The Real Story of the American Revolution 

Discovering

Acquiring Liberty

Maintaining

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The War before the War | Developing Resources | Revolutions Elsewhere | Defending Our Nation

Latest Changes: 07Jun23 - revise declaration para / 07Jul19 - citizenship test questions / 07Sep13 - EDSITEment article on South America /

It is hard to acquire the independence to establish liberty.
It is hard for a group with less liberty to secure more liberty from the dominant group.
It is hard to protect liberty from external threat.
It is hard to recover liberty once lost.

The Long Road to Independence  The French and Indian War (1754-1763, known in Europe as the Seven Years War) made both England and the American colonies more aware of the growing power and potential of the American colonies and the conflicts that would inevitably arise when a large population is ruled by a distant government in which it has no representative voice. Tensions rose as the "mother country" sought to strengthen its control over the growing resources of a gigantic area much of whose growing population had emmigrated from Europe to avoid such control and which considered the increasing burden of taxes and regulation to be excessive exploitation driving them back toward serfdom. The Origins of Resistance [RSAR history, opens in a new window] The Escalation of Conflict [RSAR history, opens in a new window] The American colonials sought to secure individual and community liberties that had been won during several centuries of struggle in Great Britain (and elsewhere in Europe). As the prospects for success within the British system of governance diminished the colonists sought alliances to secure outside aid, developed communication networks among like-minded people in other states, secured pledges of mutual assistance, and prepared to do battle to secure the independence required to create a government that would provide the liberties they sought. After decades of the escalation of frustration, petition, debate, negotiation, and disciplined demonstrations of force, the resistance, repression, and retaliation grew so violent that the two sides were engaged in widening, full-scale warfare. Finally abandoning the hope that a peaceful resolution of the issued could be achieved, and well aware that violent acts of rebellion and repression were occuring daily in all twelve colonies (and Delaware, which had declared independence from the colony of Pennsylvania) the Second Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, an act of treason for which each signer could be hanged. As it turned out not one of them was hanged, even though several were captured by the British. The captives were worth more alive in exchange for high-ranking British prisoners of the U.S. than dead as examples of the price of treason.. Declaring Independence to Restore Liberties [RSAR history, opens in a new window]

Developing the Resources to Win the War  This is a new section (started 2007 Sept 30) and may take a while to complete. The colonies had no professional army, no armament factories to produce muskets, powder, uniforms, cannon, shot, or ships. The colonies had no vaults or mines for silver or gold to buy weapons abroad or to support commerce internally. The colonies had no experienced ambassadors with connections to the major commercial and military leaders in several countries. Many required resources were donated, loaned, or sold to the U.S. by France. For a summary of that aspect of the Revolution see the RSAR page on French assistance. General Steuben's Continentals two parts (two 5-min video previews) - shows how good military training led to success in battle.     Order the DVD from Lionheart

Struggles to Establish Liberty in Other Nations during 1750-1850   "The strong do what they wish; the weak suffer what they must." This saying was attributed by the Athenian historian Thucydides to the Athenians after they conquered the Melians in about 450 BC. Many rebellions and revolutions that freed a colony from control by another nation or overthrew an oppressive regime resulted in a new government in which the rights of the weak (or minorities) were ignored. Many revolutions in the Americas and Europe were inspired by the success of the American Revolution, but failed to produce widespread participation in governance or governmental structures that protected the personal liberties enumerated in the U.S. Bill of Rights. Wars for liberty and independence outside the U.S. from 1750-1850 In 1823 President James Monroe told Congress that the policy of the United States would be to prevent further European colonization of the American Continent. The Monroe Doctrine was a response to a pledge by Russia, Prussia, and Austria (three absolute monarchies) to "put an end to the system of representative government in whatever country it might exist in Europe". Great Britain supported the Monroe Doctrine, and until the late 1800s it had more naval power to enforce it than did the U.S. All of the new democracies in Central and South America received protection under this doctrine. Lesson Plan 576: The Monroe Doctrine: President Monroe and the Independence Movement in South America [EDSITEment (Grade 9-12)]

Wars to Protect the United States from External Threat during 1775 to 1975   On many occasions the U.S. has fought on its own soil and abroad to prevent the loss of the liberties won during the American Revolution and to protect the structure of governance that protects those liberties. The cost has been high, but the alternatives were unacceptable. Major military conflicts involving the U.S. from 1775 to 1975

HOMEWORK: Suggestions for personal study or group discussion about acquiring liberty. ARE YOU READY TO BECOME A CITIZEN? Those of us who were born in the United States don't have to take a test in order to become a citizen. It is assumed that we will learn a lot about our nation as we go through school, that we will remember much of what we learned, and that throughout life we will update our knowledge from news reports about the current events that are important to our governance. If that is true it should be easy for you pass the test that immigrants seeking citizenship must pass. Try these 100 old questions that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use until 2008 January. Try these 142 new questions that will replace the old questions in 2008 January. When you have finished.... How did you do on each set? Which series do you think best captures what it means to be a U.S. citizen?

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