Chapter 6 A People in Revolution The American People, 6 th ed.

Chapter 6Chapter 6A People in A People in RevolutionRevolution

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. Bursting the Colonial Bursting the Colonial BondsBonds

The Final Rupture/The Final Rupture/Common Common SenseSense/Declaring Independence/Declaring Independence

The revolutionary fire was lit with the The revolutionary fire was lit with the occupation of Boston in 1775 by 4,000 occupation of Boston in 1775 by 4,000 British troops. Redcoats were tasked with British troops. Redcoats were tasked with rounding up revolutionary leaders and rounding up revolutionary leaders and seizing the arms depot in nearby Concord.seizing the arms depot in nearby Concord.

Military skirmishes ensued prompting the Military skirmishes ensued prompting the second Continental Congress to create a second Continental Congress to create a standing army in defiance of England.standing army in defiance of England.

In 1775, the king sent 20,000 additional In 1775, the king sent 20,000 additional troops to the colonies to suppress the troops to the colonies to suppress the insurrection.insurrection.

Revolutionary leaders understood there Revolutionary leaders understood there was no going back.was no going back.

Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Common Sense Sense described the outrages of the described the outrages of the English government in plain language that English government in plain language that inflamed the masses.inflamed the masses.

A congressional committee chaired by A congressional committee chaired by Thomas Jefferson produced the Thomas Jefferson produced the Declaration of Independence and Declaration of Independence and distributed it to the world on July 4, 1776.distributed it to the world on July 4, 1776.

II.II. The War for American The War for American IndependenceIndependence

The War in the North The War in the North and Southand South The British established their military The British established their military

headquarters in New York City.headquarters in New York City. Washington’s troops repeatedly tried to assault Washington’s troops repeatedly tried to assault

the British to no avail; few American victories in the British to no avail; few American victories in the war’s first years.the war’s first years.

The South proved no match for superior British The South proved no match for superior British forces as Savannah and Charleston fell quickly.forces as Savannah and Charleston fell quickly.

Eventual entry of France as an ally of America Eventual entry of France as an ally of America turned the tide against the British.turned the tide against the British.

The Articles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation

A congressional attempt to create a more stable A congressional attempt to create a more stable and lasting central government.and lasting central government.

Bitter disputes in Congress left the Articles with Bitter disputes in Congress left the Articles with little power. States remained in charge of their little power. States remained in charge of their own destinies and Congress could only rely on own destinies and Congress could only rely on the generosity of the states for finances.the generosity of the states for finances.

Compromises regarding western claims of Compromises regarding western claims of territory finally led to approval of the Articles in territory finally led to approval of the Articles in 1781.1781.

Native Americans in Native Americans in the Revolutionthe Revolution Intertwined with the fate of the colonists since Intertwined with the fate of the colonists since

first contact, the Indians could not help but be first contact, the Indians could not help but be drawn into the war.drawn into the war.

Continued encroachment by white settlers into Continued encroachment by white settlers into the western lands of the Indians caused the western lands of the Indians caused resentment and violence.resentment and violence.

The neutrality of the powerful Iroquois nation The neutrality of the powerful Iroquois nation quickly dissolved as the war began. Allied with quickly dissolved as the war began. Allied with the British, the tribe terrorized much of New the British, the tribe terrorized much of New England throughout the conflict.England throughout the conflict.

Negotiating PeaceNegotiating Peace The Treaty of Paris, signed at Versailles in 1783, The Treaty of Paris, signed at Versailles in 1783,

acknowledged the independence of America and acknowledged the independence of America and recognized the country’s western border at the recognized the country’s western border at the Mississippi River.Mississippi River.

Crucial to victory in the war was the indomitable Crucial to victory in the war was the indomitable will of the American people, the effectiveness of will of the American people, the effectiveness of the state militias, the French fleet, Washington’s the state militias, the French fleet, Washington’s military expertise, and a series of inept blunders military expertise, and a series of inept blunders on the part of a larger and better equipped on the part of a larger and better equipped British army.British army.

