Question

Was the American Revolution a genuine revolution? Why or why not?

Answer 1

I personally don't think it was that much of a genuine revolution - that usually implies that the social structure is being altered directly.
The American colonists in the Revolutionary era lived primarily in their own American societies; the group that they were rebelling against lived across an ocean, so there wasn't really a direct conflict. Does that sort of make sense? Just my opinion, though. :)

Answer 2

Of course. A "revolution" is one that overthrows the established political order and creates a new one. The Ameican Revolution overthrew the colonial government of England, including its foundation as a parlaimentary monarchy, and not only became self-governing, but also instituted a significantly different political system: a constitutional federal republic, without a monarchy, and with a written Constitution that limited the power of government and established specific and strong civil liberties. There is no such thing as the First Amendment in England, for example, which is why you can win a libel case much easier in England, and why the London police can put cameras all over the streets without worrying about a court challenge.

The fact that there are significantly similarities between English and American law and political culture should not blind one to the equally significant differences.