The colonies were generally unprepared for war Unformed nation 1/3 population of Britain Inferior economic and military resources Enemy: world’s greatest armed power Americans deeply divided

The Second Continental Congress Two poles Pole 1: John Adams, Samuel Adams Richard Henry Lee: Complete independence

The Second Continental Congress Two poles Pole 2: John Dickinson of PA and other moderates: modest reforms in the imperial relationship that would permit early reconciliation

Olive Branch Petition One last conciliatory appeal to the king King rejected, proclaimed colonies in rebellion and asked Parliament for naval blockade.

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity… British government had left the colonies with only 2 alternatives: unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers or resistance by force.

Thomas Paine:

Common Sense-

 47 page pamphlet   Expose folly of continuing to believe reconciliation was possible Root of the problem was the English Constitution  The king and the system that permitted him to rule that was to blame  England was no more fit to rule the American continent than a satellite was fit to rule the sun

Continental Congress Met in May 1775 ; by June, most Delegates favored independence Congress president Selected a Committee of Five to write a Declaration of Independence

The Committee of Five: T. Jefferson J. Adams R. Livingston R. Sherman

The Declaration of Independence In writing the Declaration, Jefferson drew upon the writings of Enlightenment authors John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau

June 7, 1776—Richard Henry Lee of Virginia moved that “these United Colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and independent States.” George Mason of Virginia: “All men are created equal.”

PATRIOTS LOYALISTS Colonists in 1775 divided

The Articles of Confederation Created by the Second Continental Congress in 1777; ratified March 1781 Loosely tied together the 13 Had to be ratified by all 13 states Many leaders wanted a loose confederation of independent states because they feared a strong national government as being a threat to states and individual freedoms

Challenges in Equipping Continental Army Primarily captured weapons and materiel Some obtained from friendly nations Insufficient American industry Congress had to request funds from state governments Congress sold long-term bonds; few Americans could afford them Congress issued paper money Led to inflation Borrowed heavily from friendly nations

Continental Army and colonial militias.

Commander in Chief: George Washington veteran of French & Indian War.

which soldiers and the of Virginia—43 year old Symbol of stability around nation could rally. Most successful in holding the new nation together.

Respective advantages/disadvantages British: Greatest navy Best-equipped army Resources of an empire Coherent structure of command But…several egregious blunders and miscalculations

Respective advantages/disadvantages American: Fighting on their own ground Many Americans deeply committed British people only half-hearted support for the war Substantial support from abroad

Three phases of the war Phase 1: New England and Canada Phase 2: Mid Atlantic Region Phase 3: The South

The Battle of Bunker Hill June 1775—colonials laying siege to Boston.

June 17, 1775—Gage attacks Breed’s Hill, north of Boston, with 2,400 Redcoats Colonel Prescott: “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” British hampered by heat and heavy uniforms. Colonials fight back 2 charges then run low on ammunition. Redcoats take hill.

The Battle of Bunker Hill Casualties: Colonials British 311 1000 Deadliest battle of American Revolution.

Canadian operations Arnold Montgomery Convinced British not a local MA affair

“These are times that try men’s souls.” Thomas Paine The Howes: General William and Admiral Richard (top)

Battle of Long Island—March 1776-August 1776.

British: 32,000 regulars Hessian mercenaries

Continental Army:

19,000 untrained recruits/poor equipment

British victory: heavy continental losses

Washington retreats across Delaware River into PA.

Christmas night, 1776 Washington leads the Continental Army across the Delaware River into New Jersey.

Key victory: Battle of Trenton— --surprise attack, defeated Hessians with minimal ammunition.

January 1777, American victory Battle of Princeton Spring 1777, General Howe wins Battle of Brandywine Creek then takes Philadelphia. Also wins later Battle at Germantown in Maryland .

Spring 1777—British plan: Burgoyne moves south from Canada to link with Howe in Albany, NY.

Continentals harassed British in wooded areas; many British casualties. Finally surrounded and defeated by Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates at Saratoga.

Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne surrenders to Gates

Results of Battle of Saratoga British remained along seacoast for remainder of war.

British confidence dropped— could defeat them in battle.

ammunition.

did not previously believe colonials Led to alliance with France (1778) and French commitment to send troops as well as weapons and

Winter 1778- Howe still controlled Philadelphia Continental Army—deadly winter at Valley Forge, PA Little funds for supplies or to pay troops.

Congress sold bonds to American investors & foreign governments Congress printed American money leading to inflation.

