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What were the effects of the American Revolution?
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The American Revolution resulted in significant political and economic changes. Politically, it led to the creation of state constitutions, with a focus on the people as the highest authority, not the monarchy. Economically, it opened up avenues for trade with other nations, fostering self-sufficiency. Additionally, it influenced European politics, particularly contributing to the French Revolution, both financially and through the spread of Enlightenment ideas.
The American Revolution, also known as the War of Independence took place between 1765 and 1783 and resulted in America gaining independence from the British crown. On September 3, 1783, the Americans and British signed the Treaty of Paris that officially ended the conflict.
The first major consequence of the war was the writing and implementation of state constitutions. The most important, and democratic, constitution at this time was the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, which developed their own central parliament, had a collective leadership and gave any male the right to vote. The State of Virginia Constitution included a bill that somewhat restricted the authority of the government and protected the rights of the individual. More constitutions followed and all with the basic premise that the people and not the king or queen was the highest authority.
The end of the American Revolution affected the economy in a hugely positive...
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way. Previously the British had limited trading and manufacturing in the country, but now America had the freedom to develop trade agreements with other nations. For example, they bought furs and pelts in South America and traded them in China for tea and silk, which they then sold for high prices either at home or abroad. In addition, they were beginning to open factories that were making enough products to cover the basic needs of the people. America was becoming a self-sufficient country.
The first and most obvious effect of the American Revolution was that, with its success, the thirteen colonies separated from British rule, becoming an independent country.
Beyond this, it's worth recognizing the degree to which European politics were still largely dominated by monarchy (and usually absolutist monarchy at that). If you look at the rhetoric and discourse surrounding the American Revolution, you will find a strong influence of Enlightenment ideas. After the revolution, America's leading statesmen would proceed to create a new system of government based in those Enlightenment principles.
Within the context of European politics, one of the most important impacts of the American Revolution lay in its influence on the French Revolution. For one thing, France's intervention in the war against Britain created further fiscal strain on an already overburdened fiscal system—from that perspective, the American Revolution contributed to the fiscal crisis that heralded the French Revolution. In addition, the French were able to draw some inspiration from the American example in devising their own political systems.
The American Revolution was the means toward the attainment of independence for the United States. It was an armed struggle and resulted in casualties and fatalities for both the Patriots and the British forces. The American Revolution marked the beginning of the United States’ journey towards self-determination and separation from Britain, which was exercising tyrannical rule over her American colonies.
The American Revolution asserted the need for unity among the states, and although this unity was challenged by the Civil War, the journey to becoming a united nation had started. The Revolution earned America some allies that they could trade with as a free entity. The nation also embarked on building institutions that would ensure the stability of the country. The process was guided by a constitution that the Founding Fathers formulated. A national armed force was also established to protect the rights and freedoms attained through the Revolution.
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There were many effects of the American Revolution. The most important effect was that as a result of the colonial victory over Great Britain, the new country of the United States of America was created. When we declared our independence from Great Britain, he had to fight to achieve it. The fight was known in the United States as the Revolutionary War.
Another effect of the American Revolution is that it allowed us to establish our system of government. While the first plan created as a result of the Articles of Confederation had many weaknesses, our current plan created by the Constitution is a good one. We have a representative democracy where we elect leaders to make decisions for us. We also have a Bill of Rights that protects our freedoms. We believed that the system of government Great Britain created for us was not doing what a government should be doing. We believed the British weren’t protecting our rights. Thus, we fought for independence to establish a new country and a new government that would serve us better and that would protect our rights.
The American Revolution also served as a model for the movement for independence in other countries. The French used our revolution as a model for the French Revolution in 1789. Latin American countries in the 1800s and Vietnam in the 1900s also used our revolution as a model for their struggle for independence. The American Revolution has served as a guide for other countries that have wanted their freedom from another country.