The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution

2. Outbreak (April, 1775) • Lexington • Concord

3. Common Sense • Thomas Paine wrote: • Wrong for a continent to be subservient to an island • Wrong to be subservient to a king spilling their blood • Independence is the sensible choice

4. Declaration of Independence • Written chiefly by Thomas Jefferson • Adopted 7/4/1776 • Based on John Locke’s ideas

5. Declaration of Independence • Basic parts: • Philosophy of Government • List of grievances • Conclusion

6. Declaration of Independence • Basic parts: • Elevated the struggle into war for independence • Served as source of inspiration to others throughout the world • Inspired Americans to undertake movements for equality (long-term)

7. Brief Survey of the War • Battle of Bunker (Breeds!) Hill

8. Brief Survey of the War • American invasion of Canada (1775-1776) • British Success in the Middle States: NY, PA (1776-1777)

9. Brief Survey of the War • KEY American Victory at Saratoga, NY (1777)

10. Brief Survey of the War • American Suffering at Valley Forge (1778-1779)

11. Brief Survey of the War • American victory in the Northwest Territory (1778-1779) Fort Vincennes

12. Brief Survey of the War • War in the South (1778-1781) Banastre Tarleton" Battle of Camden

13. Brief Survey of the War • Yorktown: Final American/French Victory (1781)

14. Reasons for American Victory • American fighting on their own soil, British/Hessians 3000 miles from home • Americans superior wilderness fighters • American leadership: George Washington, George Rogers Clark, Nathanael Greene, John Paul Jones…

15. Reasons for American Victory • British officers overconfident or incompetent • Foreign volunteers aided America: Marquis de Lafayette, Baron de Kalb, Baron von Steuben, Count Pulaski, Thaddeus Kosciusko

16. Reasons for American Victory • Other nations join in, eventually leading to another world-wide conflict: France, Spain, the Netherlands (armies and financial assistance) • English public opinion divided at home: Edmund Burke, William Pitt defend the colonial cause

17. Wartime Problems Facing the Colonists • Providing a government • Second Continental Congress acted as government for 13 states • Lacked power; could only request money, men, cooperation • Had some success though…

18. Wartime Problems Facing the Colonists • Raising funds • States rarely gave money • Issued continentals (paper money) • Borrowed money from individuals and countries • Some wealthy individuals gave their support

19. Wartime Problems Facing the Colonists • Maintaining an army • Usually numbered only several thousand • Short-term volunteers  training issues • Inadequate supplies • Reinforced by local militias

20. Wartime Problems Facing the Colonists • Dealing with Tories • Civil War: • 1/3 support war (Patriots) • 1/3 remain loyal to king (Loyalists or Tories) • 1/3 neutral, wait to decide • Many loyalists fled country, other helped British army • Loyalist lands confiscated, sold off • Patriot dominated legislatures revise state constitutions, increasing democracy

21. Treaty of Paris (1783) • Chief American negotiators: Ben Franklin, John Jay, John Adams – secure favorable treaty

22. Treaty of Paris (1783) • 13 states independent • Americans retain fishing rights off Nova Scotia • Loyalist property supposed to be restored, usually ignored

23. Political Effects of the Revolution - USA • Articles of Confederation loosely bound states • States adopt new constitutions with “Bill(s) of Rights” and democratic institutions

24. Economic Effects of the Revolution - USA • End of trade restrictions  economic growth • End of trans-Appalachian migration restriction • Breakup of large estates  more small-scale farmers • Large public debt & inflation

25. Social Effects of the Revolution - USA • Separation of church & state (most states) • Aristocracy weakened • Criminal codes (punishment) relaxed • Women kept economy going in wartime, but remained second class citizens • Slavery mostly ended in north, holds fast in south

26. Effects Outside the USA • French Revolution (started 1789) partly inspired by American Revolution • Spanish America revolts during Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) • Britain • George III’s efforts to increasing power discredited • Colonial policy changes  gradual self-rule

27. Articles of Confederation • 13 sovereign states

28. AoC: Weaknesses • Congress unable to enact laws: requires 9 of 13 to pass vote and rarely more than 10 states present at any time • No chief executive to enforce laws • No central courts to mediate between states • Amendments to constitution required unanimous approval

29. AoC: Weaknesses • 75%+ of congressional requests for funds from states ignored • Congress couldn’t prevent states from issuing own currencies

30. Shay’s Rebellion (1786-1787) • Debtors revolt in Massachusetts • Congress can’t raise its own army - only states can provide troops

31. AoC: Weaknesses • Congress can’t control interstate & foreign commerce: • NY vs. CT and NJ over taxes on goods • VA vs. MD over Potomac • Each state had treaties w/ foreign nations

32. AoC: Weaknesses • Foreign Nations didn’t respect US • British posts in Northwest Territory • British and Spanish prohibitions against American trade

33. AoC: Achievements • Successfully ended the Revolution • Negotiated Treaty of Paris (1783) • States united… in name • Provided for settling of new territories…

34. Land Ordinance of 1785 • Western lands to be surveyed, divided into townships w/ 36 miles2 (640 acres each) • Sections to be sold

35. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Northwest Territory  3 – 5 territories • Each would eventually become an equal state • Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin • Set procedures for self-rule/statehood • 5,000 male adults  territorial legislature • 60,000 inhabitants  statehood • Slavery prohibited • Bill of rights guaranteed basic civil liberties • Public education encouraged