1. The Impact of the American Revolution on American Society

2. Changes to American Society
Blacks demanded the right to freedom in petitions & lawsuits
States abolished “feudal” laws of primogeniture & entail
The American Revolution led to unintended social changes by forcing many Americans to question the meaning of “equality”
Many wanted to eliminate the idea of an American aristocracy
Fighting British tyranny made slavery seem hypocritical; Abolitionist sentiment grew
Women gained increased status
Many states lowered property qualifications to vote; but none offered universal male suffrage
Franklin, Jay, Hamilton founded abolition societies; Washington manumitted his slaves
Most states clearly separated church & state
VT, PA, MA abolished slavery
Some Southern slave owners privately freed their slaves
“Republican Motherhood”—mothers should instill virtue in their children
In North, slavery not economically necessary; immigrants resented competing against slave labor
VT, PA slavery was abolished; in MA slavery “unconstitutional”
But…freed blacks discriminated
In South, some slave owners privately free slaves, but economic motives too powerful (plantations, cotton gin in 1793, & opening of AL & Miss frontier)
Took greater control over family farms & businesses

3. Benjamin Banneker & Phillis Wheatley
Benjamin Banneker was a free-born descendant of slaves who became a famous 18th-century astronomer, mathematician and surveyor. He is considered by many to be the first African-American scientist. Banneker was raised on a tobacco farm in rural Maryland, where he attended school but was largely self-taught in the sciences. Although Banneker worked most of his life as a farmer, his analytical and problem-solving skills have become legendary. His achievements are indeed impressive: at age 24 he figured out how to build a clock and constructed one out of wood; he taught himself astronomy and published a popular almanac, Benjamin Banneker's Almanac, from 1792 to 1797; he was appointed to assist in surveying the Federal Territory, the plot of land that was to become Washington, D.C.; he worked on calculating the precise measurement of the meter; and he corresponded with Thomas Jefferson on the issue of slavery and the intellectual equality of blacks. Banneker never married and much of his personal life is now a mystery, as his papers and belongings were destroyed in a fire that occurred on the day of his funeral.
Phillis Wheatley The first black woman poet of note in the United States. Wheatley's better-known pieces include “To the University of Cambridge in New England,” “To the King's Most Excellent Majesty,” “On the Death of Rev. Dr. Sewall,” and “An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of the Celebrated Divine¼George Whitefield,” the last of which was the first of her poems to be published, in She was escorted by Mr. Wheatley's son to London in 1773, and there her first book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published. Her personal qualities, even more than her literary talent, contributed to her great social success in London. She returned to Boston shortly thereafter because of the illness of her mistress. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley died soon thereafter, and Phillis was freed. In 1778 she married John Peters, an intelligent but irresponsible free black man who eventually abandoned her. At the end of her life Wheatley was working as a servant, and she died in poverty.

4. Postponing Full Liberty
The Revolution was limited in its extension of rights & failed to abolish slavery, grant universal male suffrage, or apply equality to women; But…
…it introduced the ideal of freedom and equality that future generations would use to make these ideals a reality
Lots of references to the “Spirit of ‘76”
World War I propaganda poster 6

5. New State & National Governments

6. Forming New Governments
When independence was declared from England in 1776, colonists considered themselves a new nation & needed a new gov’t:
Colonies became individually sovereign states governed by written state constitutions
A national gov’t was needed to provide basic services like sign treaties & develop a military
In 1776, the American Revolution has just started; The colonists did not wait to gain British recognition of their independence before creating new governments!

7. States Constitutions
In 1776, the new states created written constitutions which:
Clearly defined the citizens’ rights & the limits of government
Guaranteed natural rights; Eight states had bills of rights
Almost all states reduced the powers of the governor & kept most power in the hands of the people via state legislatures 7

8. How “democratic” are these new state gov’ts?
The United States, 1783
How “democratic” are these new state gov’ts?

9. Defining Republican Culture
But, creating a national gov’t that met everyone’s needs was hard:
How to balance individual liberty with maintaining order?
How to balance property rights with equality?
How to create a centralized gov’t without creating a new tyrannical authority? 2

