Was there really an
American "Revolution" or "Civil War"?
It could be argued two of the biggest events in American history are misnamed. The American Civil War and the American Revolution.
Despite the name we know it by, it wasn't a true civil war, which is a struggle for control of the country. The South wasn't trying to take over the country, they wanted out of the Union and the North fought to keep the country united. It might more aptly be called The War of Southern Secession.
After the war the North did pretty much control the federal government, which makes it seem similar to a civil war, but that was not the actual design. Thus is the law of unintended consequences for the South.
When you talk revolution, it usually means overthrowing the government. The Colonials never overthrew the King or the British government, they just left it and went on their own. The American Revolution was not as revolutionary as it might seem. Much of the English system and Common Law was retained in altered form. American rule of law, the representative nature of government by consent was not completely different than Britain's.
The major change was to remove the monarchy. Still, the English monarch was not an absolute ruler as they had in Europe. And a representative Parliament was a long established check on the King's rule. Considering the fight was for self rule along similar lines of the English system, it might rather be called The War of American Independence.
When considering the American victory over the British in that war, you must remember something. The fight in North America was only one part of a four theater world war waged by England against traditional foes, mainly France and Spain. The war ranged from the Carribean to the English Channel and Gibraltar to India. Britain lost the American campaign, but won the other three.
Some historians would suggest losing the American colonies (except Canada) was for the best as they were more trouble than they were worth. The whole mercantilist colonial system never really worked as it was supposed to. In the end, the British Empire lasted another century and a half. Spain continued her decline and bankrupted France erupted in a revolution of her own.
The last was a true revolution, ousting the king and declaring a republic. This lead to the Reign of Terror, the eventual rise of Napoleon, and afterwards the return of the Bourbon monarchy. Revolutions have a way of spinning out of control that way. Thus is the law of unintended consequences for the French.
Perhaps if the Colonists had lost it might now be called The War of American Secession. Then again, if the South had won the history books might call it The War of Southern Independence. Maybe we could call the American Revolution the North American Theater of Operations (NATO) of World War 0. Or give it a more colorful name like The Wars of the Roses or The War of Jenkin's Ear.
copyright Terry Colon, 2007