R; Wood American Revolution

“The War for Independence Was a Social Revolution”, by Gordon Wood presents many thought invoking ideas on the American Revolution. However, he doesn’t present his point as well as he could have. Instead of expanding on important points that he makes, he quickly moves on to “cover his bases”. My goal in this reader’s journal is to justify some of Mr. Wood’s untouched points, not to relist his arguments.

Wood briefly and indirectly points out that social change in the American Revolution is overshadowed by political change. This is a superb idea to keep in mind while evaluating the revolution. For example, the French revolution is considered to be very revolutionary in the social aspect. It seems to completely overshadow the American Revolution in this light, but that is partially because most people only focus on the political aspects of the American Revolution. Since France’s revolution was quickly followed by Napoleon Bonaparte, their transition form monarchy to dictatorship wasn’t nearly as pivotal as America’s political change. Because of the lack of political change in the French Revolution, its social aspects are more closely highlighted when compared to America.

Another idea that I formed from reading Wood’s article is that a revolution shouldn’t be compared with political and social change as completely separate ideas. Many of the political changes in the American Revolution directly contribute to social change, but they aren’t seen as such. For example, America was made “…into the most liberal, democratic, and modern nation in the world” (Wood; pg. 256). By breaking colonial bonds with Great Britain, opportunity arose for class mobility in America. Economic opportunity gave Americans the ability to progress socially; a social change rooted in a political one. Another change that can be considered both political and social is the right to vote for many citizens, with more to follow. These reaches of self-government were as radical and progressive as any revolutionary change in history.

Although problems involving slavery and women’s roles were not solved, the revolution helped to set these ideas in motion. These ideas were put into question by many revolutionary leaders, but they possessed the wisdom to simply put their ideas into motion. They recognized that every change couldn’t be made in the 18th century, so they made opportunity available for the next few generations of Americans. By realizing their limits, the leaders of the American Revolution made change possible without forcing it on a country that wasn’t ready. Perhaps the pacing of these changes helped to make the American Revolution one of the most effective and lasting revolutions in history.

Wood, Gordon S. “The War for Independence Was a Social Revolution.” Accessed 1 October 2009