War for Independence The Revolutionary War Chapter II.

War for Independence

The Revolutionary War

Chapter II

Second Continental Congress

Delegates from the First Congress with new comers, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock

Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson would be the chief author of the document

He would be influenced by the Enlightenment period in Europe

Declaration of Independence

Jefferson divided it into four sections

1st Introduction or preamble

2nd Declaration of Rights 3rd Grievances against

the King 4th Resolution of

Independence

-John Trumbull

In Congress, July 4, 1776

“we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.”

“certain unalienable rights…life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” (idea of Locke)

“the representatives of the United States of America.”

“free and independent states.” -John Hancock presides over Congress

Foundation of Democracy

Ancient Greece 500 bc Magna Carta 1215 The Petition of Rights 1626 English Bill of Rights 1689 Social Contract Theory

(Thomas Hobbes 1651)

Natural Rights (John Locke 1690)

The biggest impact was of Early democracy was separation of powers

#4

First Attempts at Democracy

Mayflower compact 1620 Self

Government Virginia House of

Burgess Representative type

of Government

Common Sense

At the same time as the convention Common Sense appeared

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine

Spread revolutionary ideas to the colonies

One of the first major pieces of literature in American history

Revolutionary War

Battle of Bunker Hill British victory however

lost 2400 men to America’s 400

Showed the difference is fighting style

Washington moves his troops to Boston area

British leave Boston

Strengths and Weaknesses

British Well equipped, trained

army Help from 50,000

loyalist Help from Native

Americans and Slaves Hired help called

Mercenaries

America Home field advantage Washington New fighting style Fighting spirit Large amount of land to

conquer

Battle of Trenton

Washington Crosses the Delaware

Christmas of 1776 Washington leave Pennsylvania with 2,400 troops

Crosses the iced over Delaware river Surprises about 1,400 Hessian troops America suffered five casualties This was a great moral victory for America Volunteer troops increased

Battle of Saratoga & Yorktown

Turning point of War, major US victory

French were now willing to help

Yorktown, Virginia Washington had Cornwallis surrounded, and French were coming in from the sea

Cornwallis surrendered to Washington

Treaty of Paris 1783

1. Great Britain must recognize the independence of United States of America

2. Border between USA and Britain was set up in the north (great lakes and Mississippi)

3. Mississippi became the western border 4. Florida was returned to Spain 5. Great Britain agreed to withdraw all troops

Critical Period

With the war over America had to set up a government for the new nation

They were afraid of creating something that gave too much power to one man (like King)

Washington, in one of the most important acts of his life, retires after the war giving up control of his army

This shows that one man is not stronger than the nation as a whole

At this time the US was a collection of 13 individual governments

Articles of Confederation

First attempt at a government 1777 Approved by the Continental Congress One branch of government: Legislative Representatives from each state Each state had its own constitution All of the power was in the States: no power

of the Federal government

Weak Government

Groups called Nationalist called to strengthen the national government

Nation was in debt from the war, had no way of collecting money

Nation did not have the ability to collect taxes

Weakness of the Articles

One vote for each state regardless of size No power to collect taxes Congress had no power to regulate foreign

trade No separate executive branch or president No national court State had all the power, no National power Articles were a weak “league of friendship”

The Northwest Territory 1785

The single greatest accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation

Land sold in the Ohio valley to raise money for federal government

Set up process for admitting future states like Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, & Wisconsin

Set up some of the first Universities in America Slavery was prohibited in the new territory America knew that a stronger government was

needed

Shay’s Rebellion

Daniel Shay Revolutionary War Veteran

Issue over debt, banks tried to seize property

Shay was looking for lower taxes & debt relief

Thousands supported Shay under Revolutionary ideas.

Massachusetts militia used to stop rebellion

Exposed the weakness of state government

Exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation