The American RevolutionChapter 2

The Decision for Independence

Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson.

Natural rights had been “endowed” to all persons “by their Creator.” No need to claim “rights as Englishmen” Blamed King George III Americans no longer considered themselves English

Upheld the right of the people to overthrow oppressive rule. Based its argument primarily on the contract theory

of government developed by John Locke: power comes from the consent of the people.

The Declaration of Independence The Continental

Congress passed the resolution on July 2, 1776

On July 4, 1776, each member of the Second Continental Congress signed the document.

Choosing Sides

1/3 American Loyalists (Tories) Often lived in urban and

coastal areas. 1/3 Patriots

(actively supported) 1/3 Did not care

enough to fight Not just a war

between the British and Americans; truly a civil war.

Military Resources

British (far more resources) Manpower Navy Professional armies and mercenaries

Colonial Short supply lines Familiarity with area George Washington French Willing to sustain war

The Revolutionary War

Congress struggled to provide the army with adequate supplies. Inability to control colonies, raise money, draft

men, etc.

“Regulars” versus the militia Washington designed a defensive strategy to

compensate for weakness. The Americans lost most of the battles in the

Revolutionary War.

Turning Points

On Christmas night, 1776, Washington slipped across the Delaware River at Trenton (New Jersey) with 2,400 men and surprised the drunken Hessians, killing or capturing over a thousand.

6 American casualties.

Turning Points Victory at

Saratoga (October 1777) Horatio Gates and

Benedict Arnold capture John Burgoyne and 9,500 British

Saratoga changed

everything Franco-American

Alliance

Turning Points:Alliance with France

In Paris, the French celebrated the Battle of Saratoga as a French victory. The French had already been sending military

supplies to the colonists Most gunpowder in the first years of the war came

from France. On February 6, 1778, France and

America signed two treaties: A Treaty of Amity and Commerce (Recognition

of U.S.) A Treaty of Alliance

Turning Points

The American Revolution became a global war.

Britain was fighting wars with America, France, Spain, and Dutch Other theaters of war included India,

the West Indies, and Florida. British realized the rest of the empire

at stake

The Struggle in the South

English politicians & generals believed that the war could be won in the South. Loyalists were numerous in

the backcountry Planters could not afford to

turn their guns away from their slaves

Capture Savannah (1778) & Charleston (1779)

The Struggle in the South

Neighbors and even families fought and killed one another. Both sides burned farms, tortured prisoners, etc. White fears of rebellion

African American quests for liberty (1/3 of population) Disagreement among British over freeing slaves

Kings Mountain (1780) American victory over British Turning point of war in the South Followed by victory at Cowpens (January 1781) British became convinced that they could not put

down the rebellion in the South.

Turning Points

Battle of Yorktown (Virginia) October 19, 1781 Lord Charles Cornwallis

surrounded by French fleet and surrenders to Washington

Over 7,000 British and Hessians became prisoners

Added to setbacks in other parts of the world, the British decided to end the war.

Peace of Paris (1783)

An important factor in the conclusion of peace negotiations with Britain was the American decision to negotiate separately with the British.

Terms U.S. political independence recognized Mississippi River recognized as western border

of the United States Congress would not prevent the British

merchants from collecting debts owed to them by Americans

Florida was given to Spain

Results of the American Revolution: Social effects

Spirit of equality weakened old habits of deference Example: voting qualifications

were lowered Higher education increased

Example: 14 colleges founded in 1780s and 90s to go with the 9 before Revolution

Results of the American Revolution: Social effects

Complete freedom of religion Transition from the toleration of religious

dissent to a complete freedom of religion in the separation of church and state

Legislative representation for the backcountry was increased

Weakened the major Indian tribes along the frontier / cleared the way for rapid settlement of the trans-Appalachian West

Results of the American Revolution: Slavery

British army freed thousands of slaves; others escaped 55,000 slaves fled to freedom during the

Revolution Slaves who fought for the

colonies were given their freedom Northern states began to outlaw

slavery Only Georgia and South Carolina

continued to import.

Results of the American Revolution: Political

Most political experimentation between 1776 and 1787 occurred at the state level with new state constitutions The Articles of Confederation were ratified by the states

in 1781; before then the Continental Congress operated as an extralegal body

Articles of Confederation (1781) Weak central government with little authority Congress was not intended as a legislature, nor as a

sovereign entity unto itself, but as a collective substitute for the monarch – a plural executive rather than a parliamentary body