Essay on Article Critique

Submitted By martika9204
Words: 662
Pages: 3

Article Critique: The Unknown American Revolution Reading the article one come to find that the overall topic is referring to the American Revolution. The author want to challenge the reader to see the Revolution from many standpoints and not just one point of view, which is more than likely the view that was taken from what was learned growing up in school. Nash wants the readers to “expand their conception of the revolutionary American society to consider multiple agendas (59). He wants to move away from what we have already learned and more so form our own opinions about what went on during that point of time. The author doesn’t clearly state a thesis however upon continuing reading the author point for writing the article becomes apparent. Nash’s point of View seems to lean more towards the idea that the view of the American Revolution has been sugar coated, so to speak, by the American society. He describes what we as American know about the Revolution as a “fable” (59). In my opinion the article doesn’t seem too persuasive, it seem more informative and argumentative. Nash provides information concerning certain situation and events during the time and uses that to help prove his point or add to why he feels the way he does. The article goes on to talk about views from the lower class and enslaved people. Nash states that “the Revolution would have never occurred” without the ideas of society. The Revolution was bound to happen because of all the decisions that were being made without the people having a say in anything. The author also goes on to state how England’s control of the society was lessening due to the decisions made during the Seven Years War. The more England tried to tighten their grip on the colonies, the more they rebelled it seems. Throughout the article the Author uses events such as the “Stamp Act Crisis” where there were tighter restriction put on trading and such. The people attacked whoever had to be in charge of the handing out of stamps and basically demolished their homes. Nash gives several accounts of stories where a man named Oliver and the Lt. Governor Thomas Hutchinson had their homes torn into by angry “mobbish attackers” (63). There are other historical accounts referenced as well such as the Seven Years War, the Quebec Act, the Proclamation of 1763, etc. All were used to describe an instance of something that went on during that period. Everything Nash uses in this article is used to argue his point on the view of the Revolution. There are personal