Background and Relevance of American Revolution

The American Revolution was a revolt against the autocracy of England which at this time was ruled by King George III.The Revolution was a direct consequence of England’s intervention in the Seven years’ war and of the ideas which prevailed throughout Western Europe at that time as to the proper way of governing the   colonies.It was thought that colonies were part of the parent country and they should be administered not primarily for the benefit of the colonists but for the benefit of the country from which the colonists had originally come.In accordance with this principle,England had on two occasions in the 17th century passed laws known as Navigation Acts which enacted that colonial produce was to be exported only in British ships;some commodities were to be sent to no other country but Britain and some were to be sent first to Britain and thence to other parts of the world.There were also laws passed restricting or prohibiting the manufacture of certain articles in colonies such as cloth – the idea being that if their manufacture were allowed,English industries of vital importance to the prosperity of the country would be seriously affected.The American Revolution arose primarily out of the conflicting claims of British imperial authority and American colonial self-government.Not many favoured revolution,infact they were split into two antagoinistic camps.The conservatives wanted to return to the loose relations between the mother country and the colonies that prevailed before 1763.The radicals on the other hand wanted a change in their relations with the British Empire that would give the colonies complete control of their own affairs.They also wanted a shift of political power inside the colonies in favour of the common people.On this point the conservatives were violently opposed.They had no desire for democracy.Rather they wished to retain upper class leadership after the Glorius Revolution of 1688 in England.The significance of American Revolution lies in the emergence of a new independent state .It gave tremendous support to the political ideas of nationalism and democracy. The Revolution strengthened the political ideas of constitutionalism,federalism and republicianism.It gave serious blow to the power and prestige of Britain.