On October 19, 1781, General Charles Cornwallis of the Britain surrendered to George Washington of the Continental Army at Yorktown, Virginia. This date not only marked the end of conflict between the two sides, but the beginning of the construction of the government we have today. Many historians argue that the Americans had done something revolutionary by overthrowing the British Monarchy and establishing a Republic. Others will argue that the movement was not revolutionary because it did not result in a change in social regime. Therefore the American Revolution was revolutionary by creating a system of government unlike ever seen before and by inspiring lower classes to revolt against powerful regimes. However, on the social aspect, the
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As a result, a new independent nation was created, The United States of America. The revolution was fueled by Britain’s overtaxing of the colonists. Angered by these acts, the colonists came together and fought back against the British until 1776, when the boiling point was reached and the Declaration of Independence was signed, thus beginning the war. After the British surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown in 1781, the process of creating a new government had commenced. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the American Revolution was the construction of a written constitution that was based off the ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy. The Constitution transformed the traditional monarchial society of Europe, where colonists had no say in government, into a democracy, where all white male citizens could have say in government. The Constitution also created three branches of government, Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, and makes sure that one branch doesn’t gain superior power through a system of checks and balances. Gordon Wood, a historian and professor at Brown University, says, “The Revolution brought respectability and even dominance to ordinary people long held in contempt and gave dignity to their menial labor in a manner unprecedented in history and to a degree not equaled elsewhere in the world.” Eric Foner …show more content…
However, the revolution did not overthrow the social regime that was present before the beginning of the war, as the white male dominance of the Americas continued. Today, even though the system of government set up by the Constitution in 1783 remains intact; society still remains firmly grasped by white males. From a political standpoint, the American Revolution brought positive change by establishing a new democracy; however, it failed to bring long-awaited social change to the lower classes of
As a result, a new independent nation was created, The United States of America. The revolution was fueled by Britain’s overtaxing of the colonists. Angered by these acts, the colonists came together and fought back against the British until 1776, when the boiling point was reached and the Declaration of Independence was signed, thus beginning the war. After the British surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown in 1781, the process of creating a new government had commenced. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the American Revolution was the construction of a written constitution that was based off the ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy. The Constitution transformed the traditional monarchial society of Europe, where colonists had no say in government, into a democracy, where all white male citizens could have say in government. The Constitution also created three branches of government, Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, and makes sure that one branch doesn’t gain superior power through a system of checks and balances. Gordon Wood, a historian and professor at Brown University, says, “The Revolution brought respectability and even dominance to ordinary people long held in contempt and gave dignity to their menial labor in a manner unprecedented in history and to a degree not equaled elsewhere in the world.” Eric Foner …show more content…
However, the revolution did not overthrow the social regime that was present before the beginning of the war, as the white male dominance of the Americas continued. Today, even though the system of government set up by the Constitution in 1783 remains intact; society still remains firmly grasped by white males. From a political standpoint, the American Revolution brought positive change by establishing a new democracy; however, it failed to bring long-awaited social change to the lower classes of