In the late 1700's, radical writings were circulated throughout England. These writings sought political, social and economic reforms in Great Britain. Some of the more radical elements sought republicanism, the abolition of titles, equal rights, frequent elections, economic freedom and freedom of the press. The term "radical" means getting to the root of the problem and making fundamental changes. The supporters of this approach, who were mainly from the middle classes, became known as the Radical Whigs. The Radical Whigs had a great influence on the American and the French Revolutions. Some of these Radical Whigs included philosophers such as John Locke, Adam Smith, Adam Ferguson, Thomas Paine and David Hume.
The writings of the Radical Whigs played a significant role in the development of the American Revolution. Their writings were widely read by the North American colonists. As the English Crown denied the colonists equal rights as Englishmen (including the right to be represented in the English Parliament), and imposed an onerous tax system, the colonists decided to break away from the Kingdom of Great Britain to form an independent country where the government was by the people and for the people.
When the American Revolution started, the word Whig was first used to refer to any American patriot who supported independence. These patriot Whigs were the leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation. They are also known as the Founding Fathers: John Adams, John Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, Nathanael Greene, Nathan Hale, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.
One of the most sacred documents of the United States of America, The Declaration of Independence, has many Radical Whig ideas inscribed within it.
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