The American Revolution was an important event for the North American

continent because it affected so many differing parties. As in all conflicts, the

American Revolution resulted in “winners” and “losers”. The Patriots were the
obvious winners in the Revolution; they gained independence, the right to
practice representative government, and several new civil liberties and
freedoms. Loyalists, or Tories, were the losers of the Revolution; they
supported the Crown, and the Crown was defeated. Loyalists were viewed as
traitors and persecuted endlessly. However, the Native Americans lost even
more than the Loyalists in the American Revolution; they lost the rights to
most of their land, forever confining them to existing on humiliating
reservations.

The American Revolution had a positive outcome to the Patriots who were
fighting for independence from Britain. The defeat of the British gave Patriots
the political and economic rights they had been seeking from Britain since the
start of the prolonged conflict. Patriots were now free to establish their own
systems of representative government and elect officials who best suited their
interests. Now the Americans would only be taxed by people who represented
them, rather than an assembly of exploitative Britons with no care for
American interests. American independence also brought an end to the much
despised British mercantilism that had once been such an important aspect of
the American colonial economy. Americans were no longer forced into
purchasing British products and trading in British markets. Free trade meant
that Americans would be free to trade with whoever offers the best price –
and thus obtain the maximum profit.

The outcome wasn’t so cheerful for the unfortunate Loyalists who decided to
remain faithful to their King during the American Revolution. Loyalists were
viewed as traitors by their fellow Americans for their lack of patriotism during
the Revolutionary conflict. Often, Patriots saw fit to wreak violence on the
Loyalists. Patriots would tar and feather Loyalists who had been strong
supporters of the British. For many Loyalists, the only escape from persecution
was to leave the country. Thousands flocked to Canada and even more
returned to Britain. In Britain, the Loyalists had a hard time fitting in and
remained uncomfortable for the rest of their lives. Luckily, some mild Loyalists
were forgiven and allowed to remain in America and live in peace. However,
those who supported the King clearly felt the consequences of their decision
when the Americans achieved their independence.

The American Revolution sealed the fate of the indecisive Native Americans.
The disorganized Iroquois Native Americans could not agree upon which side
to support during the War – and each tribe was left to decide on its own.
Fatefully, the majority of the Iroquois tribes sided with the British because they
believed a victorious British would restrain American expansion into the West.
However, when the British were defeated, the Native American hopes were left
in tatters. Also, any chances of the Parliament restricting further incursion into
the depths of the content were effectively destroyed. In 1784, the pro-British
Iroquois were forced to sign the humiliating Treaty of Fort Stanwix, which
ceded most of the Native American land to the United States. Thus began the
Indian Reservation System that confined the once-proud tribes to a degrading
life on small plots of land. Many of the Native Americans became addicted to
alcohol and lived miserable lives. Clearly, the American Revolution had the
worst effects on the Native Americans.

The American Revolution was an important event for the North American
continent because it affected so many differing parties. The Patriots gained
independence and the right to practice their own style of government;
Loyalists were persecuted as “traitors”; and the Native Americans lost the
rights to their ancestral lands. The outcome of this conflict would forever be
remembered in history for its lasting effects.