Draft: response to reading material

An Instance of Evolution or Revolution?

Most of us, when we think of the American Revolution, only perceive America successfully defending themselves against Great Britain. In reality, this is the shallowest concept of the American Revolution. The deeper level of defining what the American Revolution was is of much more importance and interest. The empowering change within the state of mind of British colonists is the most significant aspect of the American Revolution. This change of thought within the minds of British colonists was a transcendence of self perception. Eventually the colonists perceived themselves as Americans, part of an integrated whole, a united and independent nation.

The beginning of the American Revolution was when Great Britain initiated a demand for revenue from British colonies. This demand of revenue began after the French and Indian War, also called the Seven Years’ War, 1754-1763. This war consisted of British colonists, aided by Great Britain, with the French and Indians. Because of the expenses of the war (123 million dollars), ministers of Great Britain thought it justified to tax the British colonies in return for their aid in the war. Prime minister, from 1763-1765, Goarge Grenville, was the first to issue the provocative revenue acts, called the stamp act. The stamp act ended in 1766, but parliament of Great Britain didn’t cease oppressive or authoritative acts until the American Revolution in 1776. The colonies hadn’t consent to this taxation. Eventually, the colony’s resistance led to the American Revolution. This denial to comply with taxation contributed to the transition of self perception as British colonists, to self perception as Americans.

A quote from John Adam, written for Thomas Jefferson, speaks of the fundamental change of thought within British colonists at the time of the American Revolution, “What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected, from 1760-1775, in the course of fifteen years before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.” --J. Adams to T. Jefferson, 1815. In concurrence with John Adam, I believe the American Revolution was a consequence of the revolution within the minds of the people. As mentioned above, this change of thought within the minds of the colonists was a transcendence of self perception. This transcendence of self perception was the thought of being separate from Great Britain, which allowed British colonists to mentally justify rebelling against Great Britain and feel united as one colony instead of a segregated many. Therefore, the American Revolution was an event, resulting from the evolutionary change of the colonist’s self perception, beginning around 1760.

A major occurrence, largely contributing to this evolution of conscience, took place in Philadelphia in September of 1774. Here, deputies representing every colony, except Georgia, assembled to sit in general congress in discussion of the justifications of the acts of parliament of Great Britain. To be completed...