Radicalism of the American Revolution - 990 Words

In the book Radicalism of the American Revolution, written by Gordon S. Wood, the author states, The Revolution was the most radical and far reaching event in American history.† What about the American Revolution made it so â€Å"radical?† Wood believes it to be so radical because it not only brought change politically from British monarch to American rule which is what we are used to, but it also brought about changes in the basic structure of American society. Within the revolution there was more than just a war, there was a total change to the way that Americans lived and presented themselves. This movement made America the way it is today. Gordon S. Wood, a graduate of Tufts University and Harvard, wrote many books about American history, specifically in the beginning of our nation. He also taught history at Harvard, as well as One Day University. Gordon Wood is seen as an icon when the topic of American history arises. Few have been praised as highly as he for his work in history, and he will be forever remembered as one of the greats in his field (Fischer). In The Radicalism of the American Revolution, Wood splits his main points into three separate pieces of the book, the first being Monarchy, second being Republicanism, and third being Democracy. He uses this three distinct â€Å"phases† of the New World to trace the changes throughout time. He begins with the analysis of the eighteenth century with the societies of America and Britain being controlled by a system ofShow MoreRelatedThe Radicalism of the American Revolution529 Words   |  2 Pages In The Radicalism of the American Revolution Gordon Wood attempts to disprove the common thought that the American Revolution was simply a war for independence from a tyrannical mother country. He explains how America formed such a unique from of government. The form that American government took was a collaboration of many different forms that emphasized the rights of individuals. Woods finds it essential to explain colonial life and the factors that dictated people’s lives to understand howRead More Gordon Wood’s Radicalism of the American Revolution Essay1493 Words   |  6 PagesGordon Wood’s Radicalism of the American Revolution is a book that extensively covers the origin and ideas preceding the American Revolution. Wood’s account of the R evolution goes beyond the history and timeline of the war and offers a new encompassing look inside the social ideology and economic forces of the war. Wood explains in his book that America went through a two-stage progression to break away from the Monarchical rule of the English. He believes the pioneering revolutionaries were rootedRead MoreThe Beginning of Radicalism in Politics1684 Words   |  7 Pagesterm ‘radicalism’ in 1797 when he declared a radical reform of the electoral system. 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In the early Revolution eras, the political role of women was nonexistent due to the traditional roles held by the patriarchal society the colonists lived in for most of their years. Kerber intertwined her book with an intelligent analysis, but also conveys this analysis in a clear way so that reader can comprehend further. ThroughoutRead MoreThe French Revolution And The Revolution1221 Words   |  5 PagesWhen people think of the French Revolution, they immediately think of the country of France and how the Revolution affected it. What most people do not think about however, is how the Revolution affected other countries, specifically the country of England. England was affected positively and negatively by the Revolution in that there was an increase of political involvement, but there was a collapse in the economy due to war declared by France. 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However, the American Revolution led to unprecedented reforms in North American society. The Civil War, another significant example of a radical movement in the United States, began as a conflict over the issue of states rights. However, itRead MoreHegels Contradiction in Human History Essay1243 Words   |  5 Pages Ideologies are born as human’s interpretation of the world and belief system, also an endeavor to seek the truth of human nature. Ideologies emerge throughout the periods of great changes: the Enlightenment, the English â€Å"Glorious† Revolution, the American Revolution, etc. They have become the motivations, the standards, and the roots to modern political systems. Their roots are the philosophies developed by famous philosophers throughout the time. However, as each ideology is developed, its own