Bell Ringer

1. Bell Ringer Review— Explain how the Albany Plan of Union relates to this political cartoon. Bonus—who drew this political cartoon.

2. The American Revolution Chapter 5

3. Defining American War Aims • Even after the battles at Lexington and Concord the colonists were at odds as to whether or not to break away from Britain • They sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King as one last chance to restore peace • When the King refused, they sent the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms

4. Defining American War Aims • The colonists slowly turned their back on reconciliation for three reasons • Financial cost of war was too high to simply reconcile things with England • Britain began recruiting slaves, Natives, and foreign mercenaries to fight against the colonists • The final straw—the Prohibitory Act which closed the colonies to all overseas trade • Too late to apologize indeed…

5. Defining American War Aims • Thomas Paine became the voice of the colonists’ ideology in his pamphlet Common Sense • He declared that the problems should not be blamed on Parliament but rather on the King and the English Constitution • It was the system’s fault for allowing such a corrupt king to come to power • “The island kingdom of England was not more fit to rule the American continent than a satellite was fit to rule the sun.” • Common Sense inspired Thomas Jefferson when he was asked to write the Declaration of Independence

6. The Decision for Independence • On July 2, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the resolution that the colonies ought to be free and independent states • Two days later the Declaration of Independence with it’s reasons for independence were accepted by the Congress • The DoI is divided into two parts—the part declaring us independent and upholding John Locke’s theory of social contract in which the government’s job is to protect the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for the people • The second part is all the ways in which the King broke his contract with the people

7. Responses to Independence • America divided into two groups • Loyalists: Those who supported the King • Tories: Those who supported independence • The states acted even more independent by creating state constitutions (MA still has the same one with few modifications) • Creating a federal government to focus on the nation as a whole would prove to be more difficult • The Articles of Confederation would be born out of this challenge

8. Responses to Independence • The AofC was a “league of friends” • Its powers were so limited that it wasn’t even sure if it was a legitimate government • We’ll discuss this more in the next chapter

9. Mobilizing for War • Raising armies, gather supplies, and paying for the war became a concern very quickly for the new government • They did not have the ability to produce weapons fast enough in America so they relied on European providers such as France • They had to create money since “hard money” was not easily attainable and the AoC couldn’t levy taxes • The states printed plenty of their own currency creating massive inflation • Some colonists began trading with Britain again since their money was still valuable

10. Mobilizing for War • The militias soon became discouraged • The government created a unified Continental Army with General George Washington as its commander in chief • He was an excellent choice as someone who never faltered on his commitment to the cause and was someone that all Patriots respected • Rarely did he have problems with his men on the field (other than lack of supplies which got particularly bad at Valley Forge) and he was able to resolve all of them

11. Mobilizing for War • “Washington provided the army—and the people—with a symbol of stability around which they could rally” • Pictured—Washington and Nelson, his favorite horse

12. Assignment • Page 136-145 contain the section discussing the war itself • Your assignment is to make a time line chronicling the events of the war. Please do not simply draw a line with dates/events—make it colorful like a story board • You may work in groups of three or less but make sure everyone’s name is on the back of the project • Best project (as decided by a group of teachers) gets extra credit!

13. Loyalists and Minorities • The British were not the only losers in the Revolution • The Loyalists (approximately 1/5th of the population) remained loyal • Many of them moved back to England (not well liked in England though) • Some moved to Canada (few returned after the war) • Their abandoned lands were confiscated and the positions left open created a place for Patriots to gain power

14. Loyalists and Minorities • Two religious groups were significantly weakened • The Anglican church (mostly Loyalists) was disestablished in many areas • The Quakers, because they were pacifists, they were disliked and thus lost much of their social and political prestige • Catholics on the other hand were strengthened • Because the French (predominately Catholic) helped the Americans the attitudes towards Catholics lightened up

15. The War and Slavery • The Revolution meant a great deal to the slaves • Many felt it could be a road to freedom • In some cases, it would have been if the British had won the war • Nearly 1/3rd of the slaves defected during the war • One of the reasons the South was so committed to the war was to combat the British trying to free their slaves • In the North between the idea of freedom (through the Revolution) and Christian fervor people were becoming anti-slavery

