The American Revolution (1763-1783) was a historic event in which the 13 American colonies fought imperialism of the British. This war led to the formation of the United States of America. The revolution reconstituted the notion of governance and civil rights enthused by economic exploitation, ideological enlightenment, and colonial opposition. It brought forth republicanism, a written constitution and motivated the movements around the world against colonialism. The revolution did not only tear down the British colonial rule in America but also affected the world movements of democracy. It was the start of contemporary constitutionalism and federalism.

Key Points for RAS Mains

Historical Context

• Period of time: 1763 (after Seven Years War) to 1783 (Treaty of Paris).
• Nature: anti-colonial, political revolution city, founded the first modern democratic Republic.
• Leaders involved: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin.

Reasons of American Revolution

• Economic Exploitation
  • Mercantilism: The British policies were directed towards favouring the mother country based on the management of the trade with the American countries.
  • Taxation burden after the War: the impact of the seven years war was that Britain attempted to recover costs of sustaining expenses through taxation of colonies.
  • Criminal: Sugar Act (1764) Stamp Act (1765), Townshend Acts (1767).
• Political& Legal Dissatisfaction
  • No Taxation Without Representation: British Parliament had not a county representation.
  • Salutary Neglect: Previous British indulgence caused the American faith in independence.
• Ideological Awakening
  • The enlightenment thinkers such as Thomas Paine ( Common Sense ) and Benjamin Franklin advocated liberty, equality and republicanism.
  • Expansion of liberalism because of multi-ethnic colonial society.
• Social and Regional Mobilisation
  • The creation of the groups such as Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty.
  • Forms of protest: Boston Tea party (1773), Boston Massacre (1770)

Key Events Timeline

The declaration of independence (1776)

• The text was written by Thomas Jefferson.
• Proclaimed all men equal and gave them the right to freedom.
• Designed the start of a protest and the beginning of a full-scale revolution.
• Any War of Independence (1776 1783)
• Under the command of mobilizer-in-Chief George Washington.
• In 1778, France gave them military and economical assistance.
• Great triumph: British lost the war at Yorktown (1781).
• The war was officially over through the Treaty of Paris (1783).

Treaty of Paris 1783 Highlights

• Acceptance of the United States of America as a sovereign state.
• Regions went as far as the Mississippi River.
• France and Spain benefited through the acquisition of territories (e.g. Florida to Spain).
• In other areas, England maintained the pre-war status quo.

Impact of American Revolution 

• A. US-based
  • Dismissal of Loyalists: about 80,000 loyalists run off.
  • Mercantilism is over: emergence of capitalist commerce and worldwide connections.
  • First in the world with: Written Constitution (1789):
  • The civil liberties safeguarding of the 1791 Bill of Rights.
  • Democrat and republican principles.
  • Emerging of Federalism: De-centralization of authorities between federal and state.
• B. Worldwide Repercussion
  • Inspiration to other Movements:
  • French Revolution (1789)
  • Latin Revolution The Latin American revolutions History
  • Indian liberty movement (Gandhi envied American struggle)
  • Crisis of Colonial Legitimacy: Invincibility of British Empire.
  • Democratisation of Republicanism and personal rights world wide.
  • Educational Reforms in the newly independent America grew so as to facilitate informed citizenry.

Importance of American Revolution

• It is the first successful anti-colonial revolution.
• Brought new concepts of contemporary democracy, constitutionalism, and rights of individuals.
• Assists in knowing how intellectual discourse, mass mobilisation as well as legal resistance can topple imperialism.
• Seed of later antiterrorism freedom movements and liberal-democratic philosophy in the rest of the globe.

Conclusion for RPSC

The American Revolution was much more than a war of independence, it was a radical rethinking of government and rights and liberty.

Also Read: Revolutionary Movements in India During Independence