The American Revolution The American Revolution Causes Causes.
The American Revolution
description
Transcript of The American Revolution
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