Results of the American Revolution

 

Major Results of the American Revolution

Immediate Results:

The United States of America wins its independence. For the first time in history a colony has revolted and broken away from the Mother Country.

George Washington, gives up control of the army, refuses to be king or dictator and returns to the life of a gentleman farmer.

All states have constitutions creating elected representative governments.

Articles of Confederation creates a weak national government and strong state governments that are loosely united into one country.

60,000+ Loyalists abandon the United States to live in the British Empire. 

Apart from Florida and the Gulf Coast, the United States gains control of the lands from the Atlantic Coast (future state of Maine to Georgia) South of the Great Lake to the East bank of the Mississippi River. All this land has overlapping, confusing and often ridiculous land claims by virtually all the 13 States.

France, Great Britain, the United States and all 13 States are left with massive war debts.

Shays Rebellion demonstrates the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Long Term Effects:  

Northwest Ordinance and Township Acts, established requirements for new states, surveying the land into townships to be sold and establishment of public schools from the sale of parcels. 
 
US Constitution & Bill of Rights created forming a strong national Federal Government.
 
Separation of Church and State established in the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution.

Revolutionary Spirit spreads to Europe and other colonies in the America's. The French Revolution and the Spanish American colonial revolts are the first to succeed.

Increased "American Diversity" through waves of new immigrants.

Eventual elimination of slavery in the North and Northwestern States.

The two major losers of the war were first, the Native Americans who faced continued Western expansion with no real chance of stopping the loss of their land to American settlers. The second was the growing slave population who continued to face generations of lifetime servitude in the South.