United States Independence: Causes, Consequences & Key Events
The Independence of the United States
The Independence of the United States marks the liberation of the thirteen colonies in North America from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It began on July 4, 1776, and lasted eight years, with various battles between Great Britain and the North American colonies. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris recognized the thirteen colonies as the independent United States of America.
Causes of the Independence
The process began after the Seven Years’ War, where Great Britain and France clashed in North America. Despite Great Britain’s victory, the country was economically strained. To recover, it imposed laws and taxes on its American colonies, causing unrest, protests, and riots. The 1779 “Boston Massacre,” where British soldiers killed colonists during a protest, further strained relations. This led the colonists to convene in two congresses to pursue independence, which Great Britain opposed, leading to war.
Consequences of the Independence
- The United States began a process of economic, financial, and industrial development, expanding its territory and growing its economy.
- A sovereign government was created in 1787, with its own constitution and a state with three independent powers: legislative, judicial, and executive.
- As the first independent territory in America, it served as an inspiration for the emancipation of other colonies in the continent.
- The Independence of the United States indirectly encouraged the French Revolution, as the economic crisis caused by military support in the Seven Years’ War and the American Revolution contributed to unrest in France.
Demography of the Ancien Régime
During the Early Modern Age, there was low natural growth due to high birth rates being counteracted by high death rates. This was influenced by human and natural disasters, which caused famines and epidemics.
Physiocrats
Physiocracy was an 18th-century school of economic thought founded by François Quesnay in France. It affirmed the existence of a natural law that ensured the proper functioning of the economic system without state intervention.
Absolute Monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a form of government where the king has absolute power, with no division of powers.
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a primarily European cultural and intellectual movement that began in the mid-18th century and lasted until the early 19th century.
The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution
The English Civil War was led by Oliver Cromwell, who favored the trial and execution of Charles I. In 1649, Charles I was tried by parliament, convicted of treason, and executed. The republic was proclaimed, and Oliver Cromwell became the governor of England. In 1688, the Glorious Revolution took place: parliament defeated James II and offered the throne to Mary II and William III, who swore to respect the Declaration of Rights, thus establishing the separation of powers in England.
Economic Systems Developed
Commercial Capitalism
- A new system that enabled private businesses to accumulate profits, especially through trade.
- Factors:
- The emergence of new forms of craft production in workshops and through the domestic system.
- The establishment of banks (commercial operations).
- New commercial and financial practices (bills of exchange, loans).
Mercantilism
- Imposed by Europe’s absolute monarchs.
- Based on the idea that a country’s wealth depended on how much gold and silver it possessed.
- To accumulate more of these precious metals, monarchs implemented protectionist policies to limit imports and encourage exports.