1. The American Revolution

2. A Rough Beginning War goes poorly
British capture New York, Philadelphia, Savannah, & Charleston
Washington is able to keep the army/revolution intact despite multiple defeats

3. Write Your Liberties Down
All thirteen new states prepare written Constitutions
John Adams wrote Massachusetts
Property requirements for voting lowered
Elected bicameral legislatures & governors

4. The New National Government
Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation
Written by committee headed by John Dickenson
Weak national government (intentional)
“a firm league of friendship”

5. The Articles Unicameral legislature No executive or judicial branches
Called the Continental Congress
One vote per state
2/3 to pass laws
Unanimous to amend the Articles
No executive or judicial branches

6. Ratification Problems
not ratified until 1781
Argument over states claims for western lands
Eventually all lands ceded to Congress

7. The French Alliance
Turning point of the war is the American victory at Saratoga in 1777
Allows American ambassador to France Benjamin Franklin to convince the French to form an alliance with the U.S.
French money, supplies, & military assistance enable the American victory

8. Washington’s Finest Moment
Low point of the Revolution was the winter of
Army spends the winter at Valley Forge, Penn.
Many deserted due to cold & hunger
Washington held the army together
Revolution would last as long as the army was fighting

9. The End of the Revolutionary War
War moves to the south in 1780 & 81
Lord Cornwallis surrenders a British army to Washington at Yorktown, Virginia on Oct. 19, 1781
Effectively ends the war
English decide the colonies were not worth the cost & effort

10. Independence!!! War ended by Treaty of Paris of 1783
Grants American independence
All territory East of Mississippi River except Canada & Florida
Fishing rights off Newfoundland

11. The Original United States