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AMERICAN REVOLUTION A5W |10.917
AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
A5W |10.917
The Philosophy of the
American RevolutionWhy did the Colonists revolt? (examples?)
Preserve self-rule: “Taxation without (actual)
representation”
Protect Fundamental rights & liberties (J. Locke)
Protect economic interests
British corruption, aristocracy (“City on a hill”)
Was the Revolution inevitable? Could
Britain have avoided it?
Who was right?
Focus Question
Why did the American colonies decide to seek independence from Britain?
DECISION FOR
INDEPENDENCE
DECISION FOR INDEPENDENCE
Second Continental Congress(May 1775-May 1781)
purpose
public opinion
Continental Army
G. Washington
Olive Branch Petition
British Response– Prohibitory Act
Role in revolutionOlive Branch PetitionGeorge Washington assumes
command of Continental Army,
July 1775
Patriot and
Loyalist
Strongholds
DECISION FOR
INDEPENDENCE: Jan. 1776
Common Sense
Hessian soldiers
Thomas Paine
George Washington's copy of Common Sense
(Boston Athenaeum)
DECISION FOR INDEPENDENCE
Decision for independence– Reasons
Declaration of Independence
Foundational beliefs
DECISION FOR INDEPENDENCE
Significance of Declaration of Independence
Directed to other nations: paved way for eventual French aid
Provided a clear position for rebellious colonists
& forced uncommitted people to either choose rebellion or declare as Loyalists.
treason – Franklin “We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately”
Radical for its time - equality; inherent rights; gov’t served people
– Yet merely claiming to protect existing rights and freedoms
Inspired later liberation movements– French Revolution (Declaration of the Rights of Man)
– later basis for anti-slavery and other liberation movements (“All ... created equal”)
– Anti-colonial inspiration – eg Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
WAR FOR
INDEPENDENCE
Focus Question
How did the colonies win their war
for independence?
BRITAIN AMERICANS
Advantages ? ?
Disadvantages ? ?
Strengths & Weaknesses
War for
Independence
The First Phase:
New England, 1775-
1776
2nd Phase:
War
in the
North
1776-1777
3rd Phase:
The War in
the South,
1778-1781
Britain at War: The Global Context, 1778-1783
British Government Expenses on
Armed Forces Throughout the World
(in thousands of pounds), 1775-1782
TREATY OF PARIS (1783)
1) Independence - Britain formally recognized the
independence of the United States
2) Boundaries - Great Lakes on the North,
Mississippi River on the West, Florida on the South.
(Note: no access to the Gulf of Mexico)
3) Loyalists - No further persecution, restitution for
confiscated property "recommended" to states.
4) Fishing access - in “Grand Banks” (off e. Canada)
North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1783
WAR &
SOCIETY
Focus Question
To what extent did the American
Revolution fundamentally change
American governments, society and the
economy during the period 1775 to 1800?
How revolutionary was the American Revolution?
Was it a:
(1) War for Colonial Liberation vs.
(2) restructuring of society, government & economy
POLITICAL CHANGES
Independence – Treaty of Paris
“states”
New state governments– written constitutions
– separation of power (branches)
– executive vs. legislature
– voting
– bills of rights
Confederation
Boundaries
Radical political ideas
ECONOMIC IMPACT
trade with Britain
inflation: worst US history
– British blockade
– Speculation and profiteering
during war
– paper money: Congress & states
state debts
– distaste for taxes
– further weakened Congress'
ability to act
Wholesale Price Index: 1770-1789
Exports & Imports:
1768-1783
SOCIAL CHANGES
Society: Loyalists
About 20%
–wealthy
– royal officials
– many Anglican
clergymen
conservative
Loyalist Strongholds
Society: Women
equality?
during war
voting
“Republican
motherhood”
New Jersey woman voting in 1807 picture
Society: African
Americans
equality?
slavery
Abolition (instant, gradual)
Importation– Banned by all states
Manumission– All states removed
barriers ex. SC & GA
– Virginia between 1782 and 1790, as many as 10,000 blacks were freed
The Status of Slavery,
1800
Distribution of
the Slave
Population,
1790
Distribution of
the Slave
Population, 1830
Indian Land
Cessions:
1768-1799
Society: Native Americans
SOCIETY: Equality
Outward signs of equality: dress, manner of speech, way they dealt with one another in public places
Property laws: primogeniture & entail ended
Titles of nobility – outlawed in state constitutions
No major social redistribution of wealth
New governments were more responsive to public opinion
Redistricting to better reflect settlement in back country
Society: Religion
Freedom of religion
End to state support of religion?
Anglican Church – Episcopal church
SOCIETY: New National Spirit
Nationalism was a result of independence
By mid 18th century colonists had begun to think of themselves as a separate society distinct from Britain
Local ties remained predominant
Nationalism arose from– common sacrifices
– war caused many people to move from place to place
– practical problems in wake of war that demanded common solutions brought them together
– economic developments had unifying effect
– Fostered by common heroes: Franklin, Washington
CONFEDERATION
Focus Question
To what degree did the
Articles of
Confederation provide
an effective form of
government?Consider the following: the ideology and goals of the Revolution, economic conditions, foreign relations, Western lands, etc.
Confederation
Articles of Confederation
Structure of
Government
Amendment
Trade
Taxation & Funding
Reflection of
Revolutionary Ideology
& Goals?
Confederation
1. Foreign Affairs
– Revolution, treaty
– British forts
– Spain
2. Economic Matters
• confederation debt
• trade
• depression
• Shay’s Rebellion The United States in 1787
Confederation
3. Western Lands
State claims
Land Ordinance
of 1785
Northwest
Ordinance (1787)
4. Fulfilling the goals of
the Revolution?Western Land Claims
Land Division in the Northwest Territory
Confederation
Annapolis Convention(1786)
Constitutional Convention
(May 1787)
