Hist 110 American Civilization I Instructor: Dr. Donald R. Shaffer Upper Iowa University.
Download ReportTranscript Hist 110 American Civilization I Instructor: Dr. Donald R. Shaffer Upper Iowa University.
Hist 110 American Civilization I Instructor: Dr. Donald R. Shaffer Upper Iowa University Lecture 6 Comparing the Opponents Britain’s obvious advantages Greater population (11 vs. 2.5 million), powerful navy, & well-trained army (48,000 soldiers supplemented with German mercenaries) Britain less obvious disadvantages Long lines of supply and communications, which made it difficult to mount and coordinate military campaigns in America Fragmented character of authority in America—no rebel nerve center whose capture would end the war American situation: Small, inexperienced, & ill-trained army (rarely more than 5,000 men) supplemented with unreliable militia Yet this army only had to avoid complete defeat and survive to win Lecture 6 Revolutionary War: Early Setbacks North the focus of war from 1775-77 Partly by default: fighting started in that region British also believed it to be the focus of the rebellion, especially Massachusetts Battle for New York (Aug.-Sep. 1776) Seen by the British as key to controlling the northern colonies—jumping off point to control Hudson Valley and isolating New England from the other colonies George Washington unsuccessfully tried to face the British on their own terms using conventional tactics Was forced to retreat into New Jersey, losing many men New York City would be under British control until 1783 Gained an important port, but the city was effectively isolated by Patriot forces for most of the war Would try but never succeed in capitalizing from NYC’s capture British forces land in New York City September 1776 Lecture 6 1777 From George Washington’s early defeats he learned key lessons Strategy: caution & delay Committed his troops as much as possible only at times and places of his choosing Trenton (Dec. 1776) Britain’s failed northern offensive (1777) Three-pronged: 1) Burgoyne invades from Canada; 2) Howe marches north to meet him in the Hudson Valley; 3) St. Ledger raids Mohawk Valley from the west Howe instead targeted Philadelphia Burgoyne’s disaster: Delayed south of Lake Champlain Lost men to failed raid on Bennington, Vt. and “strategic consumption” Battles of Saratoga: 1) Sept. 19; 2) Oct. 7—further bled British strength Cut off and with growing Patriot forces Burgoyne surrendered British campaign failed due to bad strategy and poor coordination American victory at Saratoga convinced France to ally openly with the Americans The story of the murder of Jane McCrea by British allied Native Americans motivated American militia at Saratoga Lecture 6 Patriot Difficulties Despite the victory at Saratoga, things remained difficult for the Patriot cause A British naval blockade and military activity disrupted the American economy resulting in shortages Shortages compounded by requisitioning of supplies by Continental forces War also divided communities between Patriots (1/3), Loyalists (1/5), and those on the fence It should not be forgotten that the Revolutionary War was also a civil war between Americans Lacking reliable revenue the state governments and the Continental Congress printed money to fund their operations which led to hyperinflation The financial problems of the Patriot cause led to suffering in the Continental such as occurred at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-1778 Continental paper currency issued during the Revolutionary War So many were printed they became virtually worthless Lecture 6 The War Shifts South British changed their strategy and focus after 1778 New British strategy Pacify the South, then use it as a base to recapture the North Believed more Loyalists in the South Early British victories Savannah (Nov.-Dec. 1778) Charles Town (May 1780) Waxhaws (May 1780) Southern strategy flawed British won most conventional engagements in the South Victories mean little since they could never identify and neutralize Patriot “centers of gravity” British unable to establish stable colonial government or protect supporters from Patriot reprisals Patriot guerillas key to British failure Loyalists support that existed hurt as much as helped Persecuted neutrals as well as Patriots Lecture 6 American Victory Major Southern Battles Camden, S.C. (Oct. 1780): British victory Cowpens, S.C. (Jan. 1781): Patriot victory Guilford Court House, N.C. (Mar. 1781): British victory Many other smaller engagements in the South, mostly British victories, but none really got them closer to winning war Campaigns in the South degraded the British Army there to the point by late Spring 1781, that its commander, Lord Cornwallis, moved them up to Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Access point for reinforcements and resupply from Great Britain Siege of Yorktown French navy turn back British relief expedition Patriot and French troops lay siege to Cornwallis in late Sept. 1781 Cornwallis forced to surrender on Oct. 17, 1781 British suspend operations, sign peace treaty in 1783 ending war Lecture 6 Writing State Constitutions The governmental lesson many Americans initially drew from their experience with the British was that concentrated power in the hands of monarchy or executive authority was not desirable In writing constitutions after independence many states created governments with a weak executive Pennsylvania went to the logical extreme and eliminated the office of governor Some members of the elite, such as John Adams, worried about the democratizing tendencies inherent in these radical state constitutions Men like Adams worried about the judgment of ordinary Americans and wanted to limit the franchise through property qualifications for voting He also advocated a system of mixed state governments with a bicameral legislature, elected governor with veto power, and appointed judiciary New York state adopted this system in their state constitution John Adams Abigail Adams Judith Sergent Lecture 6 Social Impact of the Revolution Women As the cases of Abigail Adams and Judith Sergeant, the Revolution led some women to question their inferior status Republican Motherhood: wanting greater responsibility in the new nation women gradually adopted the role of raising virtuous citizens, which encouraged education for women to prepare them for that role African Americans As result of the Revolution, slavery came to a gradual end in the North This development helped sow the seeds for the Civil War decades later Loyalists American victory led to the departure of about 100,000 Loyalists, who found refuge in England, the Caribbean, but mostly in Canada (called there “United Empire Loyalists”) High profile Loyalists often had their property confiscated African Americans served in armies on both sides of the Revolutionary War - black soldier pictured here served in a Patriot regiment from Rhode Island Lecture 6 Articles of Confederation The desire for limited central government shaped the first constitution of the United States – the Articles of Confederation No executive or judiciary branch Unicameral Congress, with all states having one vote each Congress given limited authority (declare war, make treaties, settle disputes between the states, borrow and print money, requisition funds from the states) Central government could not levy taxes The Americans won the Revolutionary War despite not because of the Articles It also resulted in an overly weak government after the war unable to respond to problems abroad and at home as witnessed by Shay’s Rebellion in Massachusetts (1786-87) Robert Morris, who led an unsuccessful effort to amend the Articles of Confederation to give the national government the authority to tax Lecture 6 Constitutional Convention Met in the Summer of 1787 Men of property and education from the elite James Madison’s Virginia Plan Proposed replacing the Articles with a strong central government The New Jersey Plan Proposed amending the Articles only Rejected in favor of the Virginia plan as basis for further discussion Divisive issues Slavery and representation Representation of small states Great Compromise Slavery: 3/5 of each slave counted for representation Small states: equal representation in upper house Congress: could tax and regulate interstate commerce Executive (President) Had veto power Chosen by electoral college Judiciary established but organization not defined James Madison Father of the Constitution Lecture 6 Ratification Anti-Federalists Probably a slight majority of the population They feared the strong centralized power of the new Constitution Federalists (Nationalists) Much better organized than the AntiFederalists Federalist Papers: organized by Madison and Alexander Hamilton Federalist No. 10: argued that the size of the United States would prevent any one interest group from becoming too powerful Ratification process stacked in favor of success State legislatures cut out of ratification process to avoid their strong opposition Only 9 of 13 states needed to agree for ratification Promise of Bill of Rights helped secure final ratification by June 1788