American Revolution
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Chapter 5 – The American Revolution
* Military conflict w/ Great B. – modest one/revolutionary way
* Political struggle within America
o Whether to demand independence from Britain
o How to structure nation they proclaimed
* War over – Brit surrendered at Yorktown (1781)
* U.S. a new type of nation
I. The States United
* Colonies unprepared for challenge
* War against worlds greatest armed power
A. Defining American War Arms
* Second Continental Congress – in Philadelphia
o Agreed to support war/disagreed on war purpose
* One end- grp led by Adams, Richard Henry See (VA) – complete independence from Great Britain
* Other end – grp. led by moderates John Dickenson (PA) – modest reforms of imperial relationships early reconciliation w/ G.B.
* Delegates uncertain – 2 different declarations
* Approves last conciliatory (peaceful) appeal to king – Olive Branch Petition
* July 6, 1775 – adopted “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms” – Americans with 2 options : submission to tyranny OR resistance by force
* Americans fighting for a redress of grievances – changed minds
o Costs of war – original motives to Americans to cover increasing costs
o Affection for Brits diminished when Brits recruited Indians, slaves, etc.
o Colonists believed Brits pushing them towards independence b/c Brits rejected Olive Petition
* Brit govt enforced Prohibitory Acts – closed colonies to all sea trade – naval blockade of colonial ports
* “Common Sense” – by Thomas Moore (Jan 1776)
o exposed folly of continuing to believe peace w/ English possible
o king & system to blame
o revolutionary propagandist
B. The Decision for Independence
* support for independence grew rapidly – 1st months 1776
* Continental Congress – slowly moving toward break w/ England
o communication w/foreign powers
o appointed committee to draft declaration of independence (Thomas Jefferson)
* July 2, 1776 – adopted resolution that colonies independent states
* July 4, 1776- Congress approves Declaration of Independence
o expressed ideas already voiced throughout colonies
§ “all men created equal”
§ ideas from other declarations (John Locke)
o 2 parts:
§ govt protect the right of life, liberty, pursuit of happiness
§ declaration listed alleged crimes of king
* American colonies Ðo sovereign nation Ðo United States of America
* Declaration encouraged American Patriots
C. Responses to Independence
* many Americans did not rejoice Declaration
* Loyalists (Tories) – supporters of King
* colonies began to call themselves Ðo
* states – to create new governments – write constitutions/republicans
* national level – forming govt Ðo less successful
* individual states Ðo real centers of authority
* Americans – balance commitment to state and local autonomy against need for some centralized power
* Nov. 1777 – Congress adopted Articles of Confederation
o confirmed weak (uncertain) decentralized govt
o Continental Congress – chief coordinating agency
o power over states limited
D. Mobilizing for War
* challenge in new govt
o raising & organizing armies
o supplies & equip. for armies
o finding way to pay for everything
* finding supplies Ðo difficult – shortages
* Americans relied on stolen weapons/material from British
* most war supplies from France
* Congress – no authority to levy taxes directly on people – funds from states
o govt w/no choice – issue paper money
o inflation – prices rose/value of paper money decreased
* American merchants/farmers- business w/ British – food shortages
* failed efforts Ðo govt forced to borrow heavily from other nations
* 1st great surge of patriotism faded in 1775 – few in military
o states used persuasion & force
* spring 1775 – Congress – created Continental army w/ single commander
o George Washington Ðo admired, trusted, respected / took command in July 1775
* Washington to deal w/ serious problems: