American Revolution Radical Beliefs Essay

Radical beliefs spread quickly through the American colonies and led many Americans to act out against the British. The times leading up to the American Revolution included frequent rebellion and many boycotts. Americans began to want independence after the unfair taxes and treatment from the British. The increase of radical beliefs in the United States before the American Revolution directly led to American independence with the aid of Samuel Adams, British taxation, and political leaders of the time.

Leading up to the American Revolution, American colonists received the influence of numerous political leaders. People such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Monroe, and James Madison all took part in influencing colonists. Jefferson

George Washington maintained his important image by serving in the Continental Army and gaining title as the first President of the United States. Washington served as a general in the army was able to gain aid from French allies during the war which allowed the Continental Army to get British troops to surrender at the Battle of Yorktown. Washington, for many reasons, was a role model to all the colonists searching for independence. James Monroe was also a part of the Continental Army. He became an officer and joined Washington’s troops in time to fight in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Monroe aimed to expand the government’s power by gaining more control over the western territories and protecting exploration along the Mississippi (citation). To continue, James Madison was an influential leader of the time because of his contribution in the Constitutional Convention and his help in framing the Bill of Rights. Madison was given title as the “Father of the Constitution” for his part in

Sam Adams was “head of the caucus club and a leading voice in Boston town meetings”(Irvin 51). He held a voice louder than most people in the American colonies during his time. Adams believed in the rights of people and he believed in saving his home town, Boston, as well as his neighbors who lived there. Thomas Jefferson, another man of a great voice, referred to Adams as "truly the Man of the Revolution” (Terzian). For his great contribution to gaining American independence and standing up for people’s rights, Adams eventually received another nickname, “Sam the Publican”(Irvin 54). This nickname embraced that he was for the people and it stood for a place called pubs where Adams was often found among other working men. Samuel Adams is a name also mentioned when referring to The Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty was an organization of Patriot leaders who held their voice against British abuse. The group was often responsible for riots, boycotts, and mobs. There were circumstances when the mobs spun out of control, however, at the end of the day, the riots reached their full potential and were successful. Many organizations rose throughout the colonies and mimicked the acts of larger groups, like the Sons of Liberty, by rioting against the Stamp Act. After such action occurred, the Stamp Act was not a threat to Adams, Boston, or the colonies and