EFFECTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The American Revolution was a colonial uprising between 1765 and 1783 in the thirteen colonies, which led to the establishment of the United States. With the help of France, the American Patriots were able to defeat the British and gain independence. Though the revolt was successful, it did have its consequences like any other rebellion. These after-effects include:
- Independence
The revolution resulted in the independence of the United States from the colonialism of Great Britain, separating it from the British empire. The United States became the first nation in the modern era to win the national war of liberation from colonialism.
- The Constitution
The revolution led to the birth and formulation of a constitution that brought the ideals of liberty, civil rights, and natural rights to life. These changes became the foundation of the new political order. Though creating a genuinely free society was not immediately achieved, the revolution acted as the foundation that later encouraged the formulation of constitutions.
- Political Inspiration
After the revolution, the idea of genuinely democratic politics became possible within the former colonies. The success in the American Revolution led to the other revolts, which include the French revolution, Haitian revolution, and the Latin American wars of independence to begin.
- Nationality
The revolution brought together people from the thirteen colonies, promoting a sense of community, based on shared history, culture, and having gone through more or less the same experience. This ultimately created the American national identity.
- Decrease of Slavery
Being handed independence led to the birth of laws against slavery in all the northern states, including the northwest region. Some areas agreed to gradual emancipation, which resulted in some people remaining slaves for a more extended period.
- Trade
The revolution led to the end of the mercantilist economy, opening new opportunities in trade and manufacturing. This change resulted in more trade relationships and the opening of new markets
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- Settlement
The western territories opened for invasion and settlement, leading to the development of more communities, which in turn necessitated more political representation as well as the opening of more markets.
- Change in the status of American Women
The aftermath of the revolution led to the inception of the concept of republican motherhood. Women played an essential role in ensuring their children grew with values conducive to a healthy republic. Women began to perform more functions in society, which included running family businesses or fundraising for the war. Marriages were more liberal now guided by love and affection as opposed to discipline of obedience and submissiveness that was the basis of marriages before.
- Change of Status of African Americans
In the aftermath of the revolt, more of the former colonies and even individuals took actions to free a significant number of slaves within the first two decades The northern states were among the first to implement this legislation. While southern states did not abolish slavery, individual people released slaves, some citing revolutionary reasons, others as an appreciation for service. In contrast, others did it to free their mixed-race kids that had been born to the slaves.
- Loyalist expatriation
Tens of thousands of loyalists left the newly formed United States after the war. Some slaves also left with the British army with the promise of being granted their freedom later on. These loyalists were awarded land and subsidies for resettlement in the British colonies in North America as compensation for the losses in the United States.
REFERENCES
Kryn, R and Davide, K (2020) American Revolution. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution
Why the American Revolution Matters (February 18, 2019) retrieved from The American Revolution Institute of the Society of Cincinnati
https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org
Consequences of the American Revolution (March 1, 2020) retrieved from https://human.libretexts.org/bookshelves/history/national_histrory