Crane Brinton's Theory on the 7 Stages of Revolution - Applied to the American Revolution
Note: Stages are applied in chronological order.
Stage 1. Normal: The person or group in power before the revolution takes place.
In this case, we see that before the revolution happened, although the American colonies were technically under control by Britain, the British didn't care much for it's New England states, and the colonists were pretty much left to do as they pleased. They had the freedom to navigate and expand their shipping and trading routes with the rest of the world, under slack regulation and control of the Navigation Act by the British. Everything was done in a certain order. Towns had elected officials and representatives, running in a democratic systems with trials and wrongdoings undergoing trials decided by the jury. Concerned issues were petitioned and sent to the the legislature, with the House of Burgesses monitoring the overall situation. The people were free, and happy, allowed to do as they pleased, with the hopes of rebuilding their homeland after the previous war. Although after the French and Indian war, Britain was severely depleted of it's resources, mainly money, and imposed irrational taxes on the American colonies, regaining it's harsh imperial regime. This was the start of when things began to stir.
Stage 1. Normal: The person or group in power before the revolution takes place.
In this case, we see that before the revolution happened, although the American colonies were technically under control by Britain, the British didn't care much for it's New England states, and the colonists were pretty much left to do as they pleased. They had the freedom to navigate and expand their shipping and trading routes with the rest of the world, under slack regulation and control of the Navigation Act by the British. Everything was done in a certain order. Towns had elected officials and representatives, running in a democratic systems with trials and wrongdoings undergoing trials decided by the jury. Concerned issues were petitioned and sent to the the legislature, with the House of Burgesses monitoring the overall situation. The people were free, and happy, allowed to do as they pleased, with the hopes of rebuilding their homeland after the previous war. Although after the French and Indian war, Britain was severely depleted of it's resources, mainly money, and imposed irrational taxes on the American colonies, regaining it's harsh imperial regime. This was the start of when things began to stir.
Stage 2. Criticism of Existing Regime: When intellectuals begin to publicly criticize the regime in power. It can be spoken or written criticism.
After the colonists were severely taxed, demonstrated in events such as the Stamp Act or the Sugar Act, people didn't like the mindset that they were being controlled by the British, and disliked being oppressed and forced to pay an unreasonable amount of money for resources that they had always been using. They were infuriated that they should once again be so strictly controlled, when they had for a long time, been given relative freedom. Those that weren't able to pay the taxes lost their privileges to use these resources. The economy was in a state of chaos, and the prohibition of bills caused disorder and disarray to the economical system.Light protests began to arise, and eventually, the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted Patrick Henry’s Stamp Act Resolves, which declared that the Americans should possess the same rights as the English in terms of the taxation. The House of Burgesses defeated the most extreme of the British resolutions, but still, four of them were passed. Immediately after this, Virginia Governor Faquier dissolved the House of Burgesses. Although the Stamp Act was repealed, this didn't ease the humiliation and fury inside the heart of the Americans, and it only served to further anger the British, who viewed themselves as superior to the colonists.
After the colonists were severely taxed, demonstrated in events such as the Stamp Act or the Sugar Act, people didn't like the mindset that they were being controlled by the British, and disliked being oppressed and forced to pay an unreasonable amount of money for resources that they had always been using. They were infuriated that they should once again be so strictly controlled, when they had for a long time, been given relative freedom. Those that weren't able to pay the taxes lost their privileges to use these resources. The economy was in a state of chaos, and the prohibition of bills caused disorder and disarray to the economical system.Light protests began to arise, and eventually, the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted Patrick Henry’s Stamp Act Resolves, which declared that the Americans should possess the same rights as the English in terms of the taxation. The House of Burgesses defeated the most extreme of the British resolutions, but still, four of them were passed. Immediately after this, Virginia Governor Faquier dissolved the House of Burgesses. Although the Stamp Act was repealed, this didn't ease the humiliation and fury inside the heart of the Americans, and it only served to further anger the British, who viewed themselves as superior to the colonists.
Stage 3. Widespread Dissatisfaction: This is the stage when many people join the criticism and the “movement” begins. A large portion of the population joins in.
