comments, criticism and suggestions are strongly encouraged.


Q.2. Discuss the factors that led to the war of American Independence. Also analyse the reasons for the growing popularity of Independence. (20).


Introduction:
American war of independence was a unique chapter in this history. It infused ray of hope and united diversified ethnicities. The major actors in the war were the former 13 British colonies and the british. According to historians, it was a unique example of a struggle between the weak and the powerful.

Nature of the war of independence:
In the beginning, there was no armed conflict. The nature of the war was much different from a revolution. The british colonies began to reject british policies and their products.this was a reaction to the discriminatory policies introduced by the british government. Those who waged the war were called as wigs, rebels, revolutionists, or patriots whereas the colonists who remained loyal to the british were loyalists or tories.

Role of france and spain

France and spain played an important but secretive role in the war of independence.france particularly helped the Americans in rising against their british masters. The American colonists lacked an organized militia. It was the French, which infiltered the idea of revolution and even trained the colonists in military techniques.

Role of blacks

Blacks were slaves of the british masters. They were treated in a inhuman manner. George Washington offered blacks that if they helped America against the british masters, they would be set free. Only five thousand blacks accepted the offer while 25 to 30 thousand blacks remained loyal to their british masters.

War of independence
Pre mature stage (1600-1775)
Mature stage (1775-1783)

Factors leading to the war of independence
a) Mercantilism:
Mercantilism was an economic theory of 15th century. It was an economic school of thought which believed that “colonies existed only for the benefit of mother country they should add to its wealth and self sufficiency”.
The theory remained in prevalence throughout the 16th century in the western Europe. It was a major cause of the many wars between the british and their colonies.

Several intolerable acts introduced under mercantilism include
a)navigation act (1651)
b) enumerated act (1660)
c) duty act(1663)
d) enforcement act (1693)
e)molasses act
f) sugar act

b)intolerable acts

a major reason for the war of independence was the introduction of intolerable policies by the british. in the first step, rules were introduced to suppress the colonists and heavy taxes were imposed. But in the second step, even harsher taxes were imposed as a part of a discrimination policy.

c)Albany congress : in 1754, Albany congress was set up. Benjamin franklin theorized that the british colonies should be united under a grand council and a single policy should be introduced in matters relating to Indian affairs, defence and expansion.

d) the great awakening: between 1730 to 1740,the era is called the great awakening in the American history. This was a religious movement. Protestant group used the benefit of religious differences and spread the message of revolution.

e) boston massacre: in 1770, some colonists provoked an altercation with british soldiers. This led to a ding dong battle. A large group gathered. Infuriated, the soldiers opened fire killng three colonists. This created an ill feeling and mistrust between the british and the colonies.

f) boston tea party: in 1773, east india company was overburdened with 17 million of unused tea. They sought the help of british government. If the company, british government would lose heavily. So they revised 1st duty tax on import of tea to England and only 3rd duty tax revision for tea to the colonies.

g) first continental congress:
the killing of colonists in massachustets by the british masters had created animosity amongst the colonists. As a result, first continental congress was convened in Philadelphia in 1774. Although it was expected that all the 13 colonies would participate, in effect only 8 or 9 colonies attended the congress. Virginia was missing.

h) second continental congress: the news of the killing of colonists spread like wild fire. As a result second continental congress was convened in 1775.they would look into the possibility of

• Reviewing charges levied by the british
• Prepare for war.

i) declaration of independence: in 1775, declaration of independence was passed. Earlier the same year, a resolution had been passed by the john adams which made the declaration inevitable. thomas Jefferson drafted the declaration. whereby it was stated that the former british colonies which were at war with the british considered themselves to be independent.

j) common sense: it was a revolutionary pamphlet written by Thomas paine. He was inspired by the teachings of locke and considered liberty to the right of people.

k) sons of liberty: it was an organization which worked for the freedom of the Americans. They loathed stamp act and stormed the roads shouting liberty and no stamp.

l) treaty of paris: treaty of paris was concluded between the british colonies and the british masters whereby independence of America was recognized. It was postulated in the treaty

• independence of American colonies was recognized
• the boundaries of the country were vaguely designed
• both America and british were to have perpetual access to mississipi river.

Critical analysis: in many ways, france was at the losng end. They had hoped of getting a client state in America and also aspired of getting lands in india, instead they had to be content with Tobago, Senegal, Pondicherry. Americans also concluded a treaty with the spain and kept Gibraltar themselves and the rest was given to spain. France had spent huge sums of money on the war which left their treasury drained and contributed to the crises of 1789.


Q.2. Some American historians insist that the American Revolution was a social upheaval as well as a political revolt. Discuss the social and economic results of the Revolutionary Years. (20).

The war left an indelible mark on every section of the society. Although it was not a revolution like the French or the Russian in which the labour class overthrew the ruling class, it brought a paradigm shift in the American society.nothing remained untouched from voting, to civil rights including slavery, political laws.

political impact of the war:

Impassioned by the spirit of republicanism during the revolutionary years, the Americans set themselves to the task of materialing the goals. The consequence was the presence of 13 laboratories at diverse places in U.S aimed at establishing a republicanism. Articles of confederation was the consequence of intensive deliberations

many states had conferred bill of rights for the citizens. Deliberate attempts were made at curtailing the power of the governors from preventing any individual from becoming a autocrat or a monarch. Representatives to judiciary were also selected after regular time period to ensure accountability.
Although a disproportionate number of seats in the congress still belonged to the influential class, there was an overall decline in the monopoly. States shifted their capitals from economic hubs to smaller towns such as the shifting of capital of new york city.

Before the establishment of first federalist government in 1789, colonies remained under the control of the congress and article of confederation served as the consitituition. The article of confederation reduced the power of the centre and gave more authority to the states.

Social impact

a) Laws: before the war of independence, colonies operated under the british rule. However, after gaining independence, they were no longer under any obligation to follow the british rules. Among the british, law of inheritance was goverened by primogeniture i.e the elder son inherits all. This led to accumulation of wealth in a few hands. Americans detested the system and within 15 years of independence not a single book existed which contained this law of inheritance.

b) Slavery: the instituition of slavery was very old in united states. The independence of Americans from the british did not free the slaves altogether. but it laid the foundation of their freedom. As promised, the 5 million blacks that had supported Americans in the war were set free. Northern states abhorred the system and so the institution ended in the northeren states. It however persisted for a century longer in the southern states. the first anti slavery congress was set up in 1775, the same year war of independence began. Soon, it had established 13 clubs in different parts of the country. This was the world’s first antislavery association.

c) Other civil rights:
The war of independence had both short and long term changes. It did not confer all the civil rights immediately. But, it laid the foundation for future demands of women rights, blacks rights etc.

d) Religious effects:
With the end of the british rule in America, the catholic church which operated under the british monarch could no longer exist. Thomas Jefferson, the third u.s president also took steps for religious liberty which further diminished the effect of church on the society.