10. Defining Republican Culture
Civic virtue is now a necessity
Americans set out to create a republican form of government after independence was declared:
Gov’t with no king or aristocracy
With power held by the citizens
Even though all previous republics had failed, Americans were optimistic this would be an “uncompromising commitment to liberty & equality” 2

11. The Articles of Confederation
In 1775, three committees were formed to sever ties with England:
Thomas Jefferson headed the committee to draft a declaration of independence
John Adams headed committee to establish foreign alliances
John Dickinson headed a committee to draft a new central government 11

12. Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was adopted as America’s 1st national gov’t in 1777 (but ratified in 1781)
The Articles established an intentionally weak central gov’t in order to protect state power
The confederation-style gov’t gave all 13 states 1 vote in a unicameral congress
There was no national president
Each state was treated as a pseudo-nation
The war is still going on (will not end until 1781 with Cornwallis surrender & 1783 Treaty of Paris)
Too similar to a monarch

13. The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were created to loosely tie the states together
The only powers granted to the national government were to
Settle disputes between states, negotiate treaties, handle Indian affairs, oversee a military
It could not tax citizens or states; could only request contributions
Laws required 9 of the 13 states
Amending the gov’t required agreement by all 13 states

14. “A firm league of friendship”
The colonies were loosely joined to address common problems
"each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power...which is not... expressly delegated to the United States.…"

15. What is the significance of the following quote:
“People do not chop off heads so readily when they can chop down trees.”

16. Western Lands The “West” presented a problem:
Many states had overlapping land claims in the West
Some “landless” states (MD, NJ, DE) wanted part of West & refused to ratify the Articles without this issue resolved
The US gov’t negotiated treaties with Indians to gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky 12

17. The USA in the “Critical Period”
The United States, 1783
The USA in the “Critical Period”

18. Western Lands
Virginia took the lead to solve the “West problem” by ceding its western claims to the national gov’t
Other states, especially NY, ceded their western lands too
By 1781, Congress (not the states) gained control over all lands west of the Appalachians
With dispute over, Maryland was the last state to ratify the Articles
With the new gov’t finally ratified in 1781, Congress created the Departments of War, Foreign Affairs, & Finance 12

19. Western Land Claims Ceded by the States
Don’t forget Indian lands too
Indian Land Cessions:

20. The Land Ordinance of 1785
The U.S. gov’t was eager to sell off Western lands to settlers to gain revenue (since the gov’t did not have the power to tax)
The Land Ordinance of 1785 established an orderly process for laying out western townships
Section 16 of the each township was dedicated to public schools 13

22. The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance (1787) gave structure to the NW territory:
Created new territories, ruled by a governor, & whose citizens were protected by a bill of rights
Residents could create a legislative assembly when the population reached 5,000
Residents could apply for statehood with 60,000 people
Slavery outlawed in NW lands 13

23. Prospectors poured into Kentucky & Tennessee
The United States, 1783
Because of the 1785 & 1787 ordinances, the Northwest territories were well organized & orderly
Prospectors poured into Kentucky & Tennessee
By 1790, the region was plagued by land claims & counterclaims that generated lawsuits for years
The USA in 1787
Territories south of the Ohio River received less attention from Congress

24. Conclusions
The Articles of Confederation accomplished exactly what its framers intended:
By creating a weak central gov’t, the power of the states was preserved & no tyrants emerged
The weaknesses of the central gov’t failed to meet the long-term needs of the new USA

25. Examining the Articles of Confederation

26. The Weaknesses of the Articles
The Articles of Confederation served as the framework for the U.S. gov’t from 1781 until 1789:
Early in the “Confederation Period,” the weakness of the national gov’t was seen as good because it eliminated tyranny
Later, these same weaknesses kept the gov’t from solving serious national problems

27. Economic Problems
During the American Revolution, colonial boycotts hurt trade
Everyone expected the economy to improve after independence, but the Confederation Congress had a difficult time:
Paying off debt & collecting taxes
Halting inflation
Generating a favorable balance of trade (foreign & domestic) 14

28. Debt, Taxes, & Inflation
The gov’t could request, but not require, states to send money to Congress
The U.S. was burdened with $40 million in war debt in 1783:
The Confederate Congress could not ease the national debt because it had no power to tax
Congress printed $200 million in new currency to pay off debt but this led to massive inflation
Creditors demanded repayment of debts at market value

