The American Revolution was absolutely unique.  I can find no other counterpart to compete with it. Much of modern history is that of peoples seeking to replicate the success of the American Revolution, and failing, usually miserably. Before, after, and during the Revolution, America was run by republican principles. At no point between 1775 and 1789 - actually the start of our second [Constitutional] Republic -- was there a dictatorial government. The Continental Congress, though horribly ineffective at times, was a representative body. How often is that seen in history? Almost never. The first nation to try and replicate our success was France, with its Revolution of 1789, where class rivalries and foreign intrigues made the government unstable. The peasantry took the revolution as an opportunity to settle old grudges. No one had any real experience in self-government, which quickly became evident. Eventually, a dictatorship arose under Robespierre, and Louis...(Read Full Article)