Chapter V: The American Revolution: The Birth of a Nation

Oseas Romero AP US HistoryStafford High School

Structure of Colonial Society

1760s is an optimistic post war period

Ethnic and racial diversity is present 60% of population is under twenty

one years old Relatively high per capita GDP

Breakdown of Trust

1760—George III ascended throne Despite his limited ability, he wanted to

control all aspects of government Upset the British Whig party by ignoring

them High turnover among top ministers ▪ Hard for Parliament to get adequate

information on colonies ▪ Everyone believed Parliament had ultimate authority

American Perspective

Colonist wanted to reserve internal colonial authority amongst its own legislatures Colonial assemblies were seen as equal

to Parliament in many ways ▪ Parliament did not represent Americans ▪ British officials espoused “virtual representation”▪ Colonist would come to insist that only colonial

assemblies should represent Americans “No taxation without Representation”

American Thinking in Regards to Power

Locke and many other Enlightenment Thinkers would shape the idea of the United States Rebellion against arbitrary government

is justified Power must be countered by virtue Bad government reflects sin and

corruption ▪ Colonist saw british officials as sinful and

corrupt ▪ Newspaper editors ensure wide dissemination of

political confrontations between officials and colonials

Things to reflect on before the War

Large debt and army left in America from the Seven Year’s War

Colonists began to doubt the value of the British army

Pontiac’s War Exposed weakness in British military Native American situation was desperate;

French could no longer corral them ▪ Racism towards Native Americans in the Frontier ▪ Paxton Boys

Colonists were adamant to settle past the Appalachian Mts. Proclamation of 1763 was a direct slap

to the face of these settlers

Britain Takes Action

Primer Minister George Grenville does his duty and tries to reduce England’s war debt Always better to tax those living far

away than those in your backyard▪ Revenue Act of 1764 (Sugar Act)▪ Merchants and gentry will protest ▪ Colonist will ignore the act

Protest Begin

1765—Stamp Act required colonist to purchase stamps to validate documents Patrick Henry and the Virginia Resolves

united the gentry and the regular population in protest

Stamp Act Congress created and petitions the king and Parliament for repeal ▪ Sons of Liberty protest includes riots, mob

violence, and boycotts

England puts fuel to the Flame 1767- Charles Townshend: chancellor of the

exchequer Townshend Act taxed American imports of paper,

lead, glass, and tea ▪ Creates the American Board of Customs Commissioners

to collect duties Sons of Liberty respond by boycotting

English goods Letters sent to Massachusetts House of Rep.

to protest They defy the government by refusing to rescind

the letter

Beginning of the End

English government moves 4,000 troops into Boston Clash between troops and Boston’s

population ▪ Who is at fault?

March 5, 1770—English soldiers fir on civilian crowd, killed five Americans Known as Boston Massacre Victims seen as martyrs Townsend Acts repealed 1770, except for

tea

Local Elites Arise

John Hancock- antagonized by custom collectors

Samuel Adams protest tea tax as a violation of American rights Committees of correspondence built

alternative political structure Patrick Henry decry the excess of the

British Parliament

Death Nail in the Coffin

1773—Parliament passes Tea Act Designed to help the East India Company by

making the sale of its tea cheaper in America ▪ Americans believed this was a ploy to get them to

consume taxed tea ▪ December 1773—Boston protestors dump tea in

the harbor ▪ Boston Tea Party

Port of Boston closed in response until tea is paid for Massachusetts govt. restructured by the Crown Those deemed responsible tried in England not America Army is authorized to quarter troops wherever needed

Steps Towards Independence

September 1774—First Continental Congress in response to the Coercive Acts

Congress commends “Suffolk Resolves” urging forcible resistance

Intercolonial “Association” halted commerce with Britain until Coercive Acts repealed

The Beginning

The colonist knew that war was upon them as soon as 1770 Many held out hope that they would be able to work

something out When open hostilities began, the United States

would be sadly unprepared▪ Military and political will was questioned by many

Lexington and Concord Shots heard around the world ▪ April 19, 1775▪ Fighting spreads along road between Lexington, Concord, and Boston

▪ June 17, 1775▪ Bunker Hill – heavy British losses

Early War Effort

British colonial governments collapsed

Second Continental Congress—action and inaction Congress issued paper money to pay

war debts Debated whether to declare

independence

British action makes compromise unlikely December 1775—Prohibitory Act—British

blockade colonial trade German mercenaries hired to put down

rebellion Virginia Governor urges slaves to take

up arms against masters

Out for Blood

Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia ▪ Two sides

John and Samuel Adams and others favored complete independence

John Dickinson and others hoped for small but profound changes

Unlike the Adam’s family, most colonist wanted Britain to pay attention and listen to their concerns. Several reasons this began to change▪ The war cost: human and financial deemed this impractical▪ The British began recruiting others to do the fighting

▪ Indians- still hated among the population. French and Indian War is still fresh on their minds

▪ Slaves-Americans believed that they were good to their slaves. The feeling of betrayal did not sit well with them

▪ The Hessians- who are referred to in the Declaration of Independence

Common Sense

Claiming that Common Sense was the spark that finally got the colonist thinking of independence is naïve, but it does help us understand the thinking of many Americans Europe, not England, is the parent country of

America Common Sense also shows the power of

propaganda and how powerful a tool it can be ▪ The pamphlet is the modern version of Harry Potter

today

A Warm July Day

Continental Congress is once again meeting in Philly While moderates are holding out, it is a foregone

conclusion that the colonies will opt out of ever being a part of the British Empire

July 2, 1776, adopted a resolution to break away from Britain▪ Two days later CC adopts the Declaration of

Independence▪ Almost nothing in the document is new▪ John Locke’s contract theory is heavily expressed in the beginning▪ The rest of the documents goes on to prove how King and

Parliament broke this contract.

