Hello everyone. It appears that the American Revolution unit has begun, so I would like to dedicate this first post to outlining how I would like the blog to proceed. Perhaps one of the most interesting parts about researching the American Revolution is understanding how it relates to modern culture. Though the revolution obviously caused the colonies to be recognized as an official nation, its more miniscule details can be seen even today, 225 years later, shaping how we view ourselves as Americans. While most people are aware of the major effects that resulted from the colonial victory, they do not realize that in the short time span of the revolution, American culture was essentially formed, shaped, and defined. What occurred in the time span from 1776-1783 caused the American identity to be set in stone, so to speak.
Please post with any contributions to the topic which i have defined, and i will respond regularily. We may even debate over the actual extend of cultural influences resulting from the revolution.
Roman Zanevchic :)
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17 comments:
Hey Roman, I'm a little confused about what you want us to post...can you give an example?
Thanks!
I agree what Roman said about the revolutionary war sitting America as a official country. It gives other countries to look at us in a different view. Rather then a helpless country backing down from one of the most powerful country, England, they took a stand and fought for their own freedom and liberty.
I agree with what Aaron said. The revolution gave America this image of stability and not needing to rely on another country to function, even though the government was unsteady shortly after the revolution. After the colonial victory, it gave America freedom, which then became one of the first things people thought of when they think of America.
I agree with Alex. I feel like a need a little more direction to contribute something substantial :D
Thank you!
Can u rephrase the topis or give an explenation on how we would respond.
The most important event that happened during the time period of 1776-1783 was the writing of the declaration of independence. This document was the most important document ever written in american history; it states that america is here it has its own rules, rulers, and morals and that the colonies will no longer be pushed around by the "big shots" any longer
I apologize for any vagueness in my original instructional statement. What i mean is that i'm sure we can all agree that a patriotic American identity was established during the revolution. For example, when one thinks of America the words "freedom" and "liberty" come to mind. These are principles established during or immediately after the revolution, to provide a foundation for the new nation.
What I would like to hear are any possible thoughts on how the course of history might have been changed if the revolution went about differently. When one considers the implications of combating 1700's Britain, it is truly amazing that thirteen oppressed colonies could merge together into a world power.
"What occurred in the time span from 1776-1783 caused the American identity to be set in stone"
I think he want us to answer to that or something?
Well I say the Declaration of Independence cause the American identity to be set in stone because July 4 became the Birthday of the U.S. and as Aaron said Freedom and Liberty was achieve with a force so small that defeated the biggest during that time
I think what Roman might've meant is what would be the United states be had the Revolution gone awkward and failed..(correct me if I'm wrong)
Well, we would still probably be under british rule, and would have suffered about five times as harsh. After all the 13 colonies joined and rebelled, which was one of the greatest challenges britain had to face. Had Britain won, in order to deal with future mass 'revolutions",the colonies would be totally stippred of all rights, and be forced to pay extremely heavy taxes for an increased amount british soldiers staying in the Americas to prevent rebellion..In other words, a scenario exactly opposite of how America is defined today.
If it weren't for the American Revolution, a great nation couldn't have been born. Like Louis said, we'd be controlled under British rule and be taxed heavily like the stamp act and the tea tax. Again, one of the reasons why the American Revolution started. A Declaration of Independence wouldn't have been concocted; neither would Alexander Hamilton create the ideas of the bank of the U.S. We would have never had our freedom that we have today in society.
As the general idea (and in agreement with Annie), the US wouldn't have been born without the revolution. Its sort of a "butterfly effect" kind of thing as the entire history of the world would've changed if just a little bit of the revolution was changed.
I mean, here's how I see it:
British rule would have continued but I do believe at some point, even if they failed rebelling against he British a few times, the colonists would eventually drive the British out from being fed up of them. If the colonists still couldn't rebel against, the colonies would have been in such a state of chaos that it could most likely bring itself to its demise.
Imagine a world without the US being born.
Maybe some of the world wars would have never existed.
Maybe a different interpretation of democratic-republic policies would arise and prevail today.
i disagree with everyone that says the America or the united states would not have been formed if the revolution did not exist. who's to say what could or would have happened. In history we often find ourselves inferring one thing and being shocked because the rulers of that era had something else in mind. what we may feel or think is the best way to go about a situation is not how the people of the revolutionary time thought. Maybe if the colonists did not revolt against the stamp act and sugar act and all the other situations that took place and lead up to the war then maybe years later something else (an event) could have lead up to the seperation of america and britian. No ine nows what could of happened or wat would not have happened all we no is wat happened and we should not make inferences in history because their will be times when wat we think shold be the result of an action isn't so. therfore meaning that our inferences have let us down
While Nemin has a point in saying a history that didn't happen isn't for certain to be one way or another, I must disagree with your theory of "if the colonists did not revolt against" the taxes. It is pretty obvious that the colonists would reacts harshly against the taxes, as they viewed England as taking away their previously-enjoyed liberty. Just like the current uproar on rising gas prices, you can't expect the colonists relaxing while being forced to pay more amounts on money on things that were once considered cheap to use.
I believe had America not separated from Britain, Britain would be a huge power. Britain would be such a huge power, that Napoleon might have never tried to conquer the way he did. Maybe even Britain would have attempted to take over the world. However, if Britain made the same mistakes it did in the non-hypothetical, Germany in WWII may have still had its tyranny. With no power like America to help, we might have been all speaking in German right now.
That's a bit far fetched, but not improbable.
Also, to Nemin, I agree that it could have happened later, but that was the best time for America to declare independence. Britain was at a weak point, and still rebuilding its army. Had America paid the taxes they tried to avoid, Britain would make tons of money off of them.
America would just be making Britain a stronger nation.
I believe that if the colonists had never begun a revolution that America would most likely not have gone to any of the European superpowers, Britain would have given up and get rid of the land. This is because the European powers had way too many wars and conflicts on their plate to attempt to govern a place so far away. What country would take the time and money to develop a country, for several years (much longer than the time span we are talking about), that was revolting while they were fighting their own war? Take a look, for example, at the battle in America during the revolution and the War of 1812. Because of British and French problems on their own continent, there was a difficulty in dealing with the battles going on with, for, and in another country. Thus, America would have most likely been captured by a country, or continent, less involved in homeland struggles (ex. Asia or Australia, although the Black War in Australia would have prevented the power to conquer a country since the Portuguese and French and British were conquering them) or would have been left for the Native American’s to exert full control over their land. I would say that the colonists would have remained in the land and developed the country but the colonists were weak, not unified, hand no economy without European help, and ultimately were not prepared to take charge of their future (the revolution helped them gain power, status among foreign countries, and become united). Either way, there would have been an interesting result and would have severely altered the major powers in the world as well as politics and economy. Pretty interesting to think about!
If there was no American Revolution, there would be no America. Our lives would be completely different. First off, we would still be under British rule. There would be heavy taxation (regardless of if we did/didn't owe England)and we would be denied basic freedoms like the freedom of press. The Zenger Case comes to mind, and unlike his triumph, we would have to live with our inability to say what we want to and be unable convey our thoughts freely through the press. Of course, like Alex said, we would not just sit still and agree to the treatment of the British and perhaps, in time we would have succeeded in forming our own country, but it would have been completely different. The longer we would stay under British rule, the more British our ideals would be. Life would be completely different if it had not been for the success of the American Revolution.
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