Ap Euro Dbq Industrial Revolution

The Democratic American Revolution during the 18th century was, to a large extent, symptomatic of economic and political struggles. The period leading up to the revolution included drastic changes during events such as the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions and the period of Globalization 2.0. Such events led to the rise of mercantile powers that sought to accrue greater wealth and power through any means, including war. The American Revolution would then be a war opposing mercantile, and near tyrannical, influences, reflecting Euro-American conflicts. Unprecedented changes in the English economy throughout the 1600s and 1700s had a drastic impact on European and, eventually, American societies. The Agricultural Revolution saw great

Suddenly, everyday items were in unbelievable demand, which set the supply that industries needed to meet at a comparably high value. From an economic standpoint, a blaring issue would be that a rapid increase in both demand and supply would drive down the price of a good, which would decrease the amount of money fueling the economy. Beyond this, such an unexpected change in demand meant that England needed to seek more goods, which, in turn, called for new colonies and trade opportunities. By around 1755, 24% of England’s GDP was dependent on importing and exporting goods to fuel the growing industrial economy, showing a palpable change from 1655’s 19% (Daudin, O’Rourke 25). As dependence on trade increased, other nations followed suit, leading to conflicts with economic consequences that would influence the American colonies directly. The mid-century mercantile wars, including the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War, would leave the English economy in an unfavorable state. The cost of maintaining colonies had dramatically increased national debt to nearly £120 million in modern values. With the ministry of George Grenville under the rule of King George III, England sought to alleviate the negative

The aforementioned acts that sought to fuel the English economy also became political issues, as colonists began to question Parliamentary authority in the new nation while the “mad” King George III sought to solidify his own authority. Colonists began to believe that a physically distant Parliament could in no way represent colonial ideals, thus influencing the revolutionary ideas. The Declaratory Act’s passage and Stamp Act’s repeal only furthered this sentiment by displaying to the colonists that they held the power to influence Parliamentary decisions and, in this sense, challenge the authority that the government body held. The American colonists also found influence in European political issues addressed during the English Revolution of the previous century. John Locke’s writings specifically outlined the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and property, influencing the later sentiments surrounding the American Revolution. The radical writings during the following decades mostly detailed the undermining of liberty and unfair taxation, displaying that the present political issues would catalyze both European and American