period of time, the crown also could not afford to lose the income that the colonies brought