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 Lockes 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 IIIs 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 couldnt prevent states from issuing own
  currencies

30
Shays Rebellion (1786-1787)

• Debtors revolt in Massachusetts
• Congress cant raise its own army - only states
  can provide troops

31
AoC Weaknesses

• Congress cant 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 didnt 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