American revolution Quote by Howard Zinn
““Carl Degler says (Out of Our Past): “No new social class came to power through the door of the American revolution. The men who engineered the revolt were largely members of the colonial ruling class.” George Washington was the richest man in America. John Hancock was a prosperous Boston merchant. Benjamin Franklin was a wealthy printer. And so on. On the other hand, town mechanics, laborers, and seamen, as well as small farmers, were swept into “the people” by the rhetoric of the Revolution, by the camaraderie of military service, by the distribution of some land. Thus was created a substantial body of support, a national consensus, something that, even with the exclusion of ignored and oppressed people, could be called “America.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Out of Our Past by Howard Zinn, 1982
The American Revolution did not overturn the existing elite; power remained with wealthy colonial leaders while ordinary people were incorporated into a national identity through rhetoric and shared service.
In simple terms: Revolution kept the rich in charge, adding ordinary people to the nation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how revolutions can preserve elite power while expanding popular identity.
Themes
history
politics
social class
revolution
national identity
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
historical
critical
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- education curricula
- public discourse
- citizen engagement
Key Concepts
elite continuity
mass mobilization
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How did the Revolution’s rhetoric shape inclusion and exclusion?
- What mechanisms allowed elites to retain power?
A Different Perspective
The quote overlooks the exclusion of enslaved, women, and indigenous peoples from this "national consensus."
![“I John Hancock, . . . being advanced in years and being of perfect mind and memory-thanks be given to God-therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die [Hebrews 9:27], do make and ordain this my last will and testament...Principally and…” quote by John Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a62/john-hancock-23217_bible_i-john-hancock-being-advanced-in-years-a_3223232.jpg)
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