Crash Course World History: The American Revolution

Overview

• Focuses on why the American Revolution happened and its revolutionary nature.
• Begins after the 7 Years War in 1763.
• Critiques the lack of direct colonist representation in British parliament.

Causes and Events

• 1763: End of the 7 Years War, British victory but led to debt.
• 1765: Introduction of the Stamp Act - taxes without representation.
• Colonists' dissatisfaction due to British troops' presence post-war.
• Repeal of the Stamp Act: Emboldened colonists.
• Townshend Acts: Further taxes leading to protests and organization.
• 1770: Boston Massacre - only five deaths.
• 1773: Boston Tea Party - protest against British tea policies.

Protest Tactics

• Boycotting: Effective against taxation without representation.
• Committees of Correspondence: Spread information, enforced boycotts, functioned like shadow governments.
• Continental Congress: Coordinated responses and drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Revolutionary Aspects

• Declaration of Independence: Heavy lifting done before fighting began.
• Self-Governance: Colonists developed separate identity from Britain.
• Colonists were already self-governing through shadow governments.

Limitations

• Loyalists: 20% remained loyal to Britain.
• Slavery: Slaves supported Britain due to promised freedom.
• Property Rights: Protected existing owners; Articles of Confederation lacked taxation power.
• Equality: Limited to land-owning white men; women and slaves excluded.

Enlightenment Influence

• Celebrated human reason and improvement.
• Radical thinkers like Kant challenged divine authority.
• More moderate thinkers (Locke, Smith) supported traditional rights.
• American founders aligned more with British thinkers than French radicals.

Outcomes and Legacy

• New Government: No monarchy, formal nobility abolished.
• Gender Equality: Rights for daughters and widows in property inheritance.
• Social Equality: Americans viewed themselves as equal, revolutionary in the 18th century.
• Global Impact: Ideas on property, equality, representation influential in political discourse.
• Challenges: Revolutionary ideals difficult to maintain; power dynamics can corrupt.

Final Thoughts

• Philosophical foundations should be inclusive and humanistic due to human imperfections.
• Revolutionaries can become like those they oppose, echoing Orwell's "Animal Farm."

Production Credits

• Produced by Stan Muller, script by Raoul Meyer & John Green.
• Graphics by Thought Bubble, interned by Meredith Danko.
• Encourages viewer engagement through comments and phrases of the week.