The Bourgeois Revolutions and the American Independence War

Summary

This document explains the bourgeois revolutions of the late eighteenth century, which ended the Old Regime after Enlightenment reforms failed to solve its problems. It outlines the political aims of the revolutionaries, including liberal government based on natural rights and a society without privileges. It then examines the causes and course of the American Revolution and War of Independence, from colonial discontent to the Boston Tea Party.

Key points

Bourgeois revolutions marked the transition from the Old Regime to the modern world and took place in political, economic, social, scientific and artistic spheres.
They are called bourgeois because the bourgeoisie was the main beneficiary, although other social groups took part.
Political revolutionaries aimed to establish a liberal system based on liberty, property and equality before the law, with national sovereignty and separation of powers under a constitution.
They also aimed at an open society without estates or privileges, where social promotion depended on merit and work, measured by wealth.
The thirteen British colonies in North America faced a political revolution and a war of independence against Great Britain.
Causes included lack of parliamentary representation, trade dependence on Britain, and British restrictions on settlement west of the colonies.
The Boston Tea Party of 1773 protested a new tax on tea, and harsh British repression led to the War of Independence.

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The Age of Revolutions: The Bourgeois Revolutions

The reforms made in the eighteenth century under the influence of the Enlightenment did not solve the problems of the Old Regime. Consequently, the end of this system was brought about by revolution, understood as a rapid and profound change relative to the previous situation. Thus, in the late eighteenth century, revolutions took place in the political, economic, social, scientific, and artistic spheres. These are collectively known as bourgeois revolutions, and they marked the transition from the Modern World to the world of the Old Regime. The name is used not because they were staged solely by the bourgeoisie—as other social groups participated—but because the bourgeoisie was the primary beneficiary.

Political Revolutions and Their Objectives

A political revolution is a violent action aimed at seizing power to establish a new political system. At the end of the 18th century, the political aims of the revolutionaries were twofold:

Create a liberal political system based on respect for natural human rights: liberty, property, and equality before the law. To ensure this, national sovereignty and the division of legislative, executive, and judicial powers are necessary, guaranteed by a constitution that regulates the government.
Create an open society without privileges or estates, where social promotion is based on merit and work, measured by wealth.

The Revolution and Independence of the United States

The thirteen British colonies on the east coast of North America underwent a dual process in the late eighteenth century: a political revolution and a war of independence against Great Britain.

The Causes of the Revolution

The causes of this double process included the discontent of the settlers for several reasons:

Political: They had no representatives in the British Parliament.
Economic: Trade dependence on Great Britain.
Territorial: The occupation of vast territories west of the colonies was restricted by the British.

In these circumstances, the spread of Enlightenment ideas led the settlers to consider the British government overbearing. The spark that ignited the revolution was the British monarchy's attempt to introduce new taxes. The settlers refused to accept them, claiming they had not been voted on by them due to their lack of representation in Parliament. Thus, in 1773, in protest against a new tax on tea exports, the Boston Tea Party was organized, in which a group of colonists disguised as "Redskins" threw the tea cargo of three British ships into the sea. The harsh repression by British authorities subsequently launched the War of Independence.

FAQ

What were the main causes of the American Revolution?

The settlers had no representatives in the British Parliament, depended economically on trade with Great Britain, and were restricted from occupying territories west of the colonies. The spread of Enlightenment ideas also led them to see the British government as overbearing.

What was the Boston Tea Party?

In 1773, colonists protesting a new tax on tea disguised as "Redskins" threw the tea cargo of three British ships into the sea. It was a protest against taxation without representation.

What were the political aims of the bourgeois revolutionaries?

They aimed to create a liberal political system based on natural rights such as liberty, property and equality before the law, guaranteed by a constitution. They also sought an open society without privileges or estates, where social promotion was based on merit and work.