The American Revolution Why did it happen, what happened, and was it revolutionary? Dec. 25, 1776 “Washington crossing the Delaware” Artist: Emanuel Leutze

Reviewing the Causes 4 Long range causes: --Protestantism --reasons for immigration --salutary neglect --the printing press --the Enlightenment --the Great Awakening Practicing democracy-a Quaker meeting

Technology spreads ideas. Ideas inspire action.

Reviewing the Causes Short range causes turning point-end of salutary neglect 4 Control colonial movement— Proclamation Line 4 Parliamentary Acts to intensify mercantilism 4 Colonial anger against these acts— attitudes had changed! 4 Colonials insist on self-rule through their own legislatures 4 Crown insists that Parliament has the right to govern the colonies directly 4 Cultural misunderstandings as a result of distance and policies

Agreeing on a point of no return 4 July 4, 1776-”our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor” Author—Thomas Jefferson—doesn’t claim originality 4 Influenced by Enlightenment—John Locke John Locke—equality and social contract 4 Social contract theory of government 4 Destructive government should be ended 4 List of grievances—exaggerated claims 4 in some instances 4 Helps the colonists define their purpose 4 If the revolution fails…

Breaking away: American Secession 4 Second Continental Congress (1775) put Washington in charge of the Military 4 After Bunker Hill the King hired Hessians 4 Later—Americans get help from the French and other European advisers 4 Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense 4 Second Continental Congress declared independence

Outside help Hessian troops Pulaski, from Poland

Comparing the Sides: British StrengthsWeaknesses 4 Population 4 Monetary wealth 4 Navy 4 Army –50,000 British –30,000 Hessians –30,000 Loyalists 4 Unrest in Ireland 4 British gov’t inept 4 Lack of desire 4 Military difficulties –leadership –treatment of soldiers –poor provisions –need for clear victory

Comparing the Sides: American StrengthsWeaknesses 4 Leadership –Military--Washington –Diplomatic--Franklin 4 Defensive fighting 4 Agriculture 4 Moral advantage 4 Organization 4 Mixed support 1/3 Loyalists 4 Continental Congress was ineffective 4 No written gov’t 4 Economic problems –no access to currency –scared of taxes –inflation 4 Limited supplies 4 Unreliable forces

Yorktown, 1781

Ending the War: The Treaty of Paris 4 Major provisions –Britain formally recognizes US independence –Boundaries set from Great Lakes on the North to the Mississippi River on the West to Florida on the South –No further persecution of loyalists and restitution for confiscated property “recommended” to states

Changing a Society..and a world 4 State constitutions adopt democratic freedoms—most guarantee separation of church and state 4 Property qualifications for voting a little lessened 4 End of mercantilism and restrictions on migration 4 Break up of Loyalist estates 4 End of primogeniture 4 Slavery continues, but will become an issue 4 International effects: France, Latin America, Canada

Governing a new country: Articles of Confederation: Background 4 Drafted early in the Revolution 4 Ratified near the end of the war 4 Loose confederation of independent states—more like the European Union today 4 One state—one vote 4 Important laws required 2/3 majority vote 4 Amendments required unanimous vote

Governing a new country: what we did right 4 Key departments were created –Post office, Finance 4 Economy was on its way to stability 4 Treaty of Paris was signed 4 States gave the central gov’t their western lands 4 Land Ordinance (1785) 4 Northwest Ordinance (1787)

LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787

Governing a new country: Weaknesses of the Articles 4 Government could request not levy taxes 4 Declare war but not raise an army 4 Could not force states to pay pre-war debts to British citizens 4 Trade declines 4 Problems with currency stability 4 Shays’ Rebellion