American Revolution (1775)

End of Revolution (1775)

• The Second Continental Congress convened, seeking expanded rights within the British system.
• The Continental Army was formed, characterized by its lack of training and experience, and led by the experienced General George Washington.

Battle of Bunker/ Breed's Hill

• Took place when British forces advanced on Boston and colonial troops moved to Breed's Hill.
• Despite the colonials digging defensive ditches, the British eventually won after three assaults, though the colonials demonstrated strong resolve.
• General Howe commanded the British, who suffered the loss of 59 officers during the battle.

Colonial Resistance

• Raised questions about whether their actions were patriotic or terroristic.
• Tactics utilized included boycotts, protests, and committees of correspondence.

Olive Branch Petition

• Stipulated that the colonies would remain under British rule if their demands were met, while militias prepared for potential conflict.

Colonial War Strategy

• Primarily defensive, aimed at holding the Hudson River and avoiding major battles.
• Colonial ships mirrored older British privateer designs.

Declaration...Causes & Necessity …Taking Up Arms

• Penned by Thomas Jefferson, it declared the colonies' intention to fight rather than submit to British rule.
• It framed the colonials as defending themselves against British aggression and oppression.

Minority Movement

• Characterized the revolution, as many colonists, particularly the wealthy, desired compromise rather than war.
• The population divided into Patriots (30-35%), Loyalists (15-20%), and a neutral majority.

Invasion of Canada

• Resulted in defeat and highlighted the risk of threatening Canada.
• General Richard Montgomery was killed in action.

1776

Common Sense / Paine

• A pamphlet written by Paine advocating revolution in accessible language.
• It significantly boosted support for armed rebellion.

Siege on Boston / Dorchester Heights

• Involved a surprise colonial maneuver where George Washington and his forces surrounded the British, leading to the evacuation of Boston on March 17.

Resolution on Independence/ Richard Henry Lee

• Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution for independence to the Pennsylvania House of Burgesses.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

• Authored by Thomas Jefferson, it was signed by prominent figures including Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and John Adams.
• Integral was John Locke's social contract theory, justifying rebellion against governments that fail to protect citizens' rights.

Phases of War

• The war unfolded in three main phases: New England, Mid-Atlantic, and the South.

British invasion NYC

• Saw 35,000 British and Hessian troops attacking Long Island from Nova Scotia. George Washington's 18,000 troops were nearly trapped but managed to escape to Manhattan under cover of fog.

The Crisis / Paine

• Paine's "The Crisis" encouraged perseverance amid struggling colonial forces.

1776-1777

Trenton and Princeton, NJ battles

• Trenton: On December 25, Washington crossed the Delaware River, capturing the Hessian commander in a surprise attack.
• Princeton: On January 3, more British troops were seized, potentially saving the revolution.

Articles of Confederation

• Stemmed from colonial fears of centralized authority and tyranny.
• It established a national government with limited powers through a (national) Confederation Congress.
• Each state had one delegate and one vote, and the congress could form an army, declare war, make treaties, coin money, and establish post offices, but required a unanimous vote for decisions.
• It lacked an executive and judicial branch, couldn't levy taxes, and states remained largely independent.
• The funding came primarily from the sale of bonds and printing continentals, leading to inflation. Each state maintained its own currency, while continentals were national.
• The British counterfeited continentals, and the colonies had to rely on smuggling for weapons.

Black Market

• Emerged due to high prices.
• People sold goods illegally.

Robert Morris

• Owner of the largest American trading company that spied on the British.
• He contributed a million pounds to colonial troops and issued Morris notes.

War profiteering

• Morris faced accusations of war profiteering.

Chaim Solomon

• A Jewish individual who donated significantly to the war effort

Saratoga Turning point (Gates & Arnold)

• The British planned to divide the colonies.
• St. Leger was defeated by Arnold, and Howe pursued Washington in Philadelphia.
• Benedict Arnold's leadership was taken away from Gates.
• Arnold led the troops to victory.

Philadelphia

• The British, led by Howe, seized Philadelphia, causing the Continental Congress to flee.

France … foreign aid / direct aid

• French aided secretly.
• Ben Franklin secured French support after Saratoga.

1778

Franco American Treaty

• France provided money, military support, equipment, and generals, playing a pivotal role in American independence.

Valley Forge

• Served as the winter camp.
• Troops suffered from severe shortages and harsh conditions.

Von Steuben

• A Prussian general trained the army.

John Paul Jones

• He attacked England.

George Rogers Clark

• Clark captured British forts on the Ohio River.

Western battles

• Conflicts with natives and British forces
• Chief Joseph Brant supported the British.

Iroquois

• The League of Iroquois split, with the Tuscaroras and Oneidas siding with the colonials and the rest with the British, leading to the permanent division.

Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation

• Offered freedom to Virginia slaves who served in the military.

Ethiopian Regiment

• Consisted mostly of black soldiers

Quotas

• Black soldiers were promised freedom for fighting.

Black Patriot / Loyalist soldiers

• Black soldiers fought on both sides
• Loyalist blacks were relocated to the Caribbean.

