The American Revolution 1776 - 1786

The War for Independence Britain had the strongest, best-equipped, and most disciplined army, and an unopposed navy Colonial forces had a native officer corps, and considerable experience from the frontier wars Patriots had the advantage of fighting on their own land and among a population spread out over 1500 miles of coastline Rebellion was NOT the work of a small group of disgruntled conspirators, but it was widespread and would be unable to be contained

The Patriot Forces Though the local militias were important in the defense of their own homes, the final victories resulted from the consistent struggles of the Continental Army Both the militias and the Continental Army played political roles, pressuring Congress when shortages of food and pay erupted Regiments of the Continental Army suffered casualty rates as high as 40 percent The South suffered more civilian casualties than New England, or the Middle States

The Loyalists Between 1/5 to 1/3 of the colonial population remained loyal to the Crown (Tories) including African Americans, Indians, ethnic minorities, tenant farms, British colonial officials, and Anglican clergy Patriots cracked down on Loyalists by passing treason laws, bills of attainder, and mob violence 50,000 fought for Britain, and 80,000 would flee the country after the Revolution

Woman and the War Women remained at home and ran the family farms and businesses Many women joined their men in the military camps—sometimes fighting alongside their men on the battlefields

New York and New Jersey Campaign (1775-1777) The British plan was to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies by marching north from NY and marching south from Canada The British drove Washington out of NYC and pursued him into NJ Washington’s Christmas victory at Trenton led him to adopt a defensive strategy of avoiding confrontation to insure the survival of the Army

Northern Campaigns of 1777 The British victory at Brandywine forced the Congress out of Philadelphia and Washington’s forces were held up at Valley Forge for a brutal winter The colonial victory at Saratoga convinced the French to recognize American independence and would aid the colonies if war broke out between France and Britain (it did in June) Spain joined the colonies without a formal alliance with the hopes of regaining Florida and the Mississippi Valley—both France and Spain were wary about American expansion Naval battles were fought mostly by French and British, with minor American involvement After two years, the fighting is at a stalemate as the British were unsuccessful in suppressing the rebellion

The War in the South 1778-1781 The most important fighting in the revolution The British recruited slaves under the promise of liberty Southern states were reluctant to recruit slaves and free African Americans; New England and Northern states were more successful Violence between Loyalist forces and Patriots created unrest, and British raids on farms and towns created Patriot sympathy General Greene was successful in driving British general Charles Cornwallis out of the Lower South to Yorktown, where Washington and the French trapped him British Army surrendered October 19, 1781

The Articles of Confederation Created a loose union of autonomous states, the first government of the United States Congress had limited central power, reserving powers such as taxing to the states Though benefitting from foreign subsidies, Congress and the states financed the revolution mainly by issuing paper currency that caused runaway inflation Secretary of Finance Robert Morris met interest payments on the debt, set up the Bank of North America (backing the currency with gold and silver), but did not persuade Congress to come up with an independent source of income Major accomplishments: creation of the land system of the U.S. , leading the revolution, negotiated peace, organized departments of war, foreign affairs, the post office, and finance

Negotiating Independence Series of separate treaties with Britain, France, Spain and the United States The United States gained: independence, the promise of withdrawal of British troops, land to the Mississippi River, and fishing rights Spain regained Florida

Crisis of Demobilization Congress had neither paid the soldiers nor delivered the officers their promised postwar bounties or land warrants Washington was able to calm the soldiers and their anxious officers with a speech and a gesture, that almost shamed them into accepting civilian rule

The Problem of the West Western land settlement raised new issues, including: land losses for several Indian tribes, and tens of thousands of Americans rushing into the newly acquired Ohio River Valley A series of Land Ordinances provided for organizing the land for settlement, self-government, and eventual statehood; divided territory into townships, regular land sales, and the abolition of slavery in the Northwest territory

Broadened Base of Politics Most states had greatly expanded the electorate (including more farmers, people with no formal education, and people who did not own much land) The balance of power shifted from Tories, to a more democratic ideology that asserted that governments should directly reflect popular wishes

The First State Constitutions Conservatives argues for balanced government, fearing majority tyranny could lead to a violation of property rights Extremes: Pennsylvania’s constitution was more democratic that placed all its power in an assembly elected by all free male taxpayers Maryland’s constitution created property requirements for office holding, and voting, leaving the ruling to the upper 10% Most states adopted constitutions in the middle

Virginia’s Declaration of Rights 1776: George Mason’s document provided the model for other states to guarantee basic rights freedom of speech, assembly, and press, fair trial, protection against cruel and unusual punishment, etc. Precedents for the Bill of Rights

Spirit of Reform New Jersey’s constitution gave women the right to vote in 1776 (but rescinded it in 1807) Thomas Jefferson led a movement for states to abolish aristocratic inheritance customs and established religious freedom Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia considered one of his greatest accomplishments

African Americans and the Revolution Recognizing the contradiction between a revolution for liberty and the continued support for slavery Northern states began to abolish slavery The Upper South relaxed its bans on emancipation A free African American community emerged with racially defined churches, schools, and other institutions African Americans like Benjamin Banneker, Jupiter Hammon, and Phyllis Wheatley became prominent writers and scientists