After a couple of years of heavy taxation, the majority of the population began to rise up against the British. They refused to be suppressed any longer, and boycotted all British products and goods, signed petitions that were sent to the British Parliamentary, had riots on the streets with people protesting and throwing sticks and stones, and all British were to be discriminated on sight. The British, enraged at this fact, sent in peacekeeping troops to deal with the protesters in the hopes of ceasing the rebellion that was beginning to happen. Afterwards came the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, in which the sparks of the revolution are ignited. The British try to keep control, but because of the widespread dissatisfaction, the Americans keep rising up and fighting back no matter how many times they are shot down. They rebel against the British, and were willing to suffer the consequences. It is in this stage that real change starts to begin happening. The majority of the population realize the safety in numbers, and that they could also play a role in this revolution. The ideals of the intellectual gradually spread into a wider range, towards the peasants and the normal citizens. These people start following the lead of others, and they start to believe that maybe real change could happen. Disorder and chaos also starts to arise, with the motivation of the people to regain their freedom being the main driving force of the whole revolution. There is heavy media influence and pressure from family and friends. The Americans start uniting against the British.
After a couple of years of heavy taxation, the majority of the population began to rise up against the British. They refused to be suppressed any longer, and boycotted all British products and goods, signed petitions that were sent to the British Parliamentary, had riots on the streets with people protesting and throwing sticks and stones, and all British were to be discriminated on sight. The British, enraged at this fact, sent in peacekeeping troops to deal with the protesters in the hopes of ceasing the rebellion that was beginning to happen. Afterwards came the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, in which the sparks of the revolution are ignited. The British try to keep control, but because of the widespread dissatisfaction, the Americans keep rising up and fighting back no matter how many times they are shot down. They rebel against the British, and were willing to suffer the consequences. It is in this stage that real change starts to begin happening. The majority of the population realize the safety in numbers, and that they could also play a role in this revolution. The ideals of the intellectual gradually spread into a wider range, towards the peasants and the normal citizens. These people start following the lead of others, and they start to believe that maybe real change could happen. Disorder and chaos also starts to arise, with the motivation of the people to regain their freedom being the main driving force of the whole revolution. There is heavy media influence and pressure from family and friends. The Americans start uniting against the British.
Stage 4. Transfer of Power: Those who supported the revolution / movement gain power and begin reforms or changes.
The First Continental Congress was established in 1774 (second Continental Congress in 1775). Elected representatives from all the towns and states were sent to Philadelphia, in which they agreed that King George III and the British Parliament needed to understand and acknowledge the grievances of the people. Peyton Randalph was elected as president of the convention, as other prominent members also played significant roles, such as George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry. The intellectuals who had initially started and led the rebellion went on to leading the revolution. They drafted resolutions and documents, made detailed plans and discussions about how to deal with the problem. Instead of suffering individually, the different towns had now come together in the hopes of making a bigger impact as a bigger group. They further demonstrated their stance and power by establishing the Declaration of Independence, a direct stab in the face for the British, stating that the Americans wanted to regain their liberty. Reforms start to happen as the British realize the growing power of the Continental Congress. They passed a pact that stated the non- importation and resistance of British goods, continuing to boycott the British while keeping communicating channels open. Change was slowly beginning to happen as the ownership of power shifted. The Americans were happy to have representatives and to follow under leadership one again, whereas the British acknowledged that there was now another power player in the equation. The colonists no longer followed under the British, creating their own flag and declaring themselves to be the United States of America, as a free country.
The First Continental Congress was established in 1774 (second Continental Congress in 1775). Elected representatives from all the towns and states were sent to Philadelphia, in which they agreed that King George III and the British Parliament needed to understand and acknowledge the grievances of the people. Peyton Randalph was elected as president of the convention, as other prominent members also played significant roles, such as George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry. The intellectuals who had initially started and led the rebellion went on to leading the revolution. They drafted resolutions and documents, made detailed plans and discussions about how to deal with the problem. Instead of suffering individually, the different towns had now come together in the hopes of making a bigger impact as a bigger group. They further demonstrated their stance and power by establishing the Declaration of Independence, a direct stab in the face for the British, stating that the Americans wanted to regain their liberty. Reforms start to happen as the British realize the growing power of the Continental Congress. They passed a pact that stated the non- importation and resistance of British goods, continuing to boycott the British while keeping communicating channels open. Change was slowly beginning to happen as the ownership of power shifted. The Americans were happy to have representatives and to follow under leadership one again, whereas the British acknowledged that there was now another power player in the equation. The colonists no longer followed under the British, creating their own flag and declaring themselves to be the United States of America, as a free country.
Stage 5. War between old and new regime. People in the old regime do not want the revolution, and the new regime wants power and wants change.
