How was the American Revolution...?

Question

How was the American Revolution, as John Adams put it, a "revolution of the mind"?

Answer 1

Adams is his own best interpreter. Take a look at the letter in which Adams wrote this, and observe his overall argument.

Here is the most cited paragraph.

"But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; A CHANGE IN THEIR RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS OF THEIR DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS. While the king, and all in authority under him, were believed to govern in justice and mercy, according to the laws and constitution derived to them from the God of nature and transmitted to them by their ancestors, they thought themselves bound to pray for the king and queen and all the royal family, and all in authority under them, as ministers ordained of God for their good; BUT WHEN THEY SAW THOSE POWERS RENOUNCING ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF AUTHORITY, AND BENT UPON THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL THE SECURITIES OF THEIR LIVES, LIBERTIES, AND PROPERTIES, they thought it their duty to pray for the continental congress and all the thirteen State congresses, &c." -- John Adams, Letter to H. Niles, 13 February 1818

http://tmh.floonet.net/articles/adams.html

Note the sections in CAPS -- here Adams points to the change in the colonists' attitude as a result of their EXPERIENCE of the king, etc., turning away from justice and mercy to undercut the 'lives, liberties and properties' of the colonists. They saw all this and began to THINK and FEEL differently about the government they were under. . . years before the war was fought.

Adams carries his argument further in the next two paragraphs:

". . . when protection was withdrawn, they thought allegiance was dissolved"

". .. The people of America had been educated in an habitual affection for England, as their mother country; and while they thought her a kind and tender parent, (erroneously enough, however, for she never was such a mother,) no affection could be more sincere. But when they found her a cruel beldam, willing like Lady Macbeth, to "dash their brains out," it is no wonder if their filial affections ceased, and were changed into indignation and horror."

He then summarizes the point of these three paragraphs:

"This radical CHANGE in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and AFFECTIONS of the people, was the real American Revolution."

Answer 2

It often feels like it. Our two political parties have very different ideas as to what these United States should be and I don't believe we can be both. It is amusing to me that our differences are all around issues which have been faced by other Countries already. In Europe, as I understand it, there is movement away from social spending because the Governments have recognized the funding imbalance it creates. In China(the 'Communists') they have very little social spending because they can't afford it. I find it interesting that very few people have done the actual math, if you add up the budgets for Government Health Care Spending(or many other areas of spending) you find we already spend more per capita than many Countries with Universal Coverage. Go Figure! Some people feel the 'Bill of Rights' was a pick & choose buffet. Each enumerated Right will spark pages of debate. I love my land as much as any Patriot, but it is for the Constitution I have Passion, and I have sworn to support & defend it against all enemies, foreign & domestic. In the end though, the only geographical divide that kind of exists is between the Urban & Rural, and that is not solid. Any civil unrest could not really coalesce into battle lines, so I think we would just have to work it out. We might go into a 'rough patch' sometime soon and perhaps it will be called a Revolution, but not all out war, I pray not!

Answer 3

It was ideas that first grew out the need to survive. These ideas could take root because American Colonists valued education. Because they had a very high rate of Literacy, newspapers and pamphlets were widespread and contributed to the idea that freedom was important. It was also a result of the values that the Colonists placed on having a government that looked out for the public good. Because the revolution began and ended with ideas rather than JUST fighting and battles, it was the most successful Revolution ever attempted.

Read more about this Revolutionary Mindset at

http://colonial-america.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_revolutionary_mindset

Answer 4

Adams was a bit of a romantic. He thought it was much more important then it really was. History tells us the French Revolution was more highly regarded. In France they overthrew a sitting monarch. Not your usual news of the day. In America it was simply a taxpayers revolution. Adams and Paine thought too much of themselves.

Answer 5

the concept of freedom of the individual vs a monarchy

Answer 6

Well me and george washington were good pals. How would I know I did not live back then.