Final: response to reading material

An Instance of Revolution or Evolution?

Most of us, when we think of the American Revolution, only perceive America successfully defending herself against Great Britain. In reality, this is a very shallow concept of the American Revolution. A deeper concept 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 mind was a transcendence of self perception. Eventually, the colonists transitioned from perceiving themselves as British to perceiving themselves as Americans, part of an integrated whole, a united and independent nation. John Adams speaks of this revolution in the minds of the colonists. Written for Thomas Jefferson, John Adams says, “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 Adams, I believe the American Revolution was a consequence of the revolution within the minds of the people. As mentioned above, I believe this change of thought was a transcendence of the colonists’ self perception. Wanting to detach from Great Britain, the British colonies had to unite, forming one country. As a result, the united colonies defeated Great Britain, and each individual colony officially proclaimed itself as part of America, an independent country. This phenomenon eliminated the attachments within the minds of the colonists that bound them to Great Britain. The colonists were liberated, free to perceive themselves as they wanted. Therefore, the American Revolution was actually an event resulting from the evolutionary change of the colonists’ self perception which began around 1760.