Governance

A Texas mentality The idea of a state independent power

and sovereignty was highly influential. Most of the colonies were able to

establish concrete working governments, but a Federal government was no where to be found. ▪ Articles of Confederation are created in 1777

Mobilization

Like already stated, the states were unprepared for the war. They needed to mobilize a fighting army Pay, feed, and train their soldiers. ▪ Britain was their primary economic partner.

The CC has no power to tax and states were unwilling to put their coffers on the line Paper money is issued. Leads to inflation

British confident of victory Larger population, more resources Naval supremacy ▪ Would help crush spirit of Independence

After the initial hoopla of the revolution, it became difficult to recruit Force and drafts were implemented

throughout the states▪ The CC believed it was time to implement a

better chain of command The Forty three year old Virginian

planter and snooty aristocrat was chosen.

The American Revolution, 1775-1781

Building a Professional Army Washington would reject the guerrilla

warfare strategy Felt it was uncivilized

Continental army to be a fighting fore and symbol of the republican cause

Militia’s role: compel support for Revolution African Americans in Revolution

New England militias attracted slaves with promises of freedom

Southern slaves more likely to side with British ▪ Why?

WAR: The Beginning

At the beginning the British didn’t even know if they were at war. The actions taken by the colonist were seen as a

small rebellion led by Boston▪ Boston became the first goal of the British▪ Became difficult since the most feverant anti-British people

lived in this area▪ Boston is besieged and ultimately the British forces of Thomas

Gage are forced evacuate the city ▪ In the middle and southern colonies the fighting was more bleh

and than anything else. A few British supporters were quashed and Britain remained uncertain of what to do

Feeling lucky, Americans begin the invasion of Canada

Phase Two

Lasted approximately two years, gave the British the best chance of victory Sadly for them, they committed to many errors to get an upper

hand. ▪ During this time the war became a traditional war▪ The arrival of William Howe and his 32,000 man army proved to everyone that this was no

longer just a rebellion▪ New York is lost and Howe takes a break

The colonist do not, but in the end they are forced to when their winter victories are lost. How will issue a pardon to anyone who swears loyalty to Britain

3000 accept

1777, Howe makes a plan. Decides against his own plan and take Philadelphia.▪ The first American capital is now under British control▪ Saratoga- Americans win, but most importantly it convinces the

French Crown to ally themselves to the war effort ▪ Howe was his very own worst enemy▪ Blunder after blunder ▪ The goal was to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies

Final Phase

British believe Loyalist stronger in southern colonies, fighting shifts there Spring 1780—English captured Savannah and

Charleston August 1780—American army routed at Camden,

South Carolina Continental army rallies behind Nathaniel Greene 1781—Cornwallis moves British into Virginia October 19, 1781—Cornwallis surrenders to

Washington’s combined French and American forces

The US Divided

Tories/Loyalist- 1/5 to a 1/3 of the population were loyal to the crown

Loyalist saw rebellion as endangering life, liberty, and property ▪ Current Officials▪ Few Merchant ▪ People who didn’t give a care

These people , more than 100,000, were forced to flee and lived the rest of their lives overseas▪ Those with means were never able to recoup their

belongings▪ Provided Patriots the ability to gain influence and power

Those that supported GB suffered Anglicans Quakers▪ Pacifism

Catholics prospered Supported the war French were Catholic

AA were able to experience freedom for 1st time Native Americans

Many stayed neutral▪ Those that got involved supported the British▪ Work with the devil you know

Relationship between American Settlers and NA was at best tenuous

Women

The Revolutionary War was fought on a larger scale than the French and Indian War. Women for the first time were forced to take over the day to day operations of business and family

Those that weren’t able to, flocked to the militias and armies Auxiliary Service▪ Helped in camps and sometimes on the battlefield itself

The war itself did not change women or their role in society Many places the patriarchal tendencies increased ▪ Abigail Adams

Winning the Peace

American negotiators were John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams Pitted France against England to get best

terms for the states Peace Treaty of 1783

Independence recognized All territory east of Mississippi River, between

Canada and Florida Secures fishing rights in North Atlantic US will help British merchants and Loyalist

collect debts

Republicanism and Final Thoughts

Power comes from the population at large Social Contract theory

Equality For most of our history this meant you are White, this is

changing ▪ Have the ability to better your situation▪ You could be born poor, but didn’t have to die that way

Continues to be an American ideal

The US should have never won the war for Independence British mistakes will allow the American colonist the time to get

situated and help from British enemies This new government has never been seen in history

before, no one knows how and if it will work Biggest question remains: is this a government of the

elite or a government of the people?