The American Revolution was real, but most of its purported reasons are lies, exactly as John Adams pointed out more than 200 years ago!
1. What are the big lies about the American Revolution?
Three examples:
- No taxation without representation.
- Against the tyranny of a king.
- Liberty and justice for all in the name of “all men are created equal”. This is the mother of all American lies, not only about the American Revolution, but also about America, as highlighted by the image below.
2. What was the real reason behind the American Revolution?
The American Revolution was chiefly instigated by a bunch of rich people (e.g., Samuel Adams and John Hancock), who simply did not want to pay [more] taxes. They conspicuously hid this real reason behind an eloquent slogan of no taxation without representation.
Here is a famous article: What we get wrong about taxes and the American Revolution. Below is an excerpt.
“No taxation without representation” — the rallying cry of the American Revolution — gives the impression that taxation was the principal irritant between Britain and its American colonies. But, in fact, taxes in the colonies were much lower than taxes in Britain. The central grievance of the colonists was their lack of a voice in the government that ruled them.
The article then raises the following question and argues about it.
If a little representation in Parliament could have prevented a war for independence, why did King George III not grant it?
Debatable?
Instead of arguing about what the colonists really wanted before and during the revolution, like many historians have been doing over the past 200 years, let’s see what they actually got after the revolution, and reason backward from there, shall we?
With that, I argue that the [rich] colonists wanted not only to keep more to themselves (instead of paying [more] taxes), but also the possibility of hugely expanding British colonialism in North America, without Britain!
3. What led to the American Revolution, actually?
Three important events in sequence as follows:
Let me elaborate on each …
3.1 Royal Proclamation of 1763
Read Wikipedia – Royal Proclamation of 1763. Below is a summary:
- Closed off to the colonists everything west of the Appalachian Mountains, reserving that land for the natives.
- Further taxation followed in order to alleviate the financial burdens of the crown.
Bottom line: The proclamation protected the indigenous people from further British colonialization beyond the 13 colonies.
Critical reasoning: This was the first piece of legislation of many that infuriated the colonists. But it is not even listed as an event in this well-known article: 7 Events That Enraged Colonists and Led to the American Revolution.
Why is that?
It does not fit the desirable narrative, maybe?
3.2 Boston Massacre of 1770
Read Wikipedia – Boston Massacre.
Bottom line: It was not a massacre by any reasonable definition. The rich colonists (e.g., Paul Revere and Samuel Adams), via the media under their control, exaggerated it into a massacre. In other words, history was “edited” in this case!
3.3 Boston Tea Party of 1773
Read Wikipedia – Boston Tea Party.
Bottom line: In today’s terms, it was a dispute between billionaires and millionaires, with the governments, “Federal” and “local”, taking opposite sides. In other words, this is just yet another example of “edited” history!
4. What happened throughout the American Revolution?
Two big events:
- The publication of the United States Declaration of Independence.
- The American Revolutionary War.
Let me elaborate on each …
4.1 Declaration of Independence
Two informative readings:
4.2 American Revolutionary War
Read Wikipedia – American Revolutionary War.
The American revolutionaries (aka “Patriots” in America, but “ungrateful colonists” in Britain) won the war easily, especially in terms of casualties – See image below.
Why so easily?
Because it was very much a war of attrition, with one side clearly having huge advantages over the other.
In other words, the British might have been able to successfully fight the war for two to three years. But after it stretched into eight years, they basically gave up.
Very importantly, because it was viewed as a “civil war” in Britain, the British did not go all-out, which was a main reason behind the low American casualties, as well as Britain’s ultimate defeat.
In summary, given the risk and reward, the war proved to be worthwhile for the leaders of the American Revolution – No guts, no glory!
What about the American soldiers in the war?
They were no different from those in any other war throughout history, as highlighted by the image below.
The American Revolutionary War was concluded with Britain’s recognition of America in 1783 (Treaty of Paris), thus ending the American Revolution.
Bottom line: The colonists took a modest risk throughout the American Revolution for huge potential gains.
5. What happened after the American Revolution?
Three significant outcomes:
- America became a republic, by accident.
- A republic by/of/for the rich was formed.
- America continued British colonialism, without Britain.
Let me elaborate on each …
5.1 America became a republic, by accident
It turned out that the colonists did not really dislike the “tyranny of a king” – They just did not like the British King (i.e., George III). After the war was over, they simply asked George Washington to be their new king. But Washington refused, thus making it possible for America to become a republic.
5.2 A republic by/of/for the rich was formed
A republic is socialistic by definition, as everything is supposed to be for the “public”. For more, read American Political Taxonomy Simplified.
Unfortunately for America, the rich (e.g., property-owners) wanted a government that is by/of/for the rich, with money behind everything, especially in politics – Yes, bribery in politics (e.g., “campaign contributions”) was legal in America!
More specifically, the rich wanted a limited government that would not only leave them alone to become richer (e.g., without paying [more] taxes), but also support them with not only socialism (e.g., American slavery is socialism supporting capitalism with free labor), but also colonialism (e.g., territorial expansions). They got it – See image below.
For more, read Critically Assessing Thomas Jefferson.
5.3 America continued British colonialism, without Britain
The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.
With more European migrants enjoying the “land of the free, home of the new”, the indigenous people became much worse off after the American Revolution, because Americans turned out to be much more brutal than the British, even committing genocides against them (e.g., Trail of Tears).
Slavery also became much worse. For example, slave trade was exacerbated after 1783, because of the huge desire for more “free labor”, thanks to the surge in cotton (vs. tobacco) production. It was for this reason, chiefly, that many slaves actually fought for the British throughout the War of 1812, because the British promised to free them, if they won the war (but they did not).
6. Discussion
Time is the best judge of everything, including the American Revolution. Let’s briefly compare it with the French Revolution and the Chinese Communist Revolution, respectively.
6.1 American Revolution vs. French Revolution
- The French Revolution was for the people (mostly poor). It was the beginning of the end of absolute monarchies in Europe, replacing them with republics or constitutional monarchies. So, it was definitely a positive development in humanity. For more, read What is the French Revolution, anyway?
- The American Revolution was for the rich. After becoming a republic by accident, America brutally continued British colonization, without Britain. Overall, however, was it even a positive development in humanity like the French Revolution was? I am not sure – Look at the two images below …
Bottom line: America may destroy us all as a species by provoking World War III. For more, read Colonial America 1776-2030?
6.2 American Revolution vs. Chinese Communist Revolution
- The American Revolution was for the rich, and America remains so today, with money behind everything, especially in politics.
- The Chinese Communist Revolution was for the poor. However, China has, over the past four decades, transformed itself to a form that is truly for the people (i.e., rich and poor), although it’s not necessarily by/of the people by the American definition (of voting).
For more, read American Revolution vs. Chinese Communist Revolution.
7. More discussion
Read the two images below and think …
For more, read Colonial America 1776-2030?
8. Closing
The American Revolution was real, but most of its purported reasons are lies!
The American Revolution was a bourgeois revolution, resulting in a republic by/of/for the super-rich (aka “the top 1% in today’s terms). Despite the consideration changes over the past 200 years, the republic remains by/of/for the super-rich!
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline), or face a bloody revolution (A quarter of Americans open to taking up arms against government, poll says)!
