Was the American Revolution Conservative - 1246 Words

Was the American Revolution Conservative? (Order A2098864) During the 1950s the mainstream historical thinking concentrated on the idea that the American Revolution was a conservative movement which did not cause great political or social upheavals. Many looked at the later French Revolution as an example of a more radicalized and revolutionary movement and determined that the American Revolution was tame by comparison. And while it is true that many of the legal and political arguments made by the Americans were based in English legal tradition, much of the spirit of the Revolution came from the ideals of the Enlightenment. It is because of this combination of origins that the American Revolution did not become as violent or chaotic as the one in France. However, it is also because of this combination that the American Revolution started out as a conservative movement to reclaim traditional rights American colonists felt were being usurped, but eventually evolved into a radical social transformation. During the mid 20th century most historians agreed with Daniel Boorstin when he stated that the most obvious peculiarity of our American Revolution is that, in the modern European sense of the word, it was hardly a revolution at all ¦On the contrary, ours was one of the few conservative colonial rebellions of modern times. (Spillman, 2010) What Boorstin was referring to was the fact that there was not a great amount of overt political or social change as a result of theShow MoreRelatedA Conservative Revolution1523 Words   |  7 PagesA Conservative Revolution Whether the American Revolution should be viewed as a conservative or radical movement is a hotly debated topic among historians, and each side provides a convincing case. Historians who view the movement as radical praise the colonists’ effort to send the British crown’s rule and effective implementation of a democratic government to the extent the world had never seen before. On the other hand, historians who view the American Revolution as a conservative movement noteRead MoreThe Death Of A Shoemaker And The Tea Party By Alfred F. Young Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pages The American Revolution, today, is seen as a memorable event in history. It was a war against Britain for the independence of the thirteen colonies that began in 1775. Before the American Revolution began, there was a lot of conflict between the colonists and British authorities. The British raised revenue by establishing Acts such as the Stamp Act of 1766. The colonists were against it and tried revol ting against Britain, leading to the Boston Massacre in 1770 of British soldiers shoot colonistsRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Reagan Revolution1592 Words   |  7 PagesThe phenomenon dubbed the â€Å"Reagan Revolution,† can have its roots traced back decades, as early as the 1950s. It is important to start in this era, as it sets the stage for the 60s, which ultimately leads into the 70s and 80s, as history tends to portray a cause and effect relationship. Each of these generations contribute to this revolution of conservatism becoming the most popular view in the nation because of their cultural and social elements, with the 60s being the most important period. HoweverRead MoreFamily Values And The American Dream1441 Words   |  6 PagesFamily values have become a central idea in the concept of the American Dream. For several decades, family values have received emphasis in the American politics. Particularly, the last three decades of the twentieth century were of critical importance in the development of the various movements that promoted family values. The rise of evangelical leaders and conservative politicians served to bring family values to the consciousness of the nation. The Christian right leaders came together to supportRead MoreEconomic, Social, and Political Causes of the Mexican Revolution1734 Words   |  7 PagesThe Mexican Revolution 1840-1910 The Mexican Revolution is one of the most significant historical events in Mexican history. Without the revolution Mexico would not be the democratic country that it is today. â€Å"The Mexican Revolution is often seen as a standard bearer through which other subsequent Latin American revolutions are interpreted.†(Darity) There were several significant events spanning several years that led up to the unrest of the Mexican people resulting in a revolution. For exampleRead MoreThe American Revolution877 Words   |  4 Pagespeople believe the American Revolution is strictly liberal, in truth it is conservative evidenced by the new British policies, colonial reactions and the examinations of what it means to be conservative vs. liberal. The American Revolution was triggered, by many laws that were passed between 1763 and 1775 that controlled trade and taxes. This legislation caused pressure between colonists and imperial officers, who had made it clear that the British Parliament would not address American complaints relatingRead MoreThe Rebirth Of American Conservatism1123 Words   |  5 PagesRebirth of American Conservatism From the Late 1950’s through the 1960’s a movement started to reclaim the idea of freedom. Until the 1960’s, American Politics was dominated by liberalism. Many presidents defined themselves as being liberal, and the presidents who didn’t during their presidency may be called centrist or left leaning in today’s political climate. The idea to reclaim the idea of freedom gave birth to the Conservative movement. Conservatism was not extinct prior to the 1964 presidentialRead MoreThe American Revolution as a conservative movement.807 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Revolution , while it may have been the first war that was started to actually put into practice some ideas that previously had only been talked about, did not have any ideas that were new. Nothing really changed as far as the average man was concerned, after the revolution. Slaves were still enslaved, Indians were still considered savages, women were not given equal rights and the governments were still basically the same, except now there were no royal govenors. Most of the mainRead MoreThe Man Of The Modern Conservatism889 Words   |  4 Pagescriticism, or contempt of the French Revolution; assuming so, it is not hard to doubt that he in fact sympathized with the American cause. If he is the true father of the conservatism, then the reader may be surprised to hear that he sided with the colonists; however, his decision makes a sense if we acknowledge that Burke regarded the American Revolution as a revolution that is not too far apart from that of the Glorious Revolution, unlike the French Revolution. Paine would argue otherwise by usingRead MoreThe Causes Of The Mexican Revolution1292 Words   |  6 Pagesof the Mexican Revolution â€Å"Democracy is the destiny of mankind; freedom its indestructible arm† –Benito Juarez Mexico was building up to its revolution long before activists like Francisco Madero and Emiliano Zapata. From 1840 to 1910; Mexico went from a war-torn and newly freed nation to a nation on the brink of civil war. How did it get there? Through a series of wars, leaders, and policies, which proved causation politically, socially, and economically to the Mexican Revolution. The loss of material