Consequences Of The American Revolution

The American Revolution had important social and economic effects. As a result of the war, many great fortunes were ruined. About 100,000 Loyalists left the colonies; few of them ever returned. The British government provided lands in Canada as compensation, but many Tories chose to start new lives in Great Britain.  In the social sense, the war of independence was not a fight for everyone's independence. American women continued to be excluded from political life. Also, many slaves fought for and gained their independence, but slavery was not ended. Native Americans also did not benefit from the war. Many lost their lands and homes. The war destroyed the Iroquois League in 1777, which in turn caused member groups to fight against each other as well as against whites. Unfortunately, few Native Americans were recognized by either side for their assistance.

Politically, the war did not fulfill the promises it had made.   But few Americans were concerned about the Revolution's unfulfilled promise. The fact that they gained independence from Great Britain was good enough. Novice Patriot forces, with the help of foreign allies, had defeated the world's greatest military power. They had won the fight for representative government. Their Revolution created and strengthened a new national unity.  Also, the Revolution began to change America's ideas about who had the right to rule. They no longer believed that only the aristocrats should rule. This belief is leading to the democratic rights to include all Americans of all sexes, races, or economic conditions. This change in manner is probably the greatest legacy in the Revolution. Harry Gray Otis, a Massachusetts politician, wrote to a friend: "You and I did not imagine, when the…war with Britain was over, that revolution was just begun."

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