The American Revolution: The Stuff You Should Know

What is the most basic part of world history that an American should know? Well, the American Revolution, of course! The following paragraphs are my answers to some of the most basic questions that one might ask about the American Revolution.

How was the first shot at Concord the “shot heard around the world?”

In the battle of Lexington and Concord, the first shot of the American Revolution was fired. The shot was heard around the world because other British colonies would be inspired to rebel against England, France would have a chance at conquering the American colonies, and Spain would want to get revenge on England. The British colonies would be motivated to fight for their freedom just as the Americans did. If the Americans would win, the other colonies of Great Britain would realize that something that seemed so unattainable like gaining freedom from England was truly possible. The French would gain the opportunity to subjugate the Americans. With England out of the way, the only thing stopping France from surpassing England is the Americans. Spain would be affected by the first shot because England has been committing piracy against Spain for so long. If Spain fought against England with the Americans or even tried to conquer the American colonies if they won the revolution, they would be able to force Great Britain to consume the sour taste of defeat. Along with the British colonies, France, and Spain, several other countries and territories heard the first shot at Concord, which started an uproar of revolts against Great Britain.

Specifically how is the American “aristocracy” different from that of the English? Explain.

The American aristocracy was immensely dissimilar than that of the English because the American nobility was all about hard work and sacrifice, English aristocrats gained their status through ancestral worth of a person, and the Americans valued hard work over the people who gave you life. The American nobles gained their status through the strenuous tasks they performed during their time in the colonies. The nobles of America, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, used their talents for the good of the colonies, which is exemplified when George Washington led the American Continental Army and Thomas Jefferson wrote the preamble of the Declaration of Independence. English aristocrats gained their status from their ancestors. Aristocrats from England could gained important status in the English society from their family’s significance, and could even be “dirt poor.” The Americans valued hard work over the English’s definition of nobility, which was the eminence of one’s family. The Americans believed that regardless of a person’s family status, they could attain a status of consequence in the society as long as they committed arduous duties for the benefit of America, while the English believed that the quality of a person’s family was more important than the acts that the person did during his or her lifetime. Although the aristocracies of the two countries were very different, the American definition of aristocracy has dominated a large portion of the world.