"Theoretical Interpretation Of The American Revolution" Topic

"A summary of the theories of revolution points to the conclusion that the American Revolution was a real revolution. The fact that scholars discuss it as part of a more general overview of revolutions is proof that they consider it to be a Revolution. Many people (both the educated and the uneducated) unquestioningly accept the fact that the American Revolution was a revolution. This paper has shown that these claims and the original assumption proved to be correct. The theories dealing with revolutions as the phenomenon helped prove that these assumptions are legitimate. A explanation of a revolution could be a complex one like Crane Brinton's, which traces a revolution through several stages, as well as entailing details of the pre- and post-revolutionary society. A definition could be as simple as Gottschalk's, which states that a revolution need not "be more than …a popular movement whereby a significant change in the structure of a nation or society is effected'" (Paynton and Blackey, 27). Some analysts may not see the American Revolution as a revolution because it does not fit their narrow model. Theda Skocpol's discussion centers around social revolutions, like the one that occurred in Russia, and thus has no place for the American experience. For sociologist Seymour Martin Lipset, the main aspect of the American Revolution that made it revolutionary is the ideas, values, and the beliefs that appeared after the event. These were revolutionary in their context alone, and were integrated into the American way of life. For many scholars the main aspect of a revolution is social change (27), an element that was obviously present in America in 1776 and later in 1783. The American Revolution was a true revolution."

From here

link

Armand

Very interesting. For me academics sometimes obsess on definitions. The article mentioned several aspects of political and ideological change that both inspired and followed on from the conflict but when it states (I think correctly) a main aspect of revolution is social change it concludes without presenting much evidence (so far as I can tell) that this was '…an element that was obviously present in America in 1776 and later in 1783.' I'm not convinced.

A load of old tutt…

No mention at all of the English revolution in the preceding century, which set the precedent of overthrowing regnal rule.

The only interesting article mentions the inefficiencies of attempting to govern from Westminster over the pond.

According to this article: Wiki – George III, Geo III may have started with his illness in about 1765, five years into his reign. Whilst ill his ministers would have run amok (and made a concomitant hash of things).

Anyhows, we'll have to wait until January to see what transpires in the Lost Colonies – then we can write about revolutions.

Thanks

Armand

I heard all of the various theories about the AmRev back in the 197s. The Econ , the women's influence, the Anglican versus Presperterians, etc.,