The The American American RevolutionRevolution

Outbreak (April, 1775)

• Lexington

• Concord

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

Declaration of Independence

• Written chiefly by Thomas Jefferson

• Adopted 7/4/1776• Based on John Locke’s

ideas

Declaration of Independence

• Basic parts:– Philosophy of Government– List of grievances– Conclusion

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)

Brief Survey of the War

• Battle of Bunker (Breeds!) Hill

Brief Survey of the War

• American invasion of Canada (1775-1776)

• British Success in the Middle States: NY, PA (1776-1777)

Brief Survey of the War

• KEY American Victory at Saratoga, NY (1777)

Brief Survey of the War

• American Suffering at Valley Forge (1778-1779)

Brief Survey of the War

• American victory in the Northwest Territory (1778-1779)

Fort Vincennes

Brief Survey of the War

• War in the South (1778-1781)

Battle of Camden

Banastre Tarleton"

Brief Survey of the War

• Yorktown: Final American/French Victory (1781)

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…

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

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

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…

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

Wartime Problems Facing the Colonists

• Maintaining an army– Usually numbered only several thousand– Short-term volunteers training issues– Inadequate supplies– Reinforced by local militias

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

Treaty of Paris (1783)

• Chief American negotiators: Ben Franklin, John Jay, John Adams – secure favorable treaty

Treaty of Paris (1783)

• 13 states independent

• Americans retain fishing rights off Nova Scotia

• Loyalist property supposed to be restored, usually ignored

Political Effects of the Revolution - USA

• Articles of Confederation loosely bound states

• States adopt new constitutions with “Bill(s) of Rights” and democratic institutions

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

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

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

Articles of Confederation

• 13 sovereign states

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

AoC: Weaknesses

• 75%+ of congressional requests for funds from states ignored

• Congress couldn’t prevent states from issuing own currencies

Shay’s Rebellion (1786-1787)

• Debtors revolt in Massachusetts

• Congress can’t raise its own army - only states can provide troops

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

AoC: Weaknesses

• Foreign Nations didn’t respect US

– British posts in Northwest Territory

– British and Spanish prohibitions against American trade

AoC: Achievements

• Successfully ended the Revolution

• Negotiated Treaty of Paris (1783)

• States united… in name

• Provided for settling of new territories…

Land Ordinance

of 1785• Western

lands to be surveyed, divided into townships w/ 36 miles2 (640 acres each)

• Sections to be sold

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