American Revolution

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 world's 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 gov't 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:

§ gov't 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 gov't 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 gov't

o Continental Congress - chief coordinating agency

o power over states limited

D. Mobilizing for War

* challenge in new gov't

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 gov't 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 gov't 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:

o