Revolution - Is the American Revolution ongoing [as is the French] or have Americans given up the struggle.?

Question

To see a photograph of a real revolutionary, visit seacostnh.com and find Captain George Fishley. He joined the Continental Army in c1775 and fought near Valley Forge with no shoes or socks.

Answer 1

The so-called "American Revolution" is actually misnamed. Unlike the French, the Americans never had a revolution. The "Revolutionary War" was actually a "War of Independence" and doesn't fit the criteria for genuine revolution. The War was actually a Coup d'Etat, because the leaders of American society were the same before and after the war, the basic social values, structures and institutions were unchanged, and the the ruling classes were identical.

America isn't a revolutionary society. If anything, America has always been a "Laboratory Society." The dominant idea throughout American history (even from its colonial days) has been that America is a place where one can start over fresh, and get it right this time. America's mentality has always been one of experiment, renewal, and rebirth. They have always prided themselves on being a nation where unrealized possibilities can be made to happen; and this age-old aspect of American social consciousness has never changed.

Americans, unlike other nations, possess a relentless drive to re-invent themselves. This partially explains why many other nationalities see Americans as essentially neurotic and self-absorbed. It isn't self-absorbtion; It's actually an acute self-consciousness that flows from the desire to be better than what one is, and an uncertainty as to how to achieve it.

This passion for growth and experimentation has led to every American virtue, and unfortunately, every American vice as well. Because of this desire to transform, Americans are now embroiled in Iraq trying to bring democracy to a land that has never had it. And Americans do this because of their deathless optimism that anything is possible.

Has the nature of what it means to be an American changed since 1775? Of course; that's what one would expect. Does this mean anything bad? Not necessarily. Please understand that the way of science is experimentation, and most experiments are not successful. The measure of progress isn't whether the experiment succeeds or fails, but whether one learns from the failures and builds on the successes. For over two hundred years Americans have shown a remarkable resiliency and determination to do both, and I see no evidence that this mind-set has changed.

Answer 2

The sad facts are that only a minority of colonials wanted Independence from England because most didn't want trouble. Our country is like this today with only a handful of people who can lead this country and want to put it in the right direction. Most Americans are content and want to keep the status quo. Americans, just as in colonial times, have been able to adapt given the situation. We can re invent ourselves while other cannot because of their style of government. Who would have thought the DOW would be over 11,000 with $70+ per barrel of oil? We could sustain our economy because we can adapt, just as the colonials did,

Answer 3

I wouldn't want to do anything except maybe make wine the way the French do it. (Okay, maybe some of their cooking, too.)

But I would like to think the American Revolution goes on and has matured over the years. The problem is that too many Americans are not Revoutionaries. I don't think that many French are either, as far as that goes.

Answer 4

No sign of any revolution, neither in the past, nor in the future.

If you talk about idealistic patriotism, there is way too much of that about, and not enough thinking about what values the gouvernment makes them Really fight for.

The French do have a successful revolution in their past, and are generally much less inclined to follow their gouvernment everywhere than the US Americans are.

Answer 5

American revolution?

Bloody insurgents!!!!!!!

Stealing the King's private property by force of arms and demanding that the country is run by the people. I don't know, sounds like a bunch of communists to me.....

Answer 6

Too many Americans consider "the revolution" to be over and themselves to have won the war.... nothing has been won. We are quickly approaching alienation, oppression and financial catastrophe.

Answer 7

This is such a confusing question. If you knew your American history you would not be asking such a question. And I disagree with the first answer.

Answer 8

The US won the war against England who was the enemy at the time.

Answer 9

i think americans have given it up

Answer 10

I'm with Jack...