The American Revolution

1
The American Revolution

• Reference Chapter Four
• The American Nation 12th edition

2
Chapter Objectives

• The events that led the Continental Congress and
  Americans to support a break from England
• The ways in which the Declaration of Independence
  justified Americas independence from England
• The advantages the colonies had in their war for
  independence and the advantages Britain had
• The forces that led France to support the
  rebellion of the American Colonies
• Why the American negotiators were able to gain
  such favorable terms in Paris

3
Chapter Objectives continued

• The basic structure of government under the
  Articles of Confederation
• The significance of the new state constitutions
• How the revolution led to certain social and
  political reforms
• The impact of the revolution on the role of women
  in American society
• How the war contributed to a growing national
  spirit and culture

4
Continental Congress

• 12 colonies send delegates
• Georgia does not
• Meet at Philadelphias Carpenter Hall
• September 1774
• Agreed to boycott British trade
• Petitioned King George III
• No longer recognized Parliament as a legitimate
  legislature for the colonies

5
The Shot Heard Round the World

• British government decides to use force against
  the colonies in January 1775
• April 1775-British seek to seize arms colonials
  are storing at Concord
• Minutemen meet the British at Lexington
• Eight Americans die at Battle of Lexington
• British move to Concord and destroy the
  provisions stored there.
• Colonies begin to rally to support Massachusetts

6
The Second Continental Congress

• Meets in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775
• More radical than the first
• Organized the Continental Army
• Appoints George Washington as Commander in Chief
  of all forces

7
The Battle of Bunker Hill

• Patriots start to set up defenses near Boston at
  Breeds Hill
• After three tries, the British dislodge the
  colonials at Breeds Hill, but they lose lots of
  regulars
• George III proclaims colonies in open rebellion
• Continental Congress offers one last plea to the
  King it is rejected
• Continental Congress orders attack on Canada

8
The Great Declaration

• Congress and most colonists hesitated to break
  with Britain
• Some concerned about mob violence that was shown
  during Stamp and Tea Act protests
• British hiring Hessian mercenaries and Thomas
  Paines Common Sense pushes the colonies toward a
  final break.

9
The Great Declaration continued

• Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduces the
  resolution declaring independence from England on
  June 7, 1776
• Appointed a committee to draft a justification
  for Lees resolution
• Thomas Jefferson appointed to write the
  declaration paper (Declaration of Independence)
• DOI has lots of Enlightenment overtones

10
1776 The Balance of Forces

• Americans enjoyed some advantages like familiar
  terrain, the fact that English soldiers had to
  travel across the Atlantic to fight, Englands
  army was ill-directed, and public opinion in
  England was divided.
• Britain did have superior resources larger
  population, larger stock or war material, mastery
  of the seas, trained army, an established and
  centralized government

11
Loyalists

• America was far from united
• Loyalists, or Tories, were a significant portion
  of the colonial population (1/5th)
• Merchants tied to Britain, Anglican clergymen,
  and royal appointees all remained loyal to
  Britain
• Loyalist lacked organization and leadership

12
Early British victories/American Victories

• General Howe defeats Americans at Battle of Long
  Island and again at the Battle of Manhattan
  Island
• He allows Washingtons army to escape both times
• Washington strikes back at the Battle of Trenton
  on Dec. 25, 1776 when he defeats a group of
  Hessian Mercenaries after crossing the Delaware
  River
• Washington wins again at the Battle of Princeton
  on January 3, 1777
• American morale is bolstered

13
Saratoga and the French Alliance

• Howe moves the British Army to Philly
• Defeats Washington at Brandywine on the way
• Howe leaving and going to Philly leaves General
  Burgoyne open to attack by Americans at Saratoga
• France recognizes American independence after
  Saratoga and lends aid
• Washington settles in at Valley Forge for the
  winter and almost loses his army to starvation
  and freezing
• Lots of officers resign and some enlisted men
  deserted

14
The War Moves South

• May 1778-British replace Howe with General
  Clinton (not Bill or Hillary)
• Americans win at Battle of Monmouth Courthouse
• After this, fighting in the North diminishes
• British focus on the South
• British take Savannah and Charleston
• America wins at Kings Mountain, Cowpens and
  Guilford Courthouse
• Cornwallis, who commands the British Army in the
  South, withdraws to Wilmington, North Car.

15
War in the SouthYorktown

• Cornwallis had hoped to be helped by the British
  fleet, as well as Tories in the South
• Clinton orders Cornwallis to Yorktown where he
  could be supplied by sea
• The French cut off Cornwallis supply and escape
  routes
• Cornwallis surrenders on October 17, 1781

16
The Peace of Paris (yes, they go to Paris again)

• Americans get a highly favorable peace treaty
  with Britain
• France does not like this because they had
  already signed a treaty with America
• Britain recognized American independence,
  established generous boundaries, withdrew its
  troops from American soil, and granted fishing
  rights
• Britain preferred having America control the
  Mississippi Valley than France

17
Forming a National Government

• The Continental Congress was a legislative body,
  but not a complete govt.
• Articles of Confederation in Nov. 1777 and the
  Congress began to operate under them after the
  war officially as a national unit
• Created a loose union
• Each state retained its sovereignty
• Central government lacked authority to impose
  taxes or to enforce powers it possessed

18
Financing the war

• Congress and states shared the financial burden
  of the war
• Congress paid for the Continental Army while
  states raised militias
• States contribute 5.8 million in cash and
  supplies
• Congress borrows money
• Congress and the states issue paper money
• Currency falls in value because of that
• People pay for war through financial depreciation
• Robert Morris-Superintendent of Finance
• Restores stability to currency

19
State Republican Governments

• Most states frame constitutions even before the
  DOI
• Most provided for an elected executive,
  legislature, and system of courts
• Power resided in the legislature
• States reject British idea of virtual
  representation
• Most states had a Bill of Rights in their state
  constitutions

20
Social Reform

• Separation of church and state
• Some states moved against slavery
• All northern states would gradually abolish
  slavery
• No granting of titles of nobility
• New governments in the states were more
  responsive to public opinion

21
Effects on women

• During the late 18th century, women gained more
  rights to have a divorce
• Revolutionary War increases the influence of
  women
• While men were away at war, men managed the
  farms, shops and businesses
• Greater educational opportunities for women

22
Growth of a national spirit

• Common sacrifices in war, common experiences
  during the war, service in the continental army
  or militias, and exposure to people from other
  colonies and legislators traveling to other parts
  of the colonies all contributed to a growing
  national spirit
• Unified postal system

23
The Great Land Ordinance

• The Land Ordinance of 1785 provided for surveying
  western territories
• Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established
  governments for the west and provided for their
  admission as states
• Territorial government are set up

24
National Heroes

• Revolution gives us our first national heroes
• Benjamin Franklin added to his fame
• George Washington becomes the chief human symbol
  of the Revolution and Americanism

25
National Culture

• Break with Britain starts a social and
  intellectual independence
• Anglican Church in America becomes the Protestant
  Episcopal Church
• Dutch and German Reform Churches in America sever
  ties with Europe
• American Catholics gain their own bishop
• American language emerges (variations on standard
  English)
• Writers and painters chose patriotic themes