In Topics #3 and #4, we looked at the origins and events of the American Revolution, the event that precipitated the true beginning of the United States.
Here are the questions you can address:
As one of the key historical questions in studying U.S. History, what do you believe are the origins of the American Revolution? Often times we think political revolutions occur because of dissatisfaction with the current government, economic or social inequalities, or the government’s brutal or repressive measures. Do you believe any of these explanations apply to the American Revolution? Or rather is this a Revolution born out of anger toward taxation? The British government limiting acknowledged or implicit political rights? Fears of living under an imperial system? An emerging separate identity as an American rather than a British subject? Or just a natural feeling of physical separation across the Atlantic Ocean between Britain and the colonies? You may chose and support any of these possibilities or you defend a position of your own. Be sure to write your view clearly because other students can reply to agree or challenge your position.
As one of several enduring and often repeated lines within the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal.” Yet many debate the intended meaning or shortcomings of that phrase. Critics point out that when written in 1776 the phrase rings hollow because slavery existed, accentuated more because Jefferson himself was a slaveowner. Therefore, critics cite this phrase as actually hypocritical. Yet, others interpret the phrase as an abstract ideal, that maybe not everything was socially and politically equal in 1776, but every generation would strive to assess what is unequal in American society, and guided by this phrase, strive to rectify the inequality. In other words, because of this phrase, issues of equality has always been at the center of our political discourse and pursuits. Write a post on what you believe was the intent and purpose of the equality phrase from the Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, how should we interpret and apply the phrase, written back in 1776, today in our present time?
Provide your own explanation why the American patriots defeated the British imperial army. The online lectures covered reasons based on George Washington’s military strategy, both sides’ military advantages and disadvantages, and unfortunate circumstances for the British. By reinforcing these explanations from the online lectures or coming up with your own views, offer a well-thought out argument why you believe the Americans, pulling off one of the most unlikely victories in modern times, military defeated the British in the American Revolution.
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