Effects of the Revolution

The 8 year long American Revolution is a key event in history because of the long time effects it had on our world, even today. This post is specially dedicated to exposing this effects.

One of the effects was of course the complete independence of the British colonies from the British Empire/Crown. The colonists achieved their long time dream (I use the word long a lot okay) of constructing their own government and government rules. After the revolution, there was no King who would levy taxes on them or appoint governors for them. These freedom of government completed the formation of what today is one of the most influential countries in the whole wide world: United States of America.

Another effect was that since the American Revolution was the first independence movement of colonies towards the Empire owing them, it inspired other colonies to seek and fight for independence. It kind of made them think they could also have the freedom they felt the need to have, but just didnt know how to explain or express. Latin American independences are inspired in the American Revolution. In fact, the American Revolution also inspired other countries to revolt against their own authorities. The biggest and most famous of these revolutions was the French Revolution, which happened about 8 years after the American Revolution in 1789. If you think about it, it seems incredible that the colonies won when the British had the greatest Empire of that time.

A bit of French Revolution humor
 

The last effect I´ll mention, is more an intellectual effect of the Revolution. You must have heard the famous phrase, "all men are created equal" from the Declaration of Independence. These single fragment that the Patriots intensly marked was taken from other groups such as slaves and women (check out our post on Revolution effects on slaves, women, and loyalists. By the way) to fight for their rights and position in society. Of course the men who were involved in the writing and signing of the Declaration only referred to men-white men. This didnt keep other from interpreting and extending the meaning of the phrase. Nowadays, in most Constitutions in the continent of America all citizens are considered equal and granted equal rights. This includes women and slaves that so fiercly fought to gain this rights after the outburst of the Revolution.

To wrap it all up, the American Revolution wasn't just a war that colonists fought to gain freedom and they won and that's all. It had all the ever-lasting effects that we explained in this post.

The Treaty of Paris

Historically there was more than oneTreaty of Paris. One of them was in 1783. Other was in 1878. We are talking about these two because they were both relevant part of the American Revolution effects.

The first Treaty of Paris the one in 1783, was what sealed the peace between the British and the colonists. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris the Revolutionary War was officially over. Bejamin Franklin and John Adams were two of the main American negotiators. He was a really good negotiator and obtained vast land for the colonists. The other nations involved in the war, like the French had separate agreements. On the Treaty of Paris, the colonists agreed not to attack loyalists who still lived in America. They also agreed to pay any existing debt to Great Britain. The British agreed to remove all its troops from the colonist's territory.

The second treaty of Paris we are talking about was an agreement made in 1898 Guat. Resulted in end of the Spain control of Cuba and Puerto Rico and part of the Western Indies. The treaty was signed on December 10,1898 and ended by the Spanish-American war. It Came into Effect in April 11,1899.The treaty signaled the end of the Spanish empíre in America and the Pacific Ocean and marked the beginning of an age of the United States colonial power. United States was far more advanced in terms of independence and self government by the time. Remember that it had been more than a century after the signing of Treaty of Paris of 1783.

The controversial treaty was approved on February 6, 1899 by a vote 57 to 27, only one vote more than the two-thirds majority required Only two Republicans voted against ratification.
The treaty of Paris also provided Cuba as an independent country from Spain. The U.S congress madre sur Cuba would still be under it's control. The treaty also assured that that Spain would cede to the United States the States of Puerto Rico. 

How did the Revolution affect the natives americans, slaves, women?

The American Revolution had ever-lasting effects in the world, but it affected some groups in a different way than it affected other groups. In the following paragraphs, we wrote the effects the revolution had on women, slaves, and native americans.

Women:
It affected the women because even after their loyal service to the Patriots during the Revolutionary war, they didn't gain any legal and political rights. The revolution inspired women to be free and independent. The ideals of the revolution inspired women for equality, freedom and independence that would contribute in the future. The American Revolution affected the status of women. Also it inspired women for equality. It affected the position of white women. Revolution took vivid changes in the aspects of women. It gave a new light to the women who had been looked down and to fight the cause.

Slaves:
Although the slave trade itself was banned and in the northern states, slavery wasnt abolished, it did not completely remove slavery and make them considered as a "real person". Just like in women, the Revolution inspired slaves for equality, freedom and independence that would help them in the future. It affected them because they thought that they were going to have a new path but really they continued with slavery. Slavery continued after the war despite the efforts of African-American soldiers. It affected them because they did more critics on slavery.

Native Americans:
The American Revolution didn't affect directly the native americans. It affected them because when the colonists won, it was official they had lost vast territories and would have to share land extensions with colonists. The Procclamation of 1763 wasnt so forceful after the war, because the colonists were independent from the King and he couldnt give them orders anymore. The Procclamation of 1763 kept colonists east of the Appalachian Mts, just so you remember. France owed a large piece of land that was west of the Appalachian, and the colonists eventually bought it. Further on, they also took hold of the area around California and Florida. So as you see, the Natives were being taken away from lands and this led them to live in reservations. Nowadays, natives can live anywhere they want but many choose to live in reservations.

Revolutionary War Ends: Cornwallis surrenders

Up to this date, we have talked about a long chain of events that led to the revolutionary war. In this entry, we are talking about the last of this events that led to the revolutionary war to end.

Cornwallis was a British general who had previously driven George Washington's forces out of New Jersey in 1776, and led the British in victory over General Horatio Gates at South Carolina in 1780. By 1781, he raided plantations and towns in Virgnia and settled in Yorktown. The British began fortifying the town. Washington found out and instructed French general Marquis se Lafayette, who was in Virginia with an army of about 5,000 men to keep Cornwallis from escaping Yorktown by land. Meanwhile, Washington was in New York with 2,500 troops. He saw a chance and began plotting a plan to attack Cornwallis. He designed this plan with Rochambeau, a French allie that provided him with 4,000 French troops.

The plan Washington and Rochambeau had was to attack Cornwallis, and defeat him. They were expecting a French fleet under the Count de Grasse, which was coming directly from France. Washington was really risky in making this decision. There were no electronic devices at the time that he could use to communicate with Count de Grasse to be 100% sure he would arrive in time. This fleet was a key component of the attack, because they were supposed to prevent Cornwallis from escaping to New York by sea and from receiving British aid by sea. Luckily for Washington, the French fleet arrived on time providing with 7,000 more troops and blocking British fleet under Thomas Graves which was a reinforcement Cornwallis really needed.

Intense fighting occurred during the first 2 weeks of October. There were 14,000 troops of French and Patriots, which gradually overcame the British troops. On October 19, it was all set. Cornwallis surrendered 7,087 officers and men, 900 seamen, 144 cannons, 15 galleys, abd 30 transport ships. He knew that if they kept on fighting, he would lose anyway and have greater losses. He didn't attend the surrender ceremony because he was ill, but sent his sword to the American and French commanders, through General Charles O'Hara as a sign. With the surrendering of Cornwallis in the Battle of Yorktown, fighting in th colonies ended.

After Cornwallis surrendered though, a formal peace negotiation wasn't official. This happened months later in 1782 and on 1783 it became completely official with the "Treaty of Paris". This document formally recognized the colonies as: United States, a free and independent nation.