The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution • Please pick up Focus 10, the class notes, and the binder check guide from the table and begin working on the focus questions – we will take the first 15 minutes of class to give you time to work on the focus by yourself. • We will: *explain how and why the Patriots declared independence and won the American Revolution *discuss the first unit test results and retake guidelines

2. The American Revolution America’s Fight for Independence, 1775-1783

3. Major Causes of the Conflict English colonists objected to: • 1. British commercial regulation (e.g., Sugar Act, Townshend Duties?) • 2. direct taxation (e.g., Stamp Act) • 3. threats to self-government (e.g., the Coercive Acts) • 4. limits on Western expansion (e.g., Proclamation of 1763, Quebec Act) • 5. being treated as “second rate” (e.g., referred to as “colonials”)

4. Enlightenment Influence • John Locke’s political philosophy of liberalism, with its focus on natural rights and the social contract, influenced England’s Glorious Revolution (1688) and resonated with colonists who demanded their rights “as Englishmen” • The Zenger Trial of 1735 demonstrated that colonists were already aware of their rights and willing to defend them - in this case, freedom of the press and trial by jury • Americans (like Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson) embraced Enlightenment ideals of progress, humanitarianism, and rationalism

5. Two Views on the Conflict Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! -- March 23, 1775 http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm Patrick Henry, Patriot leader in the Virginia House of Burgesses, calls for rebellion even before Lexington and Concord

6. Two Views on the Conflict GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSEMBLY, . . . You have now pointed out … two Roads ⎯ one evidently leading to Peace, Happiness and a Restoration of the public Tranquility ⎯ the other inevitably conducting you to Anarchy, Misery, and all the Horrors of a Civil War. Your Wisdom, your Prudence, and your Regard for the true Interests of the People, will be best known when you have shown to which Road you give the Preference. If to the former, you will probably afford Satisfaction to the moderate, the sober, and the discreet Part of your Constituents. If to the latter, you will, perhaps for a Time, give Pleasure to the warm, the rash, and the inconsiderate among them, who, I would willingly hope, violent as is the Temper of the present Times, are not even now the Majority. But it may be well for you to remember, should any Calamity hereafter befall them from your Compliance with their Inclinations, instead of pursuing, as you ought, the Dictates of your own Judgment, that the Consequences of their [not] returning to a proper Sense of their Conduct, may prove deservedly fatal to yourselves. -- William Franklin, Loyalist Governor of New Jersey speaking to the New Jersey Assembly on January 13, 1775 http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/makingrev/rebellion/text1/loyalists17751776.pdf

7. The Colonial Dilemma • The Battles of Lexington & Concord (April 1775) started the Revolutionary War, but not all colonial leaders were prepared to declare independence, despite Patrick Henry’s cry of “Give me liberty, or give me death!” • The Second Continental Congress mobilized for war by appointing George Washington to command the Continental Army (May 1775) • The Congress also prepared the Olive Branch Petition to seek a negotiated resolution of the crisis … • Britain formally declared the colonies to be in a “state of rebellion” in August 1775

8. Common Sense • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (published in early 1776) called for American independence • His arguments included: *There’s no reason to be loyal to a hereditary monarchy – crazy! *America would be better off economically without British trade controls (Adam Smith agreed – opt for free trade); wealthy continent *Britain seeks only to expand its own power at the expense of rights; an abusive “mother”

9. American Independence • John Adams and Patriots in Congress pushed for a declaration of independence by June 1776; the motion was introduced by Richard Henry Lee (yes, those Lees) of Virginia • John Dickinson of Pennsylvania led conservatives who feared a break with Britain would be disastrous for the colonies • Congress adopted Lee’s resolution on July 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Y1ougODMo

10. How did the ideas of John Locke influence the Declaration of Independence? “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, (Natural Laws) that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (Natural Rights)--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,(Social Contract)--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”(Right to Rebellion)

11. This section was removed from Jefferson’s first draft…What does it condemn? Why was it removed? “He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating it’s most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobium of INFIDEL Powers, is the warfare of the CHRISTIAN king of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a market where MEN should be bought & sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or to restrain this execrable commerce. And that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished die, he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people on whom he also obtruded them: thus paying off former crimes committed against the LIBERTIES of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the LIVES of another.” Source: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/rough-draft-of-the-declaration-of-independence/

12. The Political Revolution • John Adams called on the states to replace their colonial charters with constitutions • State constitutions almost universally sought to limit government power: *weak executives *strong legislatures *guarantees of civil liberties *separation of powers John Dickinson led the committee assigned to draft the first national constitution – proposed the Articles of Confederation in 1777; ratified in 1781

13. The Military Revolution • After forcing the British to evacuate Boston in March 1776; the Continental Army failed to stop the British occupation of New York (1776) and Philadelphia (1777) • The Battle of Saratoga (October 1777) marked the turning point of the war – France responded by allying with the U.S. in 1778 (Ben Franklin negotiated the treaties) • The British surrender at Yorktown (October 1781) marked the effective end of British efforts to subdue the colonies; the French navy made this victory possible

14. Peace of Paris (1783) • The second Treaty of Paris in twenty years awarded the United States: • British recognition of independence • the territory of Trans-Appalachia, including the fertile Ohio River Valley • The U.S. pledged to • repay Loyalists for • damages suffered • during the war

15. Statement for Debate “The American Revolution was a conservative movement designed primarily to advance the political and economic interests of colonial commercial and landowning elites, NOT a popular movement to defend essential liberties for all individuals in the face of the tyrannical exercise of British authority.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?

16. Before you leave… • Remember to keep your unit test and retake guide in the test and quizzes section of your binder • 2nd and 3rd only: report directly to the library on Friday to research the quarter exhibit – make sure to bring your guide and read up in the textbook on your topic • 4th only: report to 208 for the pep rally