by Jaye Green

Created on: May 13, 2009

The American Revolution was the first Civil War. More 'Americans' , that is those born or who resided in what would be the United States fought against the 'Revolutionaries' than those who resided in England. Where those who depended on Britain to buy their crops did not wish to be severed from the mother country, those who manufactured goods wanted autonomy.

Virtually the same economics which would result in the War Between The States provoked this first war.

The first dissension was the fact that those who resided in the American colonies were not represented in the British Parliament. High taxes were levied on the colonialists to pay for their 'membership' in the British Empire. As this was offensive to the rights of those who resided in the colonies as they considered themselves Englishmen, and as Englishmen should not be taxed without representation, this led to dissension while the mercantile policy limited the growth of the American economy.

One of the interesting facets of the American Revolution was that to prevent warfare with the Indians, the British has made a number of treaties limiting the territory Europeans would occupy. The problem with this was Indentured Labourers, who expected, at the end of their period of indenture they would gain a certain number of acres.

As there was not enough land, many of these ex-servants were left idle and penniless, and created problems of crime and provoked Indian retaliation for encroachment. Slavery replaced Indentured labour. Hence few Europeans would be brought across the Atlantic, the majority of labourers would be purchased as slaves.

Had American been mostly empty land, or if few American Indians lived in the colonies, there would not have been a problem with giving the ex-servants land. The resentment engendered by this trickery created an entire class of persons who were quite antagonistic to the land holders and such was easily channeled into revolutionary sentiment.

Some African slaves became politically active and supported the king, especially in Virginia. The Royal governor actively recruited black men into the British forces in return for freedom. Following the war, many of these Black Loyalists settled in Canada as well as Trinidad.

Guerrilla tactics were used by the Patriots against the British army, and were quite effective. Many of the tactics were subsequently used against the Americans in Vietnam and now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Although slavery was abolished in the Northern States, (the last state to abolish slavery was New Jersey in 1804), it continued in the Southern States until the end of the Civil War.

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