Ch. 8 – The American Revolution

1. Ch. 8 – The American Revolution • Ideas Behind the Revolution • Initially most Americans did not desire independence; proud to be British citizens. • Reasons for shift of loyalty: • Hiring of Hessians • Governor of Virginia promised freedom to slaves who would fight for Britain. • Impact: persuaded many southern elite to join New England in the war effort.

2. Ideas Behind the Revolution Thomas Paine – wrote Common Sense (published 1776) Became an instant best-seller in colonies; effective propaganda Main ideas: Britain's colonial policies were inconsistent; independence was the only course Nowhere in the physical universe did a smaller heavenly body control a larger one. Why should tiny England control huge North America? King was nothing more than the "Royal Brute of Great Britain." America had a sacred mission; moral obligation to the world to set up an independent, democratic republic, untainted by association with corrupt monarchical Britain. Persuaded Congress to go all the way for independence Could not hope for aid from France unless they declared independence. The American Revolution

3. The American Revolution • Declaration of Independence, 1776 • June 7, 1776, Philadelphia Congress, Richard Henry Lee proposed independence. • "These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states..." • Yet, formal explanation was needed to rally resistance at home and invite foreign nations to aid the American cause, especially France. • Congress appointed Committee on Independence to prepare an appropriate statement shortly after Lee's speech. • Task given to a committee that chose Thomas Jefferson as primary author. • Other members:  Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, & Robert Livingston • Jefferson included section condemning England for continuing the slave trade despite colonial wishes (despite his owning slaves). • Yet, southerners in particular still favored slavery and dismissed the clause.

4. The American Revolution • Declaration of Independence formally approved on July 4, 1776 • DOI had three major parts: • Preamble (heavily influenced by John Locke – English philosopher) • Stated the rights of colonists to break away if natural rights were violated: life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (property) • List of 27 grievances of the colonies (seen by Congress as most important part) • Charged King with imposing taxes w/o colonials' consent, eliminating trial by jury, military dictatorship, maintaining standing armies in peacetime, cutting off trade, burning towns, hiring mercenaries, & inciting Indian violence. • Formal declaration of independence • Officially broke ties with England • "United States" officially an independent country • Result: Foreign aid could now be successfully solicited

5. The American Revolution • Loyalists ("Tories") = about 1/3 of American people • Colonists who fought for return to colonial rule; loyal to the king. • Usually conservative: educated and wealthy;fearful of “mob rule.” • Included the older generation; younger generation was more revolutionary • Included king's officers and other beneficiaries of the crown • Included the Anglican clergy and a large portion of their followers; most numerous of the loyalists (except in Virginia) • Influential in aristocratic NY, Charleston, PA, and NJ. • Least numerous in New England • Ineffective at gaining allegiance of neutral colonists

6. The American Revolution • Patriots = 1/3 of Americans • American rebels who fought both British soldiers and loyalists. • Sometimes called “Whigs" (named after British opposition party) • Most numerous in New England • Constituted a minority movement • More adept at gaining support from colonials • Financing: Robert Morris, “the financier of the Revolution” helped Congress finance the war • About 80,000 Loyalists fled the colonies. • Loyalists regarded by Patriots as traitors • Their estates were confiscated and sold; these funds helped finance the war

7. The American Revolution • Battle of Saratoga (1777) • Most important battle of the Revolution • Americans defeated major section of British army at Saratoga, NY in October 1777. • France had secretly aided Patriots since 1776. Saratoga victory by Patriots bolstered France’s belief that Americans could win the war. As a result, France signed alliance w/ Americans and openly joined their fight. • France sent troops, navy ships and military leaders likeMarquis de Lafayetteto lead French forces in Virginia during last years of war. • Ben Franklin traveled to France during war & helped convince French leaders to aid Americans!

8. Battle of Yorktown: last major battle of the war French Admiral De Grasse, head of powerful fleet in W. Indies, blockaded Chesapeake Bay; British ships unable to enter. Washington made 300 mile march to Chesapeake Bay from NY. Accompanied by Rochambeau's French army, Washington attacked British by land while de Grasse blockaded them by sea. Oct. 19, 1781, General Cornwallis surrendered entire force of 7,000 men. War continued one more year (especially in the South)  The American Revolution AdmiralDe Grasse Count de Rochambeau

9. Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: “The World Turned Upside Down!” Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

10. Peace of Paris French attempted to create a weak U.S. U.S. diplomats Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay sent by Congress to make no separate peace without consulting the French…. They ignored these orders as they were highly suspicious of France & Spain. John Jay believed France wanted to keep US border east of the Allegheny mountains and give western territories to its ally, Spain, for its help in the war. U.S. turned to Great Britain Britain eager to separate U.S. from the Franco-American Alliance. Preliminary treaty signed in 1782 The American Revolution

11. * Treaty of Paris of 1783:  Britain formally recognized US independence Granted US huge boundaries stretching to the Mississippi in the west, the Great Lakes in the north, and to Spanish Florida in the south Americans allowed to retain a share in the valuable Newfoundland fisheries British promised troops would not take slaves from America American concessions: Loyalists could not be further persecuted Congress was to recommend to state legislatures that confiscated Loyalist property be restored American states were bound to pay back debts to British creditors U.S. did not comply with many of these concessions and it became partial cause of the War of 1812 against Britain…. France approved the British-American terms (officially, no separate Franco-American peace) America alone gained from the war Britain lost colonies and other territories France became bankrupt which helped spark the French Revolution Spain gained little The American Revolution

12. North America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783

13. Articles of Confederation (1781-1787) First form of government for the United States. State governments had more power than the national government. National government very weak. Did not have the power to tax or raise armies No executive branch (President) to enforce laws No judicial branch (Supreme Court) to settle legal disputes All 13 states had to agree to amend (change) Articles. The American Revolution

14. Constitution (signed in 1787) Delegates from each state met to amend the Articles of Confederation, but instead created a new document. New government based on Federalism – power is divided between state and national governments. Bill of Rights added to Constitution. First ten amendments spelled out personal liberties guaranteed to all citizens. By 1791, remaining states ratified (approved) the Constitution. George Washington made first President of U.S. The American Revolution

15. New National Symbols