Europeans aided Americans Baron Friedrich von Steuben from Prussia Drillmaster —made “soldiers out of country bumpkins.” Marquis de Lafayette— 20 year old French aristocrat

The War in the South

The War in the South British government imposed new limits on its commitment to the war after Saratoga Decided to enlist the support of loyalists in order to undermine the Revolution from within

The War in the South End 1778: Lord Cornwallis takes Savannah May 1780— Cornwallis and Henry Clinton take Charles Town, SC— 5,500 American POW.

The War in the South January 1781 Battle of Cowpens The Patriot Guilford Court House Costly British win— Lost 25% of force.

The War in the South Battle of Yorktown Continental Army, one French army and 2 French fleets surround Cornwallis.

One month siege.

Cornwallis surrendered 17 Oct 1781

Brumidi: “The Surrender of Cornwallis

Treaty of Paris September 1783 U.S., GB, France and Spain U.S. negotiators: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin & John Jay Great Britain, France & Spain recognized U. S. independence Nation’s borders confirmed

Loyalists after the Revolution Hounded by Patriots Harassed by judicial & legislative actions 100,000 fled to England and to Canada: created the first English speaking community in Quebec

Social Change after the Revolution Anglican Church disestablished and government subsidies eliminated

Social Change after the Revolution Quakers in Pennsylvania were weakened

Social Change after the Revolution Position of Catholics improved (Charles Carroll)

Social Change after the Revolution African Americans Some: freedom, most no change Revolution exposed the continuing tension between the nation’s commitment to liberty and its commitment to slavery

Social Change after the Revolution Native Americans Most tribes ultimately chose to stay out of the war Revolution greatly weakened the position of Native Americans in several ways

Social Change after the Revolution Women Left in charge of families Some food riots and attacks on British troops Camp followers Molly Pitcher Women of significant value to army

Social Change after the Revolution Women Unmarried: some legal rights Married: no rights at all No property No contracts No legal authority over her children No voting Revolution did little to change

Concept of republicanism Power came from people Ideal of small freeholder Concept of equality No aristocracy No equality of condition, but equality of opportunity Excluded women, blacks, Native Amer.

Two phases of state constitutions All written Phase 1 Fear of bloated executive power Powerful legislatures Property requirements for voters in all states

Two phases of state constitutions Phase 2 Significant strengthening of executive Directly elected Fixed salary Expanded appointment powers Veto power More balance in government

During the Revolutionary War, the first American national government formed under a document known as The Articles of Confederation Created 1777; formally approved or: ratified by all 13 states in 1781

The Articles of Confederation A loose confederation of independent states Basis: Fear that a strong central government would threaten power of states and individual freedoms Limited power of national government National government actually impotent

The Articles of Confederation Unicameral legislature (Congress) Each state delegation had 1 vote State delegations chosen by the state legislature of each state Majority vote on regular issues Nine “Aye” votes for major decisions such as war Unanimous approval for amendments

The Articles of Confederation No executive No judiciary Only Congress:  Declare war  Conduct foreign policy  Borrow Money  Establish military forces  Settle arguments between states

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation  No president or executive to enforce laws  No national court system  No power to tax  No power to regulate trade  No power to establish a national armed forces—each state raised its own troops)  Major laws required 9/13 votes in Cong.

Problems stemming from the weaknesses in the Articles Difficulty in achieving unity Different states—different religious and cultural traditions Economic differences Slavery issue Poor inter-state transportation systems

Problems stemming from the weaknesses in the Articles Some states Refused to pay taxes to the national government, obey laws passed by Congress, respect terms of foreign treaties Negotiated individual treaties with foreign governments Formed their own armed forces Charged tariffs on goods from other states

Key events under the Articles of Confederation Victory in the American Revolution. . .

Continental Army equipped and fed The Treaty of Paris—ending the War for Independence and extended U. S. territory to the Mississippi River The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Procedures for admitting new states, equal to the original 13 Banned slavery in Northwest Territory Bill of rights for territories

Ordinance of 1784 120,000 people west of the Appalachian divide 10 self-governing districts Petition Congress for statehood when population equal to number of free inhabitants of smallest existing state

Northwest Ordinance

Northwest Ordinance Created single Northwest Territory out of lands north of the Ohio River Territory might be subsequently divided into three to five territories Population of 60,000 as a minimum for statehood Guaranteed freedom of religion, right to trial by jury and prohibited slavery

Early Battles With Native Americans

Native Americans continued to claim tribal lands in northwest.

Miami people key victories over U. S. Army 1790-1791

Mad Anthony Wayne The Battle of Fallen Timbers

Early Battles With Native Americans

August 20, 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers

Treaty of Greenville Miamis gave up most land in Ohio for $10,000 a year.

Key Event: Shay’s Rebellion (1786) Prevent the state of Massachusetts from seizing property of debtors Many in the U.S. saw this incident as clear evidence of the weaknesses of the Articles Led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia