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Securing Independence, Defining Nationhood, 1776-1788

Securing Independence, Defining Nationhood, 1776-1788. AP US History East High School Mr. Peterson Fall 2010. Focus Questions. What factors enabled the Americans to defeat the British in the American Revolution?

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Securing Independence, Defining Nationhood, 1776-1788

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  1. Securing Independence, Defining Nationhood, 1776-1788 AP US History East High School Mr. Peterson Fall 2010

  2. Focus Questions • What factors enabled the Americans to defeat the British in the American Revolution? • How did the Revolution affect relationships among Americans of different classes, races, and genders? • What political concerns were reflected in the first state constitutions and Articles of Confederation? • What were the principal issues dividing proponents and opponents of the new federal Constitution?

  3. “unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers or resistance by force.” –”Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms” The Prospects of War

  4. Loyalists and Other British Sympathizers • Tories • “A Tory was a thing with a head in England, a body in America, and a neck that needed stretching.” –Whig jest • Favored staying in empire • Approx. 20% of whites (maybe 1/3) • Concentrated in NY, NJ, GA, backcountry of NC and SC • Fought with British

  5. p. 155

  6. Non-white Supporters of Britain • Blacks • Many slaves went to Dunmore’s ranks • Hoped for freedom • Iroquois divided • Most followed Joseph Brant-Mohawk chief • Oneida and Tuscaroras supported rebels

  7. The Opposing Sides-British • 11 million Britons to 2.5 million colonists • 1/3 of colonists slaves or loyalists • Britain had world’s greatest navy • Largest army-100,000+ in America • Well-trained • Needed 20,000 German mercenaries • Cutbacks after Seven Years War

  8. The Opposing Sides-Americans • Americans used to serving in militias • Short terms • Guerilla style skirmishes • Continental Army needed to fight European style • Discipline and training needed • Lost many battles early in war

  9. p. 157

  10. Who Had the Advantage? • British advantages • Greatest navy and army • Resources of an empire • Experience • Command structure • Americans advantages • Home-field advantage • Deeply committed population (Patriots) • Substantial aid from France

  11. War and Peace, 1776-1783

  12. Shifting Fortunes in the North, 1776-1778 • Bunker Hill • Philadelphia threatened • Christmas night attack at Trenton • Hessians routed • On to Princeton • British forced to move from NJ to NY • Battle of Saratoga • Turning point in war • France recognizes US • Spain and Holland declare war on Britain

  13. Map 6-1, p. 158

  14. Baron von Steuben • Arrives at Valley Forge, Feb. 1778 • Trains American army • Victory at Battle of Monmouth

  15. p. 159

  16. The War in the West, 1776-1782 • Retaliatory expeditions against Cherokees • George Rogers Clark defeats Shawnees • John Sullivan defeats Brant and Iroquois • Not very significant to outcome of war, but important to future shape of US

  17. Map 6-2, p. 162

  18. p. 163

  19. Victory in the South, 1778-1781 • Americans lose at Camden, SC • Nathanael Greene forces Cornwallis and British out of Carolina backcountry • Battle of Yorktown • Washington and Lafayette converge and trap British • Cornwallis surrenders Oct. 19, 1781 • Last real battle of war

  20. Map 6-3, p. 164

  21. p. 165

  22. Peace at Last, 1782-1783 • Britain negotiate for peace • Treaty of Paris, 1783 • American independence recognized • All lands east of Mississippi to Americans • 20,000 Americans living west of Appalachians • Florida returned to Spain • British refuse tom honor pledge to abandon forts in NW and return slaves

  23. A Heavy Price • 5% of free males died fighting British • Only Civil War greater proportion • Many loyalists, slaves, Indians exiled • Many to Canada

  24. Loyalists arrive in Canada

  25. The Revolution and Social Change

  26. Egalitarianism among White Men • War experience leads to change in attitudes • Soldiers retain self-esteem and insist on respect from elites • Democratic tendencies not welcomed by all • Increased equality for white males with property

  27. White Women in Wartime • “camp followers” • Changing roles for women at home • Raising money for soldiers • Abigail Adams

  28. p. 168

  29. “By the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands.”-Abigail Adams, in a letter to her husband John (1776)

  30. Molly Pitcher

  31. A Revolution for African Americans • Wartime opportunities due to manpower shortages • Quakers begin push to end slavery • VT, PA, MA, RI, and CT phase out slavery • Slave importation ended except in SC and GA • Difficult situation for free blacks • Prince Hall leads way in protesting slavery • Slave poet Phillis Wheatley • More freedom in some states

  32. “Liberty is a jewel which was handed Down to man from the cabinet of heaven. Even an African has Equally good a right to his Liberty in common with Englishmen…Shall a man’s Couler (Color) Be the Decisive Criterion whereby to Judg (judge) of his natural right?”—Lemuel Hayes (1776)

  33. Prince Hall

  34. p. 170

  35. Native Americans and the Revolution • Suffered more than any other group • Many adopt European style lives and religion • Some appeal to Congress • Still facing disease and alcohol

  36. The Murder of Jane McCrea

  37. Forging New Governments, 1776-1787

  38. From Colonies to States • Equal division of political power for counties and towns • Legislatures strengthen, governors weakened • Most elected both houses of legislature • Republican over democracy • Fear of mob rule • Change in 1780-MA strengthens executive, greater property qualifications

  39. Formalizing a Confederation, 1776-1781 • Articles of Confederation • Sent to states in 1777 • Ratified in 1781 • US a “firm league of friendship” • Weak national government • No power to tax or regulate commerce • Unicameral legislature • Each state one vote • Unanimous vote for amendments • No independent executive or judiciary

  40. Finance, Trade, and the Economy, 1781-1786 • $160 million cost of war • Huge public debt • Paper money now worthless-Continentals • Inflation-”not worth a Contiental” • Tax measures stopped by single states • Newburgh Conspiracy • Some officers threaten coup • George Washington able to stop plot

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