Benedict Arnold – betrayal

• Arnold became embittered.
• He conspired with British Commander Clinton to betray West Point but was discovered, leading to his defection to the British army.

1778-1779

British change strategies – move South

• This marked Phase 3 of the war.
• The move aimed to blockade the southern coast and maintain control of the economically vital South.
• Loyalists aided British forces.

Economic Warfare

• The British destroyed American vessels in the Chesapeake.

Blockade Southern Battles & Colonel

• The British captured Savannah and Charleston.
• Colonel Tarleton treated captured soldiers poorly.

1780

Kings Mountain

• Patriot forces defeated Loyalist troops

1781

Cowpens

• Commander Greene launched a successful campaign with local support.

October 19th 1781

Yorktown

• Commander Cornwallis was besieged by American and French forces.
• French naval victory.

Treaty of Paris 1782- 1783

• John Jay advocated for foreign policy based on national interest
• America negotiated independently with Britain, securing favorable terms and cutting off France and Spain.

Challenges facing new nation Confederation

Weaknesses of Articles

• It included a loose association of states, limited federal power, no tax authority.

Changes to Articles?

• Changes required unanimous vote, posing a challenge

Development of Western Lands

• Problems with boundaries arose.

Cede

• States ceded western lands to Congress

Public Domain

• Congress sold land for revenue.

Northwest Territory

• The land stretched north of the Ohio River and west of the Mississippi

Land Ordinance of 1785

• It created townships measuring 6 square miles, divided into 36 sections of 640 acres each.
• Land was sold at $1 per acre.

Northwest Ordinance of 1785 Education / Schools

• Revenue from townships supported schools, typically located in section #16.

Vets Precedents

• Four sections were reserved for veterans (#8, 11, 26, 29).

1787

Territory status

• Upon reaching 5,000 adult males, a territory could form a legislature and send a non-voting delegate to Congress

Statehood status (#) & Number of states allowed

• With 60,000 adult males, they could apply for statehood, subject to Congressional approval.
• Rights Guaranteed: Voting rights (with 50 acres of land), trial by jury, public education, religious freedom, and prohibition of slavery or indentured servitude.
• Territorial Issues with Britain: British forts remained in America, defying U.S. requests.

Issues with Spain

• Conflicts around Spanish forts escalated. They refused American use of New Orleans port

Right of Deposit – what issue?

• Spain taxed American ships transferring goods between sea and rivers.

Tax authority – what issue?

The national government lacked tax authority

Inflation

• Prices of goods increased too quickly

Trade agreements

• No trade agreements could occur

Trade deficit

• State acted on its own

Annapolis Convention

• Five delegates met and agreed to have another meeting in Philadelphia to change the articles.

Western Massachusetts

• Economic depression struck hard.

Urban vs Rural

• There was unevenly distributed wealth
• Urban areas were rich(city)
• Rural areas were poor(farms)

Property tax

• Massachusetts imposed a property tax.

Foreclosure

• Farmers were kicked off their land for not being able to pay the property tax

Shay’s Rebellion

• Daniel Shays led an armed rebellion.

Philadelphia Convention Independence Hall

• It was for revising the articles with George Washington in charge.

Who attended?

• Among the attendees were Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Robert Morris.

Who didn’t?

• Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and Sam Adams didn't attend.

Convention Rules

• Secrecy was implemented.

Edmund Randolph

• He proposed a new government with 15 resolutions.

Constitution / Preamble/ 7 articles

• Articles 1, 2, and 3 address the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, respectively.
• Article 4 covers relations among states, Article 5 outlines the process of amending the Constitution, Article 6 affirms the power of the national government, and Article 7 addresses the ratification process.

3 branches – (division of power)

• Each branch has unique powers

Great Compromise

• Senate: equal for population
• House: per population

3/5s Compromise

• Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for population and taxation.

Power to Regulate Commerce

• Congress regulated commerce
• There was to be a tax on imports and no tax on exports

Slave Trade

• Slave trade was maintained for 20 years.

Election of President

• The Electoral College was established.

Ratification – ratifying convention

• Approval from nine states was needed.

Federalist – views / advocates

• They wanted a strong national government.
• Madison-Hamilton-Jay

Anti-Federalists – views / opponents

• Wanted the Bill of Rights
• Henry-Adams-Mason-Lee

Public Debates over Bill of Rights

• Federalists argued against, while Anti-Federalists insisted on a Bill of Rights for protection.

Publius vs Brutus

• Publius represented the Federalists.
• Brutus represented the Anti-Federalists.

Federalist papers – authors & purpose

• Written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay to explain their thoughts in the public

Tension surrounding ratification

• Debate included the need of a Bill of Rights

1st state / 7th state / 9th state / final

• Delaware was the 1st state
• Maryland was the 7th state
• New Hampshire was the ninth state
• Rhode Island was the last state

September 17, 1787

• The constitution date

June 21, 1788

• New Hampshire secured the constitution

CONSTITUTION: “E Pluribus Unum”

• Out of many, one.

Overview of 1775 events, including the Second Continental Congress, formation of the Continental Army led by George Washington, and the Battle of Bunker/Breed's Hill. Examines colonial resistance tactics and the Olive Branch Petition.