War began to happen, and there were of course, many casualties. For example, in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, or the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Americans fought gallantly against the British, although the losses in numbers seemed to favor the Americans. Even so, the British blocked off the main ports in prominent American towns, so the Americans had a severe lack in resources. Combined with the harsh winter weather and the fact that the main, strong workers were out fighting on the battlefield with no one left to farm the fields and grow the crops, and many died due to this fact. Of course, this was the hardest time period for all the American citizens, and they suffered many hardships due to the obvious consequences of war. The battle continued on for many years, and over the course of this time, the Americans made other new allies such as France, Spain and Holland. Gradually, the people began to believe that they could win this war, and so they continued to fight it. This is the longest stage in the 7 stages, and the Americans pushed out all the control that Britain had over them, returning all the humiliation and oppression they had suffered. The Americans stopped paying the unreasonable taxes, and they now followed loyally under their elected representatives and the Continental Congress. They fought hard for their freedom, but the main change was that all hopes of peace talks of settling with the British had been erased. They now wanted to annihilate the British, and resorted to using aggressive means instead of passive ones.
War began to happen, and there were of course, many casualties. For example, in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, or the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Americans fought gallantly against the British, although the losses in numbers seemed to favor the Americans. Even so, the British blocked off the main ports in prominent American towns, so the Americans had a severe lack in resources. Combined with the harsh winter weather and the fact that the main, strong workers were out fighting on the battlefield with no one left to farm the fields and grow the crops, and many died due to this fact. Of course, this was the hardest time period for all the American citizens, and they suffered many hardships due to the obvious consequences of war. The battle continued on for many years, and over the course of this time, the Americans made other new allies such as France, Spain and Holland. Gradually, the people began to believe that they could win this war, and so they continued to fight it. This is the longest stage in the 7 stages, and the Americans pushed out all the control that Britain had over them, returning all the humiliation and oppression they had suffered. The Americans stopped paying the unreasonable taxes, and they now followed loyally under their elected representatives and the Continental Congress. They fought hard for their freedom, but the main change was that all hopes of peace talks of settling with the British had been erased. They now wanted to annihilate the British, and resorted to using aggressive means instead of passive ones.
Stage 6. Reign of Terror: Winner of the war often uses terror and violence to maintain or gain order and control of the people and any dissenters.
There was no real reign of terror during the American Revolution. This is probably because there wasn't a definite winner to the war between the Americans and the British. The British simply decided to give up on the war because it was suffering so many casualties, and the good just wasn't worth the bad. They had initially set out to put down the American forces, but they did not intend to, and did not want to take on the rest of the world, America's alliances such as France, Spain and Holland. They didn't have the motivation, morale and resources to keep going, so they simply pulled out in an attempt to take the best deal for them. Although there was tar and feathers punishment for the loyalists, it isn't acknowledged as a reign of terror.
There was no real reign of terror during the American Revolution. This is probably because there wasn't a definite winner to the war between the Americans and the British. The British simply decided to give up on the war because it was suffering so many casualties, and the good just wasn't worth the bad. They had initially set out to put down the American forces, but they did not intend to, and did not want to take on the rest of the world, America's alliances such as France, Spain and Holland. They didn't have the motivation, morale and resources to keep going, so they simply pulled out in an attempt to take the best deal for them. Although there was tar and feathers punishment for the loyalists, it isn't acknowledged as a reign of terror.
Stage 7. Thermidorian Reaction: A period of recovery from the ‘fever of revolution’ Often strong, decisive leader takes power or is in power and brings country back to normalcy.
Although the Americans technically didn't win the war, they were just glad that the whole thing was over, and that they were able to have their freedom again without being heavily taxed on or suppressed by the British. After the British pulled out of the war, the elected representatives continued to take order and run things as they saw fit, with the legislatures and councils being erected once again. Of course, the people gradually were able to live a normal life again, with the ports open to them for imports and exports. The economy fluctuated smoothly again, without there being inflation or a depletion of money caused by all the heavy taxing. The people were free to do as they wished, the colonies now known as the United States of America. Hope arose amongst the citizens as the saw the open opportunities that marked the end of the long war.
Although the Americans technically didn't win the war, they were just glad that the whole thing was over, and that they were able to have their freedom again without being heavily taxed on or suppressed by the British. After the British pulled out of the war, the elected representatives continued to take order and run things as they saw fit, with the legislatures and councils being erected once again. Of course, the people gradually were able to live a normal life again, with the ports open to them for imports and exports. The economy fluctuated smoothly again, without there being inflation or a depletion of money caused by all the heavy taxing. The people were free to do as they wished, the colonies now known as the United States of America. Hope arose amongst the citizens as the saw the open opportunities that marked the end of the long war.