16. The War and Slavery • The irony of the South fighting for freedom from Britain is that they maintained that slavery was acceptable • They believed that the slaves were inferior and not deserving of citizenship • They also believed that they only way to preserve liberty was to avoid having a working white class that would become disgruntled about inequalities in wealth and jeopardize liberty

17. Native Americans and the Revolution • The Natives had a lot at stake in the Revolution • The British had tried to prevent encroachment on Native lands prior to the war (Proclamation of 1763) • Meanwhile, the colonists wanted to move west at the expensive of the Natives • Including George Washington • The Patriots asked the Natives to stay out of the “family quarrel”—it didn’t work (especially due to heavy recruiting from the British

18. Native Americans and the Revolution • Attacks from the Natives came in most regions including the Cherokee in the South and the Iroquois in the North • Despite heavy casualties, they continued attacking throughout the war • After the war the Americans’ attitudes towards Natives grew worse • Some took a more paternalistic approach though going as far as saying that they were “redeemable” if they converted to white society • The Revolution was “the greatest blow that could have been dealt us” as stated by one Native leader

19. Women’s Rights and Women’s Roles • When the men went to war, the women were left to take care of the children and the farms • Those who lived in cities were often left in poverty • They took to rioting in comes cases or even attacking the British that they were required to quarter • Still some women followed their men to their battle camps • Many soldiers complained about their presences saying they were a distraction • The women in the camps actually boosted moral though as well as did laundry, cooked, and tended to the sick/wounded (nursing)

20. Women’s Rights and Women’s Roles • A small group of women picked up arms and fought • Molly Pitcher used to run pitchers of water to the field picked up her husband’s weapon and fought when he was shot • Little changed when everyone returned home regarding gender roles • Women did however begin thinking about what they were capable of doing • Abigail Adams even wrote her husband concerning women’s rights: “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.”

21. Women’s Rights and Women’s Roles • Some called for women to gain rights including education • Many did not agree • Unmarried women had little rights regarding property, contracts, etc. • Married women had NO rights—couldn’t own property, get a divorce, have rights over children • Adams asked her husband to prevent “such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands.”

22. Women’s Rights and Women’s Roles • While the Revolution certainly strengthened patriarchal beliefs it also set forth another idea: Republican Motherhood • Republican Motherhood is the idea that you should raise you children with the virtues of the republic • Women also gained some respect regarding what happened in the house and with the father

23. The War Economy • The American Revolution set into motion the beginnings of a strong economy • However, in the short run it was exceptionally shaky • Their trade ports were not hostile ports, especially Britain • This lead many shippers to become “privateers” better known as pirates • This turned out to be a good thing since it forced Americans to make their own clothes, etc. thus generating more demand

24. The War Economy • Americans would start developing factories to deal with demand • Women made “homespun” clothing to avoid getting fabric from England • In general this was the foundation for the market revolution that would come in the 1830s

25. Assumptions of Republicanism • All states agreed that a republican government should be adopted • They knew it would only be as strong as it’s population • If the population had sturdy, independent property owners with civic virtues the country would be okay • Firmly believed that while there was NO equality of condition, there WAS equality for opportunity

26. Revising State Governments • Some states couldn’t get much accomplished • This resulted in some limiting the power of the people • Some focused on strengthening the executive branch • Odd since they spent all that energy breaking away from the monarchy • VA enacted the Statute of Religious Liberty (written by Thomas Jefferson) which pushed for total separation of church and state

27. Revising State Governments • Slavery was an even bigger issue • Some states had already banned it (PA—Quakers and all…) • Others were not willing to ban it but requested that people voluntarily get rid of slaves (VA) • This is called manumission • The reasons it didn’t go away include • Racists assumptions about superiority • Economic investment the South had in slaves • Fear/unknowing what to do with freed slaves since white people did not believe they could be integrated

28. Executive branch was the presiding officer of Congress—John Hancock

29. Northwest Ordinances of 1784 & 1785 divided up land to sell to the Americans Why would the government want this region to be populated? They gridded each section which is why town in the west have straighter roads than the ones in the east Of course they ran into Natives in this expansion (Miami tribe) and thus had the Battle of Fallen Timbers Chief Little Turtle was defeated Although a treaty was signed, it was not enforced

30. Shays’ Rebellion • To be discussed when we cover the Constitution—up next in Chapter 6! 