American Revolution of English

The American Revolution was the turning point in the future of English in America. It also marked the split between traditional British English and the new American English. "Political revolutionaries [like Thomas Jefferson] were also language revolutionaries." Thomas' elite use of the English language can be seen in the Declaration of Independence where all are entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Even though all Americans are supposedly entitled to 'liberty,' the slaves were not free citizens until the time of the Civil War, and women felt that they were not totally free either because of their subordination under the men of the household and the fact that while free blacks could also vote, white American women still did not have that privilege. In their speeches advocating for women suffrage they used their new form of American English.

After the American revolution the creation of "Americanisms," where they introduced new words including "belittle" and "advocate" into their everyday vocabulary, had an effect on the English language. Americans also modified some English words like taking out the "u" in honor, and ending theater in -er. These additions to the language helped further the distance between British English and American English and created a more distinct feature to the new developing form of English.

Noah Webster was instrumental in assisting American citizens in the development in their form of English.  He was a lexicographer and created the Webster Dictionary that contained a pronunciation guide to help the many immigrants who were coming to America for the American dream and a better life. His dictionary was able to help standardize the new American English and aid immigrants including the Irish and Germans ease the transition into their new life by providing a reference for their new language.

English on the American continent was also influenced by the political loyalties of those residing there.  Even though the American Revolution was Americans vs. the English, America was divided on their loyalties to either the colonies or Britain. When the English and the American loyalists lost the war, many of the Tories fled to Canada to escape persecution and there they "formed the basis of standard Canadian speech." These new American Canadians resisted American ways and words which further differentiated English from the original British English from which they came.

Info:
Armstrong, Edward. "The Story of English Episode 6 - Pioneers O Pioneers - Part 1 / 7." YouTube. YouTube, 27 Aug. 2009. Web. 19 Jan. 2013.