Connecting With The Future: The American Revolution

Yes, even the American Revolution has ties with the future. The near future, especially. The American Revolution had an amazing impact on the French. It, therefore, influenced and gave confidence to the French Revolution. Many of the injustices imposed on the colonists by the British were happening to the French peasants. They didn’t have any congressional or governmental representation, and yet they were taxed a lot of money. This, as you recall, is quite similar to the "No taxation without representation" slogan used in the American Revoltuion.

The Reign of Terror was inspired by the American Revolution

Another connection that can be drawn from the American Revolution is that the "underdogs" won. That is the colonists, or "underdogs" beat the British against odds that did not favor them. This still continues to inspire and bring hope to sports teams, or warring nations when they are the "underdogs". After all, if the colonists’ militia, fighting with pitchforks and obsolete rifles, could beat the British, who, at the time, had the best navy in the world, why shouldn’t the "underdogs" today be able to win, too?

Whenever countries now are fighting for independence from various different countries, they often look back at the American Revolution. The colonists such as John Adams, Sam Adams, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and, of course, our very own George Washington, took systematic, rational, logical steps towards independence. First, Thomas Paine published a book entitled, "Common Sense" which stated, clearly, that the British were doing them wrong, and that they had the right to stand up for their beliefs and their natural rights. This brought to the attention of colonists all over the colonies the injustices of the British. It also helped form an alliance between the colonies. A country struggling for independence today would probably follow Thomas Paine’s example and publish a book that stated the wrongs of the ruling country.

Also, George Washington took a crucial step towards freedom by forming and maintaining militias for every colony, as well as a formal army, the Continental Army, which he himself was in charge of. This is an important thing to do, as the colonists would have to defend themselves against the British. A country fighting for liberty today would probably also find it expedient to build up an army and/or a navy.

As you can see, the American Revolution had various different connections with the future, scattered throughout the 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th centuries.