III.III. The Experience The Experience of Warof War

Recruiting an ArmyRecruiting an Army As many as 250,000 men may have As many as 250,000 men may have

borne arms in the Revolutionary War.borne arms in the Revolutionary War. Early enthusiasm for the war transformed Early enthusiasm for the war transformed

into a “poor man’s fight” with paid into a “poor man’s fight” with paid substitutes and criminals shouldering substitutes and criminals shouldering much of the burden.much of the burden.

Pay was slow and some troops openly Pay was slow and some troops openly revolted as supplies dwindled.revolted as supplies dwindled.

Civilians and the WarCivilians and the War Devastation in the lives of city dwellers was Devastation in the lives of city dwellers was

profound. Fire and vandalism destroyed much profound. Fire and vandalism destroyed much of the existing structures in the larger cities.of the existing structures in the larger cities.

Refugee traffic increased throughout the war as Refugee traffic increased throughout the war as civilians struggled to escape the ravages of the civilians struggled to escape the ravages of the armies.armies.

Smallpox killed some 130,000 people while only Smallpox killed some 130,000 people while only 25,000 American soldiers died as a result of 25,000 American soldiers died as a result of fighting.fighting.

The LoyalistsThe Loyalists Many colonists who had remained loyal Many colonists who had remained loyal

to the Crown emigrated to Canada, to the Crown emigrated to Canada, England or the Caribbean. England or the Caribbean.

Tens of thousands of colonists evacuated Tens of thousands of colonists evacuated with the British troops from New York with the British troops from New York after the surrender.after the surrender.

Public punishing of Loyalists—when Public punishing of Loyalists—when found—came to be politically popular.found—came to be politically popular.

African Americans African Americans and the Warand the War Thousands of African Americans Thousands of African Americans

participated in the Revolutionary War, participated in the Revolutionary War, both free and slave.both free and slave.

Many slaves began to question their own Many slaves began to question their own oppression after hearing the colonial oppression after hearing the colonial rhetoric regarding freedom.rhetoric regarding freedom.

Many blacks sought freedom behind the Many blacks sought freedom behind the English lines, and many Southern blacks English lines, and many Southern blacks fled North.fled North.

IV.IV. The Ferment of The Ferment of Revolutionary PoliticsRevolutionary Politics

Mobilizing the PeopleMobilizing the People During the Revolution, politics caught During the Revolution, politics caught

peoples fascination and became a peoples fascination and became a standard sermon topic for the clergy.standard sermon topic for the clergy.

Most believed revolution was a mandate Most believed revolution was a mandate from God.from God.

The average Americans were determined The average Americans were determined to incorporate the ideals of independence to incorporate the ideals of independence into their own lives.into their own lives.

A Republican IdeologyA Republican Ideology Basic to Republican belief is a rejection Basic to Republican belief is a rejection

of the concept of monarchy.of the concept of monarchy. Oversight of government by the people is Oversight of government by the people is

the only true method of achieving liberty.the only true method of achieving liberty. Historically, trouble arises from too much Historically, trouble arises from too much

government.government. Responsibility for political order should Responsibility for political order should

rest with the people.rest with the people.

Forming New GovernmentsForming New Governments

A few states retained their original A few states retained their original charters with only minor changes.charters with only minor changes.

Most states adapted new constitutions in Most states adapted new constitutions in order to provide a written documentation order to provide a written documentation of rights and responsibilities.of rights and responsibilities.

Massachusetts set the pattern for Massachusetts set the pattern for constitution-building in 1779.constitution-building in 1779.

Women and the Limits of Women and the Limits of Republican CitizenshipRepublican Citizenship

Men of the Revolutionary period were Men of the Revolutionary period were agreed that women should be excluded agreed that women should be excluded from public affairs.from public affairs.

Republican virtue was thought to embody Republican virtue was thought to embody primarily masculine traits such as primarily masculine traits such as rationality, self-discipline, and public rationality, self-discipline, and public sacrifice.sacrifice.