The American Revolution: 1775-1783

The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote most of the Declaration of Independence to provide ideological justification for the Revolution It was divided into Three basic segments: An introduction with a statement of our philosophy All men are created equal Inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Powers of consent of the governed (people) Right to revolt against tyranny

A list of 27 grievances (complaints) against the king Cutting off trade with other parts of the world (mercantilism) Quartering large amounts of armed troops in the colonies Imposing taxes without consent (“no taxation without representation) Depriving colonists of trial by jury Formal Declaration of Independence We are free and independent states No longer any political connection between America and Great Britain

On the Eve of the Revolution ? Britain Americans Advantages ? Disadvantages

Loyalist Strongholds

Washington’s Headaches Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral]. State/colony loyalties. Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army. Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben.

Exports & Imports: 1768-1783

Military Strategies The Americans The British Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line]. Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So. Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

Important People Colonists British George Washington William Howe (General) (General) Israel Putnam Charles Cornwallis (Major General) (Major General)

Phase I: The Northern Campaign [1775-1776]

The British suffered over 40% casualties. Bunker Hill (June, 1775) The British suffered over 40% casualties.

Battle of Bunker Hill “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes” Colonists gain confidence for future battles The British leave Boston  Canada King George III ordered a blockade of all Colonial ports

Phase II: NY & PA [1777-1778]

Battle of Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn) August 27th, 1776 First major battle of the Revolutionary War Following the Declaration of Independence First official battle fought by the army of the United States Britain captured New York City And occupied Long Island

Fort Tyron: NYC

New York City in Flames (1776)

Do now: Analyze this picture: Why was this statue put up on the highest point of Brooklyn? The Minerva Statue

Patriots had suffered heavy losses from the Battle of New York > retreated to Penn General Howe (Britain) had a very large army & powerful navy: now controlled the seacoasts up and down the colonies On Christmas night of 1776 General Washington led his men across the Delaware River to go into Trenton, NJ 3 groups of soldiers crossed the river at different times of the night Surprise attacked in the morning Took over Trenton

Washington Crossing the Delaware Painted by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

Do Now: Pick one side- Americans or England What strategy should the army use to defeat the rebels/England?

Battle of Trenton Hessians- German mercenaries fighting for the British General Washington led his troops in a surprise attack on Christmas morning Surprised the Hessian soldiers Took most of them prisoner Hessian population of Trenton at 8 am: 1,408 men & 39 officers 9 am: 0

A modern-day re-enactment Saratoga: “Turning Point” of the War? A modern-day re-enactment

Battle of Saratoga American victory! British plan: to cut the New England colonies off from the rest of the colonies The Green Mountain Boys came to help In the village of Saratoga the Americans surrounded the British American victory! Britain is no longer a threat to New England Convinced France to become an ally of the United States http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=battle+of+saratoga&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=123A7FDD7D1C5FF76070123A7FDD7D1C5FF76070

Do Now: Why did the British concentrate their efforts on the south after the battle of Saratoga?

Phase III: The Southern Strategy [1780-1781]

Native American involvement in the American Revolution The Native Americans wanted to remain neutral Saw the colonies as a “weak boy” England was able to convince the Native Americans that if the Patriots won: the ‘white’ colonists would cross the Appalachian Mtns and take more of their land

Britain’s “Southern Strategy” Britain thought that there were more Loyalists in the South. Southern resources were more valuable/worth preserving. The British win a number of small victories, but cannot placate the countryside Good US General: Nathanial Greene

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) Count de Rochambeau Admiral De Grasse

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

Winning the South: Great & intelligent Generals Nathaniel Green (Rhode Island) Daniel Morgan (Virginia) Brilliant military strategy Knowledge of location Guerilla tactics

Why did the British Lose???

North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783

Treaty of Paris 8 years after the battles of Lexington & Concord The British recognized the United States as an independent nation New borders: from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River Florida was returned to Spain

Review Sheet Boston Massacre & Boston Tea Party Lexington and Concord Battle of Bunker Hill Declaration of Independence Origins of ideas and grievances Loyalists vs. Patriots Famous generals Battles of the Revolution Northern campaign & Sothern campaign Role of Africans and Native Americans Treaty of Paris

Articles of Confederation Government: 1781-1789

Wholesale Price Index: 1770-1789

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation A unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law]. 13 out of 13 to amend. Representatives were frequently absent. Could not tax or raise armies. No executive or judicial branches.

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Strongholds at the End of the War

State Constitutions Republicanism. Most had strong governors with veto power. Most had bicameral legislatures. Property required for voting. Some had universal white male suffrage. Most had bills of rights. Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Occupational Composition of Several State Assemblies in the 1780s

Indian Land Cessions: 1768-1799

Disputed Territorial Claims Between Spain & the U. S.: 1783-1796

State Claims to Western Lands

Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress! Statehood achieved in three stages: Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory. When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners  elect territorial legislature. When population reached 60,000  elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.

The United States in 1787

American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789

Annapolis Convention (1786) 12 representatives from 5 states [NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA] GOAL  address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states. Not enough states were represented to make any real progress. Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7 Daniel Shays Western MA Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7 There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders. -- George Washington

Documents Ethan Allen and Captain de la Place. May 1775. The capture of Fort Ticonderoga, New York. Copy of engraving after Alonzo Chappel. ARC Identifier 531003 Valley Forge--Washington & Lafayette. Winter 1777-78. Copy of engraving by H. B. Hall after Alonzo Chappel. ARC Identifier 532877 General George Washington and a Committee of Congress at Valley Forge. Winter 1777-78. Copy of engraving after W. H. Powell, published 1866. ARC Identifier 532876 Benjamin Franklin at the Court of France. ARC Identifier 518217 The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga. October 1777. Copy of painting by John Trumbull, 1820-21. ARC Identifier 512777 Benedict Arnold's Oath of Allegiance. ARC Identifier 300357 Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781, by which over 7,000 British and Hessians became prisoners. Copy of lithograph by James Baillie, ca. 1845. ARC Identifier 532883 Treaty of Paris (page 1, signature page) ARC Identifier 299805