How “Radical” Was the American Revolution? Applying the Five Habits of Historical Thinking to Better Understand the American Revolution

Boston Harbor in the mid-1700s The American Revolution was a struggle between Great Britain and 13 British colonies in North America. It began over new British efforts to regulate colonial trade and get the colonists to pay Britain’s costs in North America. Boston Harbor in the mid-1700s

The British began to tax the colonists in new ways The British began to tax the colonists in new ways. These measures led to protests and boycotts of British goods. This German print shows colonists in Boston protesting the Stamp Act of 1765.

The Stamp Act required colonists to pay for stamps to put on legal documents and many other kinds of printed materials, including newspapers. Some newspapers protested the Stamp Act by creating this emblem in the place where the stamp was supposed to go.

The British took back the Stamp Act, but they kept coming up with new rules and taxes for the colonies. This 1846 painting depicts colonists dressed as Native Americans, dumping tea into Boston Harbor to protest the tea tax.

The crisis kept deepening, until fighting broke out on the green at Lexington, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775. That day, ordinary farmers and artisans of the local militia fought British soldiers who were marching to Concord. The soldiers were on their way to destroy military supplies the colonists had stored there.

George Washington at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate As unruly as the colonial mobs may have seemed, keep in mind that the Revolution was guided by some of the wealthiest colonial planter and merchant elites. George Washington at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate Boston merchant John Hancock

The Declaration of Independence itself was written mainly by wealthy slaveowning planter Thomas Jefferson. “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

What was it like to live through the upheaval we call the “American Revolution”? It’s hard to know. How easy is it to imagine tarring and feathering someone, for instance—or what it was like to be tarred and feathered?

The Revolution is long over. The past itself is gone The Revolution is long over. The past itself is gone. All we have to go on are the records we still have. Illustrations like this are one kind of record, but how accurate can a drawing such as this really be?

As the first of the Five Habits of Historical Thinking puts it :“History is not the past itself.” It is an account of the past based on primary source evidence left behind. Five Habits of Historical Thinking History Is Not the Past Itself The Detective Model: Problem, Evidence, Interpretation Time, Change, and Continuity Cause and Effect As They Saw It: Grasping Past Points of View

The British burn New York City, 1776 The second of the Five Habits describes what we call “The Detective Model.” How would this apply to the American Revolution? The British burn New York City, 1776 The Continental Congress votes on the Declaration of Independence, 1776

“How ‘radical’ was the American Revolution?” Like a detective, a historian sets out to solve a key problem or answer a major question. “How ‘radical’ was the American Revolution?” ? A colonial mob harasses Loyalists

George Washington and family But this question—“How ‘radical’ was the American Revolution?”—only leads to many others. What do you mean by “radical”? Did the economy change “radically”? Did the poor rise up in revolt? How “radical” was the Declaration of Independence? What about slavery? Colonial mob George Washington and family

To answer such questions, historians must look for clues, or evidence To answer such questions, historians must look for clues, or evidence. The problem is that the sources are incomplete, and usually they do not all agree.

For example, some sources suggest that the colonists already enjoyed much of the liberty they fought for in the Revolution. For example, in town meetings such as this one, or in their colonial assemblies or churches

Other sources suggest the Revolution changed everything. “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” Thomas Paine

“This government of what may be called an unlettered majority, has put down even that ideal rank… where the distinction between what is called the Gentlemen, and other still subsists.” Benjamin Latrobe, 1806 Pause: How would you describe the differences between these two sources? Take a few notes and discuss your answers.

The British Empire Overthrown During the American Revolution, many felt the world was changing rapidly and in fundamental ways. The British Empire Overthrown Britain’s King George III

Not only was British rule overthrown—radical ideas about liberty and equality became the basis for a whole new society. The British Empire Overthrown Declaration of Independence Britain’s King George III “All men are created equal.”

George Washington at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate Yet throughout this time, much did not change. Slavery, for example, remained in place in most former colonies. Britain’s King George III George Washington at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate

“All men are created equal.” Yet what is important is to see how change and continuity work together—the third of the Five Habits. “All men are created equal.”

Pause: List a few things that you know stayed the same throughout the American Revolution Now list a few things that you know changed in those decades As a group, discuss your lists

The fourth of the Five Habits is “Cause and Effect The fourth of the Five Habits is “Cause and Effect.” So, for example, what did cause the Revolution? Historians still argue about this. “The heavy taxation was just too much to bear.” “They already were free and meant to stay that way.” “Republican ideals of Enlightenment writers such as John Locke” “They were dissenters— religious and political—even when they first got here.” “The colonists were greedy for land. The British barred the way west.”

Some historians stress economic and social forces Some historians stress economic and social forces. Others stress ideas and politics. They interpret sources differently to make their case. Economic/Social Factors Politics and Ideas “They already were free and meant to stay that way.” “The heavy taxation was just too much to bear.” “They were dissenters— religious and political—even when they first got here.” “The colonists were greedy for land. The British barred the way west.” “Republican ideals of Enlightenment writers such as John Locke”

Another challenge for historians is to see things the way those at the time saw them. The fifth of the Five Habits deals with this challenge. Five Habits of Historical Thinking History Is Not the Past Itself The Detective Model: Problem, Evidence, Interpretation Time, Change, and Continuity Cause and Effect As They Saw It: Grasping Past Points of View

After all, it’s hard enough to empathize with others around us After all, it’s hard enough to empathize with others around us. How much harder is it to see the world the way these people did? “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Thomas Paine “Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.” George Washington “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson “Young man, what we meant in going for those Redcoats was this: We always had been free, and we meant to be free always. They didn’t mean we should.” Revolutionary War veteran Levi Preston

Keep the Five Habits in mind as you do the rest of this lesson on the question of how “radical” the American Revolution was. Tasks ahead: Interpret several primary sources Read and debate two secondary sources Draw your own conclusions about this past episode