The American Revolution: 1775-1783

APUSHAPUSH

Locke and JeffersonLocke and JeffersonJohn Locke’s Second Treatise of Government clearly influenced John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government clearly influenced Thomas Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration of IndependenceThomas Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration of Independence

Treatise Declaration

“The state of nature has a law to govern it”

“to preserve life, liberty and property”

“men being by nature all free, equal, and independent”

“for when any number of men have, by the consent of every individual, made a community, with a power to act as one body, which is only by the will and determination of the majority”

“Laws of Nature and Nature’s God”

“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

“all men are created equal”

“Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”

BritainBritain AmericansAmericans

AdvantagesAdvantages ?? ??

DisadvantagesDisadvantages ?? ??

On the Eve of the On the Eve of the Revolution ?Revolution ?

Comparison: Britain v ColonistsComparison: Britain v ColonistsBritain The “United States”

• Large Population, wealthy

• Professional trained, large army, help from Hessians and loyalists

• Less familiar with land• Strong centralized gov’t to

coordinate the war

• Distractions by competitive European nations that wished to see Britain fail

• Internal distractions to war commitment

• Second rate military leaders• Fought offensive war

• Small population, little wealth

• Inexperienced soldiers, many citizen-based militia

• More familiarity with land

• Scattered colonial gov’ts; weak centralized gov’t

• Aid of France to American side

• Divisions between Loyalists and Patriots

• More competent military leaders

• Fought defensive war

LoyalistLoyalist

StrongholdStrongholdss

Washington’s HeadachesWashington’s Headaches

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral].

State/colony loyalties.

Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army.

Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben.

Exports & Imports: 1768-Exports & Imports: 1768-17831783

Military StrategiesMilitary Strategies

Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].

Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]

Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies.

The American

s

The British

Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.

Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.

“Divide and Conquer” use the Loyalists.

Phase IPhase I:: The Northern The Northern CampaignCampaign[1775-1776][1775-1776]

Bunker Hill (June, 1775)Bunker Hill (June, 1775)

The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Phase IIPhase II::

NY & PANY & PA[1777-1778][1777-1778]

New York City in FlamesNew York City in Flames(1776)(1776)

Washington Crossing the Washington Crossing the DelawareDelaware

Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851 –

Valley Forge – 2,000 men die of cold and disease

Saratoga: Saratoga: “Turning “Turning Point”Point” of the War? of the War?

Significance: American victory convinces France to join their side in the

war effort

SPAIN TOO!

Phase IIIPhase III:: The Southern The Southern Strategy Strategy [1780-1781][1780-1781]

Britain’s “Southern Britain’s “Southern Strategy”Strategy”

Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South.

Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving.

The British win a number of small victories, but cannot pacify the countryside [similar to U. S. failures in Vietnam!]

Good US General:Nathanial Greene

The Battle of Yorktown The Battle of Yorktown (1781)(1781)

Count de Rochambeau

AdmiralDe Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:Yorktown:

Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

““The World Turned Upside The World Turned Upside Down!” Down!”

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783

Treaty of Paris - 1783Treaty of Paris - 1783• Took two years to negotiate after Took two years to negotiate after

Yorktown; signed Sept. 1783Yorktown; signed Sept. 1783• Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Ben Franklin, John Adams, and

John Jay represent AmericaJohn Jay represent America• War very unpopular in Britain. War very unpopular in Britain.

Britain continues fight with France Britain continues fight with France and Spain in West Indies (want and Spain in West Indies (want quick negotiation with US)quick negotiation with US)

• US and Britain negotiated in secretUS and Britain negotiated in secret

Treaty of Paris - 1783Treaty of Paris - 1783• Americans gain independenceAmericans gain independence

• Britain ceded so much land to Britain ceded so much land to America it ignored Indian territorial America it ignored Indian territorial rights promised from French and rights promised from French and Indian WarIndian War

• Sets US/Canda boundary todaySets US/Canda boundary today

• America made out best in the endAmerica made out best in the end

• New idea of “Republicanism” sets New idea of “Republicanism” sets inin

RepublicanismRepublicanism• ““The real revolution was the radical The real revolution was the radical

change in the principles, opinions, change in the principles, opinions, and sentiments, and affections of the and sentiments, and affections of the people.” – John Adamspeople.” – John Adams

• Republicanism – a gov’t based on Republicanism – a gov’t based on elected assemblies with no king or elected assemblies with no king or established nobilityestablished nobility

• Based on Equality and LibertyBased on Equality and Liberty

WholesaleWholesalePricePriceIndex:Index:1770-1770-17891789

Federalist vs. Anti-FederalistFederalist vs. Anti-FederalistStrongholds at the End of the Strongholds at the End of the

WarWar

Weaknesses of theWeaknesses of theArticles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederationA unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law].

13 out of 13 to amend.

Representatives were frequently absent.

Could not tax or raise armies.

No executive or judicial branches.

State ConstitutionsState ConstitutionsRepublicanism.

Most had strong governors with veto power.

Most had bicameral legislatures.

Property required for voting.

Some had universal white male suffrage.

Most had bills of rights.

Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Occupational Composition of Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesSeveral State Assemblies

in the 1780sin the 1780s

Indian Land Cessions:Indian Land Cessions:1768-17991768-1799

Disputed Territorial ClaimsDisputed Territorial ClaimsBetween Spain & the U. S.:Between Spain & the U. S.:

1783-17961783-1796

State Claims to Western State Claims to Western LandsLands

Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of Northwest Ordinance of 17871787

One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress!

Statehood achieved in three stages:

1. Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory.

2. When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners elect territorial legislature.

3. When population reached 60,000 elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.

The United States in The United States in 17871787

American Exports, To & American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789From Britain: 1783-1789

Annapolis Convention Annapolis Convention (1786)(1786)

12 representatives from 5 states[NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA]

GOAL address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states.

Not enough states were represented to make any real progress.

Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77

Daniel Shays

Western MA

Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77

There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders.

-- George Washington-- George Washington