Colonies in Colonies in RevoltRevolt

1763-17831763-1783

Foner chapters 5-6Foner chapters 5-6• Onset of crisis

• Road to revolution

• Coming of Independence

• Progress of the war

• Toward Victory

• Recognizing American independence

Breakdown of political trustBreakdown of political trust► Views of Empire: Views of Empire:

British versus AmericanBritish versus American Subordinate position of colonies vs. Subordinate position of colonies vs.

equalityequality Virtual representationVirtual representation ““No taxation without representation”No taxation without representation”

► eroding the bonds of empireeroding the bonds of empire western expansion created land disputes western expansion created land disputes

and conflictsand conflicts corrupt authoritiescorrupt authorities

► popular protestpopular protest writerswriters Boston Massacre-1770Boston Massacre-1770 Boston Tea Party-1773Boston Tea Party-1773 Sons of LibertySons of Liberty RegulatorsRegulators Ethan Allen in VermontEthan Allen in Vermont Hudson ValleyHudson Valley

Paying off the Seven Year’s War Paying off the Seven Year’s War debtdebt

►British wanted more efficient and British wanted more efficient and systematic controlsystematic control

►British: “reasonable” for colonistsBritish: “reasonable” for colonists to help pay for the debt (trillions in today’s $$)to help pay for the debt (trillions in today’s $$) to foot part of the bill for protectionto foot part of the bill for protection to stop cheating on taxes from tradeto stop cheating on taxes from trade

►Grenville attempts to reduce war debtGrenville attempts to reduce war debt►Sugar, Stamp, Declaratory, TownshendSugar, Stamp, Declaratory, Townshend

actsacts boycott importsboycott imports use “homemade”use “homemade” reawakening of popular protestreawakening of popular protest

Colonial Products and Colonial Products and TradeTrade

Final ProvocationFinal Provocation► Coercive Acts, Quebec Act, ultimate crisisCoercive Acts, Quebec Act, ultimate crisis► Suffolk ResolutionsSuffolk Resolutions

Disobey British law, withhold taxes, prepare for warDisobey British law, withhold taxes, prepare for war

► First Continental Congress-1774 First Continental Congress-1774 ► Rights of Englishmen to natural rightsRights of Englishmen to natural rights► Shot heard round the world-1775Shot heard round the world-1775

April-Lexington and ConcordApril-Lexington and Concord► Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress

Raise an army, present grievances, appoint George Raise an army, present grievances, appoint George Washington, Continental Army CommanderWashington, Continental Army Commander

► Irreparable breachIrreparable breach blockadesblockades German mercenariesGerman mercenaries

► Common SenseCommon Sense, , Paine “…but an American”Paine “…but an American” Mass appealMass appeal Ground swell for independenceGround swell for independence

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

► Thomas Jefferson, principle Thomas Jefferson, principle writerwriter

► adopted on July 4, 1776 adopted on July 4, 1776 ► break all ties with Great break all ties with Great

BritainBritain ““When in the course of When in the course of

human events…human events… ““truths to be self-evident”truths to be self-evident” ““inalienable rights”inalienable rights” ““history of repeated injuries history of repeated injuries

and usurpations”and usurpations” list of abuseslist of abuses

““absolute tyranny”absolute tyranny” pledge “ lives, fortune, and pledge “ lives, fortune, and

sacred honor”sacred honor”

ROLE IN FOUNDING AMERICA?

Alexander Hamilton

Thomas Jefferson

George Washington

Thomas Paine

John Adams

Samuel Adams

War comesWar comes► Colonial ambivalence Colonial ambivalence (thirds)(thirds)

► Building a professional armyBuilding a professional army► Test of willTest of will

““THESE are the times that try THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” man and woman.”

► Early YearsEarly Years► Saratoga (Burgoyne)Saratoga (Burgoyne)

French alliance, recognize USAFrench alliance, recognize USA► War in the SouthWar in the South► Yorktown, 1781Yorktown, 1781► Treaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783

What river?

The The American American RevolutionRevolution

, 1775-, 1775-17811781British advantages

American advantagesBlack soldiersAlliance with France and Spainsagging fortunesLoyalistsToward Victory

• Cowpens and Guilford• Yorktown

Opening peace negotiations

War and the PeopleWar and the People

► Loyalist dilemmaLoyalist dilemma► IndiansIndians► slavesslaves► votingvoting► religionreligion► womenwomen► economyeconomy

Winning the PeaceWinning the Peace

► Peace Treaty of 1783 Peace Treaty of 1783 negotiated by Franklin, negotiated by Franklin,

John Adams, and John John Adams, and John JayJay

► Terms secured by Terms secured by playing France against playing France against EnglandEngland independence independence U.S. gains all territory east U.S. gains all territory east

of Mississippi River, of Mississippi River, between Canada and Floridabetween Canada and Florida

U.S. secures fishing rights in U.S. secures fishing rights in North AtlanticNorth Atlantic

Preserving IndependencePreserving Independence

►The American Revolution begins The American Revolution begins construction of new form of construction of new form of governmentgovernment

Question remains: a government of the Question remains: a government of the elite or a government of the people?elite or a government of the people?