The Revolution that birthed the United States was not the sweeping transformation many of us have been taught to believe.
American Revolution was:
1. A war of independence from Britain by the colonies to establish their own governance, control of economy, and management of foreign relations.
2. A protest against British interference, including taxation without representation and trade restrictions.
3. A movement for economic freedom to remove British constraints on commerce and property acquisition.
4. An opportunity for westward territorial expansion.
5. A moment of ideological shift toward enlightenment ideas shaping the writing of documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
The American Revolution was not:
1. A unified movement: Patriots and loyalists were deeply divided, and even among patriots, disagreements over governance were significant.
2. A systemic change: The Revolution did not dismantle existing social or economic hierarchies. Many of the ideals cited in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, have proven not to have been long-lasting, mainly lip-service or only cited to protect the elites.
3. A movement for racial or gender equality: Slavery persisted, women remained disenfranchised, and Native Americans faced ongoing displacement, violence, and genocide.
4. A class-based uprising: The Revolution was led by elites, with little regard for the working class, enslaved people, or marginalized groups Political power largely remained restricted to property-owning white men.
5. A call for universal religious freedom: Many states maintained official Christian religions, and certain religious groups and others continued to face restrictions.