Social Confrontation & The Redicalism Of The American Revolution

Without the dimension of oppositions, American Revolution could be safely described as a unanimously uprising; while emphasizing the loyalists excessively, it is hard to explain the final result of the revolution. From a new angle of social strength's differentiation and confrontation, we may know the radical nature of the revolution under the very moderate appearance.Taken New York society during the American Revolution as an example, the aim of the article is to reflect nature of the whole revolution.The process of social differentiation in New York is in accordance with the development of the revolution, which is not seeking the independence of the colony at the first, and moving on to that destination reluctantly to a certain extent. At the very beginning of the revolution, almost every colonists in New York opposite the British "New Colony Policy" except for a few person. While on the problem of how to resist, social strength divided into the moderates who advocate legal and traditional mode and radicalists who stand for a more violent way of prohibiting trade with the Great Britain and encouraging the populace violence.On the point of Association issued by the first continental congress and the way to implement it, division of moderates and radicalists transfer to Tories and Whigs now. At this stage, the divergence of both sides is not only the resist mode to the British policy, but also the authority and legitimation of the first congress and the committees newly established.Declaration of Independence ratified by the provincial congress of New York in July, 1776 makes the final division of patriots and loyalists. The 7 years of British military domination of southern New York also cause the long-term confrontation which fixes the divergence. Political neutrality could not be tolerated and all colonists must decide which side he will stand, to be a loyalist maintaining the loyalty to the King of British and Empire, or a patriot supporting and devoting to the newborn state. Compare with the French Revolution which attached to the words "bloody" and "violent", American Revolution may be a very moderate one. But the fierce confrontation in American Revolution should never be neglected. Oppositionists are active in the field of political affaires, military activities and propaganda. Revolutionaries relieve the risk that opposition may cause to the revolution by the means of labeling "Enemy of the American Cause", populace violence, loyalists' legislation which expel, banish the loyalists, confiscate their properties and deprive the political rights of them.As for the confrontation elimination, American Revolution is unique comparing with other revolutions. There are two aspect of this point. Firstly, expel used as a common method to avoid direct conflict. Plenty of loyalists go to exile during and after the revolution. Secondly, benevolent and tolerance contribute greatly to the effectiveness of submitting the loyalists. In the intension confrontation environment, there are many cases showing the benevolent and tolerance of the revolutionaries. At the end of the war, many loyalists still reside in New York expecting harsh revenge from the victors. Moderate revolutionaries like John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, advocate integrating the interests of the loyalists to the stand and development of the state. In 1790s, with the abolishment of loyalists legislations in New York, reconciliation between the revolutionaries and former loyalists accomplished in 1790s with the former enemy, integrate the interests of the loyalists to the state.From the angle of universality of social strength differentiation, the fierce of confrontation and thoroughness of confrontation elimination, American Revolution is a very radical social movement.