Unit 4: The American Revolution: Ideas and Experience
By the mid-eighteenth century, Britain had colonies and trading posts across the globe. It emerged victorious from the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), but the war had pushed it to impose new taxes on its American colonies. Resistance from the colonists eventually led to revolution and the creation of the United States when they replaced their calls for greater local control of trade and taxes, with demands for independence and democratic institutions that would help govern a new nation.
While the American Revolution (1775–1783) brought complete separation from Britain, the colonists struggled to agree on which institutions and values should structure the newly-independent state. During the revolution their leaders debated the nature of freedom and government, the best way to structure the state, the proper relationship between religion and politics, and other important topics. Their views reflected their fundamental beliefs and assumptions about human nature. In this unit, we explore the American revolutionary experience, the creation of the United States, and the ideas and ideals that helped shape this time of rapid political and social transformation.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 9 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- provide a concise historical narrative of the American Revolution;
- identify and analyze the long-term and immediate causes of the American Revolution;
- compare and contrast the Federalist and Republican visions of society and the state; and
- critically evaluate the most important documents produced by the American revolutionaries.
- provide a concise historical narrative of the American Revolution;
4.1: How to Study the American Revolution
Watch this lecture from 13:00 to the end, and focus on how Freeman proposes to analyze the revolutionary events in America. How does she relate facts and interpretations? Where does she suggest the student's primary focus should be?
4.2: Timeline and Key Problems of the Revolutionary Era
Read this article, which provides an overview of the Revolutionary Era. Before delving into the dynamics and ideals of the American Revolution, it is important to have a basic understanding of its chronology and historical context. The readings in this subunit will help you understand the timeline of the most important events. As you read, identify the most important themes and questions concerning the American Revolution.
Study this timeline of the American Revolution carefully. If there are any events with which you are unfamiliar, click on the relevant link to read additional information about them.
4.3: England and the American Colonies
Watch this lecture to understand what it was like to live in the colonies in the eighteenth century.
Read this essay carefully to understand the logic of the changes in British policy toward the American Colonies in the aftermath of the Seven Years' War.
4.4: Colonial Resistance
Watch this lecture and take notes as you listen. At the end of the lecture, try to answer the following questions: why did the American colonists resist British rule? What were their most important aims?
Study this article and its analysis of the American Revolution. Compare this text with Freeman's lecture about the logic of the Colonists' resistance against England. Ask yourself whether you think the Revolution was inevitable? If so, why? If not, what other scenarios do you think might have taken place?
4.5: From Resistance to War and Independence
Watch this lecture. Focus on how O'Brien characterizes Republicanism. What does he identify as the most important causes of the American Revolution? How does he characterize the transition from early resistance to more radical political claims and eventual independence of the Colonies?
4.6: Competing Visions of the New State and the Constitution
The American Constitution was the outcome of much debate between statesmen with competing visions of the new American state. Study this text carefully to understand how the Constitution was created and what compromises had to be made to reach agreement about the structure of American government.
This is a brief lecture in which Berkin compares the Federalists and the Antifederalists. Carefully listen to the 4-minute lecture, and write a few sentences that note the most important ideological differences between the two groups.
4.7: The Republic of Letters – Ideals, Principles, and Goals of the American Revolution
This is one of the most important pamphlets of the American Revolution. Read the "Introduction" and "Parts I-IV" in their entirety. Pay particular attention to how Paine argues for independence from Britain. What are his most important claims? What does he say about religious diversity in the new nation? How does he envision equal representation?
Read this document and examine how it shows the "logic of resistance," which Freeman discussed in the lecture you studied in subunit 4.4. In addition, refer back to the various meanings of equality that you studied in subunit 2.3.3, in order to analyze how the "Declaration of Independence" defines and envisions equality. Which groups of citizens were included in its vision of equality? Who was excluded and how?
Read the American Bill of Rights, and compare it with the English Bill of Rights you studied in sub-subunit 3.3.1. What are the most important differences between the two documents? What do you think accounts for them?
4.8: Outcomes and Legacies: The American Political System and Historical Memory
Watch this lecture. How does Freeman define a revolution? What does it take for a revolution to end? What are the most important legacies of the American Revolution.
Unit 4 Assessment
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.