American Revolution

Introduction

The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a period of significant political changes caused by the insurrection of the inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies of North America against the British in the late eighteenth century. Episode founder of the nation and the American birth of the United States, the revolution manifested itself in violence against the British authorities, a war against the city and social unrest.

To amortize the cost of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), the British imposed taxes on its thirteen colonies of North America without consulting them, the American colonists protested to the King George III and Parliament the United Kingdom, and launched a revolt that the city tried to stifle by sending troops. On 4 July 1776, representatives of the colonies met in Philadelphia adopted the Declaration of Independence, and after a series of setbacks for the Continental Army commanded by George Washington, the war against Great Britain turned to the advantage of Americans. The insurgents (in English: "insurgents") received the help of French volunteers, and the government of Louis XVI, of Spain and the United Provinces. In 1783, London had to recognize the independence of the United States. The new country is endowed with a Constitution (1787), which was inspired by the Enlightenment. George Washington was elected president in 1789, but the early years of the new country were marked by political opposition and social tensions (Betsy, 2005).

Philosophical Causes

Enlightenment Thinkers (Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu)

Enlightenment thinkers, including John Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau, profoundly influenced the course of American political thought preceding the Revolutionary War. These thinkers advocated substantial reforms to the existing political system and were amenable to the separation of Church and State. From the Enlightenment movement a philosophy of religion called deism was developed, which was accepted by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Deism

Of all the American founders, Thomas Jefferson is most closely associated with deism, the Enlightenment faith in a rational, law-governed world created by a “supreme architect” or cosmic “clockmaker.” For many modern Americans, deist and “Christian” are antonyms, juxtaposing prideful reason—the apotheosis of man—and a humble faith in an all-powerful, triune Godhead. But the terminology is misleading and the opposition false.

John Locke

The key elements in Locke's political theory are natural rights, social contract, government by consent, and right of revolution. Locke was very concerned with the “property right” and derived property right from higher law, although for Locke that higher law remained natural ...