(35) impact and significance of the American revolution

• American revolution: consequences for America

  • set up their own system of government with a constitution, congress, and a president - this system still exists today
  • poor people didn't get the vote despite the Declaration of Independence stating that 'all men are created equal'
  • slavery still existed and Native Americans were still discriminated against
  • by the early twentieth century, America had developed into the most powerful country in the world
• American revolution: consequences for Britain

  • relations with France declined after the war because of the French support for America
  • Britain used Australia and New Zealand as new penal countries
  • India became the most important colony
  • Britain had to deal with its growing working -class population who might like the idea of overthrowing authority [ Peterloo Massacre]
• American revolution: consequences for the world

  • the American revolution inspired the French revolution and King Louis XVI was executed
  • The French revolution inspired the working class in Britain and other countries to demand voting rights and better representation
• American revolution: summary

  • North America was part of the British Empire
  • The British imposed taxes on the colonists as a way to make money
  • The colonists were angry that they had no representation in the British government
  • British control in America was resisted and the American revolution began
  • Britain lost control of America after the battle of Yorktown
  • America became an independent country with its own constitution