The American RevolutionThe American Revolution

Causes of the American RevolutionCauses of the American Revolution

PoliticalPolitical

Salutary NeglectSalutary Neglect Structure of the colonial GovernmentStructure of the colonial Government Growth of American NationalismGrowth of American Nationalism Fearful of Losing political rightsFearful of Losing political rights England asserting rights she never had beforeEngland asserting rights she never had before Taxation without representationTaxation without representation Minority position in empire – at bestMinority position in empire – at best British Methods harsh and impolitic quartering of troopsBritish Methods harsh and impolitic quartering of troops

Economic

Mercantilism profitable for the English (Navigation Acts)Mercantilism profitable for the English (Navigation Acts) Self-rule means greater opportunity and profitSelf-rule means greater opportunity and profit Currency Act intended to punish Currency Act intended to punish Parliament controlled by British merchant classParliament controlled by British merchant class Colonists carried (Colonists carried (believedbelieved) heavy tax burden) heavy tax burden Fear of the economic futureFear of the economic future Post war depressionPost war depression Taxed citizens wanted to see the benefits of those taxesTaxed citizens wanted to see the benefits of those taxes

Causes of the American RevolutionCauses of the American Revolution

SocialSocial Fear of losing religious freedomFear of losing religious freedom Independence = greater social freedom and opportunityIndependence = greater social freedom and opportunity Upper class generally pro-British (Tory)Upper class generally pro-British (Tory) Discrimination against people born in coloniesDiscrimination against people born in colonies Colonists came to regard British as foreignersColonists came to regard British as foreigners British stressed British stressed dutiesduties of British citizenship while of British citizenship while colonists stressed the colonists stressed the rightsrights Breakdown of deferenceBreakdown of deference

Causes of the American RevolutionCauses of the American Revolution

Revolutionary War : The BalanceRevolutionary War : The BalanceBritish AdvantagesBritish Advantages No Colony had ever won its independenceNo Colony had ever won its independence Britain was the greatest empire since RomeBritain was the greatest empire since Rome Population 3-1 against AmericansPopulation 3-1 against Americans Monetary wealthMonetary wealth Naval power was 100-1 compared to the Americans Naval power was 100-1 compared to the Americans (Navy adds mobility)(Navy adds mobility) Professional army 5-1 compared to the AmericansProfessional army 5-1 compared to the Americans Loyalists in the colonies (Tories)Loyalists in the colonies (Tories) African Americans would help the BritishAfrican Americans would help the British Native Americans would help the BritishNative Americans would help the British

British DisadvantagesBritish Disadvantages

Context of her world power Context of her world power (India, Ireland, Europe) – war becomes global(India, Ireland, Europe) – war becomes globalTurmoil at home – (Whigs opposed war). Many British Turmoil at home – (Whigs opposed war). Many British people had no desire to fight their cousinspeople had no desire to fight their cousins Long and expensive supply lines; storms, delays, andLong and expensive supply lines; storms, delays, and distancedistance 11% of men lost in the crossing of the Atlantic11% of men lost in the crossing of the Atlantic No great leader emerged to lead and inspireNo great leader emerged to lead and inspire

Revolutionary War : The BalanceRevolutionary War : The Balance

More British Disadvantages

Americans had to be conquered throughout a largeAmericans had to be conquered throughout a large territory with little infrastructure and no strategic territory with little infrastructure and no strategic heartland, no center to destroy or capture heartland, no center to destroy or capture Generally poor leadershipGenerally poor leadership British tactics did not apply to the colonial landscape or British tactics did not apply to the colonial landscape or American strategyAmerican strategy Disrespect of colonist abilities, overconfidenceDisrespect of colonist abilities, overconfidence

Revolutionary War : The BalanceRevolutionary War : The Balance

American AdvantagesAmerican Advantages Outstanding leaders both politically & militarilyOutstanding leaders both politically & militarily Foreign aid from France, loansForeign aid from France, loans European volunteersEuropean volunteers Defensive war on their own soilDefensive war on their own soil Well-motivated privateersWell-motivated privateers Short supply linesShort supply lines Tough, self-reliant soldiers (Minutemen)Tough, self-reliant soldiers (Minutemen) CommitmentCommitment Belief in a just cause, moral advantage Belief in a just cause, moral advantage Creativity and improvisationCreativity and improvisation

Revolutionary War : The BalanceRevolutionary War : The Balance

American Disadvantages

Initially, badly organized and poorly trainedInitially, badly organized and poorly trained Problems with interstate consistencyProblems with interstate consistency Economic difficulties (paper money, need for loans)Economic difficulties (paper money, need for loans) Problems with logistics and suppliesProblems with logistics and supplies No Manufacturing within the coloniesNo Manufacturing within the colonies

Revolutionary War : The BalanceRevolutionary War : The Balance

Major BattlesMajor BattlesLexington and ConcordLexington and Concord

British general, Gage decided on a reconnaissance-in-force to find and British general, Gage decided on a reconnaissance-in-force to find and destroy a reported stockpile of colonial arms and ammunition at Concord. destroy a reported stockpile of colonial arms and ammunition at Concord. Seven hundred British troops set out on this mission on the night of April 18, Seven hundred British troops set out on this mission on the night of April 18, 1775. Their movement was detected by American surveillance, and news 1775. Their movement was detected by American surveillance, and news was spread throughout the countryside by dispatch riders Paul Revere and was spread throughout the countryside by dispatch riders Paul Revere and William Dawes.William Dawes.At Lexington Captain John Parker and some 70 minutemen awaited the At Lexington Captain John Parker and some 70 minutemen awaited the British. A shot was fired, and then the British opened fire and charged.British. A shot was fired, and then the British opened fire and charged.The British continued to Concord only to find that nearly all of the military The British continued to Concord only to find that nearly all of the military supplies they had expected to find had already been moved. Attacked by supplies they had expected to find had already been moved. Attacked by Americans they began to retreat to Boston.Americans they began to retreat to Boston.Only a relief force of additional British troops saved the first column from Only a relief force of additional British troops saved the first column from destruction.destruction.

