Contradictions of American Revolution
Non-White Americans were excluded from the application of republican ideals of American Revolution.
Contradictions of American Revolution
Shah Muhammad,Ghotki
American Revolution was a watershed moment in the world history that marked liberation of 13 American colonies from the imperial clutches of British empire. The Declaration of Independence was signed on 4th July 1776, and the Treaty of Paris of 1783 formally liberated the USA from Britain. American Revolution is celebrated as a major victory for republicanism and democracy by contemporary pundits and historians. However, does it really live up to its republican ideals of liberty and equality? Is it really a kind of historical moment that every nation should learn from? Was the American Revolution an honourable occurrence or just a revolutionary version of hypocricy? Let us find out the truth.
The most famous and oft-celebrated passage of the Declaration of Independence reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among those are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
While writing the Declaration, Thomas Jafferson wished to condemn the slavery prevalent in US then. However, most of the delegates participating in the Congress were slaveholders (They were feudal lords whose riches depended on the blood and sweat of African-Americans). They asserted that they would refuse to sign the Declaration of Independence if any attempt was made to condemn or outlaw slavery. Thus, an outrageous compromise was reached and slavery was maintained uptill 1863. The republican ideals of "equality" and "liberty" were not meant for African-Americans after all who continued to languish in the abyss of bondage.
The US Supreme Court ruled in the notorious Dred Scott vs. Sandford case (1857) that African-Americans were not citizens of the US and hence had no right to approach the court for legal redress. Post-Civil War, slavery was eliminated from the Constitution but not from the hearts and minds of people. The system of racial segregation in public facilities persisted uptill 1960s which was legalized by the US Supreme Court in the Plessy vs. Ferguson Case (1896). Both these verdicts are a blot on the judicial history of United States and overtly contradict the essence of the Declaration's text.
Apart from that, the Native Americans (Native Indians) also had no dignified place in both pre and post-revolutionary America. Instead of integrating them in the newly formed nation and giving them equal rights, the fathers of the new nation hounded, persecuted, marginalized and displaced the Native Americans and, in turn, usurped their ancestral lands. Such systematic and inhumane campaigns against Natives were started right from the very first administration of President George Washington.
The worst of all was in the administration of President Andrew Jackson: the Natives were uprooted from their homes, massacred and walked westward on gunpoint on the path which has been termed in history as "the trail of tears." Exclusion of Native Americans, alongwith African-Americans, from the application of republican ideals and "unalienable rights" is one of the biggest hypocricies of world history. As is evident, these ideals and rights were only meant for white Americans and others were deemed as lesser and inferior humans.
Last but not the least, America quickly followed in Britain's footsteps and adopted British model of industrial growth. Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of Treasury under Washington administration, introduced capitalist policies in 1790s which is why he is also known as the father of American capitalism. Early industrial conditions in USA mirrored those of Britain, with children and women being pushed into the inhumane and ruthless urban environment. While serving as president, Thomas Jafferson expressed his deep concern regarding the exploitation and brutal treatment of women, children and farmers at the hands of early capitalists; but he could do nothing about it, as he found himself powerless before the capitalist creed.
Concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and exploitation of different segments of society was in overt contrast to the tenets of "equality", "liberty" and "pursuit of happiness". In essence, American Revolution was a deeply problematic, contradictory and hypocritical occurrence, which does not offer any beacon light for the nations that wish to bring about real change.