29. Trade Problems under the Articles
Connecticut levied heavier duties on Massachusetts goods than on British goods
Congress was unable to create a favorable balance of trade:
To raise revenue, states created tariffs on goods from other states
The lack of hard currency made trade difficult
Desire for cheap British goods hurt infant American industries
England prohibited its Caribbean colonies from trading with USA
This especially hurt the North
This especially hurt Southern planters

30. U.S. Trade with Britain,
Debt

31. Economic Problems
Washington kept generals from overthrowing the new government: "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country."
The economic stagnation of the Confederation era led to uprisings:
The lack of tax revenue & failure of the gov’t to pay soldiers sparked a military coup in 1783 called the Newburgh Conspiracy
Property foreclosures led to desperation & uprising farmers in 1787 called Shays’ Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion proved to be the convincing event that led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787
Following his address Washington studied the faces of his audience. He could see that they were still confused, uncertain, not quite appreciating or comprehending what he had tried to impart in his speech. With a sigh, he removed from his pocket a letter and announced it was from a member of Congress, and that he now wished to read it to them. He produced the letter, gazed upon it, manipulated it without speaking. What was wrong, some of the men wondered. Why did he delay? Washington now reached into a pocket and brought out a pair of new reading glasses. Only those nearest to him "As he read the letter, many were in tears" knew he lately required them, and he had never worn them in public. Then he spoke: "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country." This simple act and statement by their venerated commander, coupled with remembrances of battles and privations shared together with him, and their sense of shame at their present approach to the threshold of treason, was more effective than the most eloquent oratory. As he read the letter to their unlistening ears, many were in tears from the recollections and emotions which flooded their memories. As Maj. Samuel Shaw, who was present, put it in his journal, " There was something so natural, so unaffected in this appeal as rendered it superior to the most studied oratory. It forced its way to the heart, and you might see sensibility moisten every eye." 15

32. Shay’s Rebellion in Western Massachusetts
Poor farmers in western MA were angered over high taxes & prospect of debtors jail
Daniel Shays led an uprising & closed debt courts & threatened a federal arsenal
In 1786, nearly 2,000 debtor farmers in western Massachusetts were threatened with foreclosure of their mortgaged property. The state legislature had voted to pay off the state's Revolutionary War debt in three years; between 1783 and 1786, taxes on land rose more than 60 percent. Desperate farmers demanded a cut in property taxes and adoption of state laws to postpone farm foreclosures. The lower house of the state legislature passed relief measures in 1786, but creditors persuaded the upper house to reject the package.
When lower courts started to seize the property of farmers such as Daniel Shays, a Revolutionary War veteran, western Massachusetts farmers temporarily closed the courts and threatened a federal arsenal. Although the rebels were defeated by the state militia, they were victorious at the polls. A new legislature elected early in 1787 enacted debt relief.
By the spring of 1787, many national leaders believed that the new republic's survival was at risk. The threat of national bankruptcy, commercial conflicts among the states, Britain's refusal to evacuate military posts, Spanish intrigues on the western frontier, and armed rebellion in western Massachusetts underscored the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The only solution, many prominent figures were convinced, was to create an effective central government led by a strong chief executive.

33. Economic Problems
“Nationalists” called for a stronger central gov’t & a constitutional amendment to allow create a 5% import tax & a national bank
12 states agreed, but a group of Rhode Island “Localists” refused & killed the amendment
The failure to reform the Articles led Nationalists to consider the Articles hopelessly defective
Led by Alexander Hamilton,
James Madison, & Robert Morris
“A national debt if not excessive, will be a national blessing”—Hamilton 15

34. Foreign Policy Problems
Congress & the army were too weak to resist
The Articles proved inadequate to handle interstate & foreign affairs:
When Americans did not repay legitimate war debts, Britain kept troops in the Ohio Valley
Spain refused to recognize the southern U.S. border & closed access to the Mississippi River
Algerian pirates attacked & enslaved American merchants
States argued over river rights
John Jay’s Jay-Gardoqui Treaty was met with regional resistance & was rejected in Congress 16

35. The USA in the Confederate Era

36. “Have We Fought for This?”
“Have we fought for this? Was it with these expectations that we launched into a sea of trouble?”
—George Washington, 1785