Bunker HillBunker Hill

In May 1775, three more British generals, William Howe, Henry Clinton, and John Burgoyne, arrived in Boston urging General Gage to further aggressive action. The following month the Americans their post around Boston by fortifying Breed’s Hill (a spur of Bunker Hill), from which they could, if necessary, bombard Boston.The British determined to remove them by a frontal attack that would demonstrate the power of British arms. Twice the British were thrown back and finally succeeded as the Americans ran out of ammunition. Over a thousand British soldiers were killed or wounded in what turned out to be the bloodiest battle of the war (June 17, 1775)The British and gained very little and remained bottled up in Boston

Major BattlesMajor Battles

SaratogaSaratoga

The American victory at Saratoga convinced the French The American victory at Saratoga convinced the French to join openly in the war against England. Eventually, to join openly in the war against England. Eventually, the Spanish (1779) and the Dutch (1780) joined as well, the Spanish (1779) and the Dutch (1780) joined as well, and England was faced with a World War.and England was faced with a World War.

Major BattlesMajor Battles

YorktownYorktown

The frustrated and impetuous Cornwallis (successor to Gage) The frustrated and impetuous Cornwallis (successor to Gage) was sent instructions to take up a defensive position and await was sent instructions to take up a defensive position and await further order. Against his better judgment Cornwallis did so, further order. Against his better judgment Cornwallis did so, selecting Yorktown, Virginia, on a peninsula that reaches into selecting Yorktown, Virginia, on a peninsula that reaches into Chesapeake Bay between the York and James Rivers.Chesapeake Bay between the York and James Rivers.Washington now saw and seized the opportunity this presented. Washington now saw and seized the opportunity this presented. With the aid of a French fleet which took control of Chesapeake With the aid of a French fleet which took control of Chesapeake Bay and a French army that joined him in sealing off the land Bay and a French army that joined him in sealing off the land approaches to Yorktown, Washington succeeded in trapping approaches to Yorktown, Washington succeeded in trapping Cornwallis. After three weeks of siege, Cornwallis surrendered Cornwallis. After three weeks of siege, Cornwallis surrendered on October 17, 1781on October 17, 1781

Major BattlesMajor Battles

The War at SeaThe War at Sea

Britain had other problems as well. Ships of the small, Britain had other problems as well. Ships of the small, but daring U.S. Navy, as well as privateers, preyed on but daring U.S. Navy, as well as privateers, preyed on the British merchant marine. the British merchant marine.

John Paul Jones, the most famous of the American John Paul Jones, the most famous of the American naval leaders, captured ships and carried out raids naval leaders, captured ships and carried out raids along the coast of Britain itself. French and Spanish along the coast of Britain itself. French and Spanish naval forces also struck against various outposts of naval forces also struck against various outposts of the British Empire.the British Empire.

The Treaty of Paris of 1783The Treaty of Paris of 1783

1.1. The extremely able American negotiating team was composed The extremely able American negotiating team was composed of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.

2.2. The United States was recognized as an independent nation by The United States was recognized as an independent nation by the major European powers, including Britain.the major European powers, including Britain.

3.3. Its western boundary was set at the Mississippi RiverIts western boundary was set at the Mississippi River4.4. Its southern boundary was set at 31 degrees north latitude Its southern boundary was set at 31 degrees north latitude

( the northern boundary of Florida)( the northern boundary of Florida)5. Britain retained Canada but had to surrender Florida to Spain5. Britain retained Canada but had to surrender Florida to Spain6. Private British creditors would be free to collect any debts owed 6. Private British creditors would be free to collect any debts owed

by citizensby citizens7. Congress was to recommend that the states restore 7. Congress was to recommend that the states restore

confiscated loyalist property.confiscated loyalist property.

Results of American RevolutionResults of American RevolutionPoliticalPolitical

Creation of a democratic RepublicCreation of a democratic Republic New State constitutionsNew State constitutions Separation of powersSeparation of powers Growth of American NationalismGrowth of American Nationalism A new government (Articles of Confederation)A new government (Articles of Confederation) Courts, taxation, armyCourts, taxation, army Tyranny of the MajorityTyranny of the Majority

EconomicEconomic

Mercantilism profits and losses gone. (Navigation Acts)Mercantilism profits and losses gone. (Navigation Acts) American manufacturing and industry stimulatedAmerican manufacturing and industry stimulated InflationInflation Trade with foreign lands should increaseTrade with foreign lands should increase Heavy tax burden to pay for warHeavy tax burden to pay for war Land redistributionLand redistribution Post-war depression (1783)Post-war depression (1783) Westward Expansion resumesWestward Expansion resumes Could no longer trade duty free with British EmpireCould no longer trade duty free with British Empire

Results of American RevolutionResults of American Revolution

SocialSocial

Religious freedom increases, disestablished churchesReligious freedom increases, disestablished churches Independence – Greater social freedom and Independence – Greater social freedom and opportunity, class distinction less importantopportunity, class distinction less important Breakdown of deferenceBreakdown of deference Changes in criminal codes, more humaneChanges in criminal codes, more humane Slave trade abolished (1808), gradual emancipationSlave trade abolished (1808), gradual emancipation began in northern statesbegan in northern states

Results of American RevolutionResults of American Revolution