American revolution was one of the most revolutionary revolution in history. This was caused by the socio conflict between great Britain and colonials, inefficient government and economic issues.
In the lates 18th century, the new social class called bourgeoisie appeared in the society of America. They are usually merchants, who were well educated, wealthy and in middle class. American Revolution gave a large impact on these people. There were two different groups existed in America. One was Olive Branch Petition that was royal to great britain and seek for a new relationship with Great Britain. The other one was radicals, who set independence of America was the goal. Most of radicals were bourgeoisie who were eduucated and understood the soncept of enlightenment.
The most important factor to talk about American Revolution is economy. In 17, Great Britain made the taxation system called Sugar Act and Stamp Act. Both were made for the benefits of British government. Sugar Act was used when America imported goods, such as, sugar, liquor, and other things. It was fairly acceptable for society. Stamp Act was the first domestic taxation in history. After this taxation was made, people had to pay taxes for things that carries information and entertainment, such as, newspapers, stamps for sending letters and even playing cards.
Great Britain was feared of decline of economy, they tried to force the trade open.
American Revolution was very revolutionary because it followed enlightenment, which was the new concept made by John Locke in 1600s. His theory of enlightenment stated that, "power to rule comes from consent of governed.‘’ This means, all people should have equal of life, liberty and property and government have the right to protect there rights. If they failed, people have right to overthrow old government and replace it with the new one. This concept has been written more than hundred years before occurrence of American Revolution. Although, in “Declaration of Independence”, almost exactly the same statement can be found.
This most revolutionary revolution became the origin of other famous revolutions, such as, French Revolution, Haitian Revolution and Latin American Revolution. Those revolutions were mostly copied from American Revolution.
American Revolution was revolutionary for certain people in America. After the revolution, America became democratic country but it affected only small number of people who were well educated, such as, bourgeoisie class. Some people got the right to vote but still women and non-whites were not allowed. When those were eliminated, few percentage of the population got the true meaning of freedom.
Before the American Revolution, people had very fearful idea on revolution, such as anger, violence and even killing. Those images came from previous revolutionary, such as, Robespierre, Lenin and Mao Zedong. In the other hand, George Washington, Thomas Tefferson, and John Adams were very different from those other revolutionary. They were considered as too intelligent, too cautious, and too gentle to be the revolutionary.
People, also, believed revolutions are the results of “poverty and economist deprivation.” American Revolution, however, did not follow those rules. Colonial Americans were living in the fairly comfortable life than even people in Great Britain. Many historians thought "taxation without representation’’ was the main cause of the American Revoultion but it turned out to be not the main cause.