The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution

2. The American Revolution • 1215 - The Magna Carta document is adopted in England. Limited the power of the King. • 1492 - Christopher Columbus makes the first voyage to the New World • 1607 - Jamestown is founded in Virginia; first permanent English settlment. • 1620 - Mayflower Compact is the first form of self-government established.

3. The American Revolution Underlying Causes • Spread of Enlightenment Ideas • the Great Awakening

4. What is the Enlightenment • Write a short paragraph about the Enlightenment— • what was the Enlightenment? • When did it occur? • Why was it a radical idea?

5. The Nicene Creed • We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. • And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. • And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

6. The Enlightenment • The Enlightenment was an 18th-century philosophical movement of intellectuals who were strongly influenced by the Scientific Revolution. • Reason: a key term of the Enlightenment that meant the application of the scientific method to understanding life and the universe. • Reason, natural law, hope, and progress were the most common words of the Enlightenment

7. Key Enlightenment Ideas • All humans possess and are capable of “reason,” i.e. “the ability to think.” • “Razón” • “Gente de razón” • The universe consists and is shaped by “natural laws.” Example: “universal law of gravitation” • Human beings can use their “reason” to understand (or harness) these natural laws. • Belief in human “progress.” • Human beings can use their understanding of the universe and natural laws to gradually improve the world around them.

8. Enlightenment Thinkers • Two 17th century Englishmen were the most important figures of the Enlightenment: • Isaac Newton • Born 1642 • Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy • Identified three laws of motion • Universal law of gravitation: every object in the universe is attracted to every other object in the universe

9. Enlightenment Thinkers • John Locke (1632-1704) • Locke believed that if Newton could discover natural laws of the universe, intellectuals could learn the natural laws that govern human society. • Locke believed that people are molded or shaped by their environment.

10. John Locke (1632-1704) • He wrote: Two Treatises of Government, 1690. • Before the creation of society, humans lived in a state of equality. • Humans were born with natural rights—life, liberty and property (pursuit of happiness). • Government was a “social contract” between people and rulers; it was formed to ensure people’s natural rights. • If the government did not protect people’s natural rights, they had the right to form a new government. • Argued against absolute rule of one person. • Locke’s ideas were later used to support the constitutional governments formed after the American and French Revolution.

12. John Locke (assignment notes) • John Locke was born into a Puritan family in Bristol, England in 1602. • Studied at Oxford University • Influenced by John Owen, who introduced him to the idea of religious freedom and the idea that people should not be punished for having different views on religion (religious tolerance). • Also influenced by Rene Descartes, a French philosopher and mathematician. • Descartes believed all men had the ability to “reason.” • People can use reason to find a “middle ground” and settle their differences by compromising.

13. John Locke (assignment notes) • John Locke fled to Holland in 1682 because his ideas were regarded as a challenge to the authority of the king. • In 1689, the “Glorious Revolution” in England placed a limit on the king’s power and forced the king to accept a Bill of Rights.” • Locke defended these events stating that people have the natural ability to govern themselves and to look after the well-being of society. • Locke did not believe that God had chosen a group or family of people to rule countries. • A limited monarchy should rule only with the consent or approval of the people. • Governments exists to protect the right to life, the right to freedom and the rights to property (pursuit of happiness). • These rights are absolute (inalienable). • If any government abuses the rights of the people instead of protecting them, the people have to right to rebel and form a new government. • These ideas inspired the founders of new democracies such as the writers of the US Constitution.

14. Other Major Philosophes • Montesquieu-promoted the idea of separating governmental powers among branches • Voltaire-penned Treatise on Toleration, reminded governments that “all men are brothers under God;” championed deism. • Diderot-edited a 28-volume collection of knowledge: the Encyclopedia; attacked religious superstition and supported religious toleration.

15. Economics Adam Smith (1776) • wrote The Wealth of Nations:laissez-faire meaning “to let do” (“hands-off”) • Attacked mercantilism • “To prohibit a great people, however, from making all that they can of every part of their own produce, or from employing their stock and industry in the way that they judge most advantageous to themselves, is a manifest violation of the most sacred rights of mankind.”

16. The Later Enlightenment • Jean-Jacques Rosseau • A social contract exists between the government and the people. • Through a social contract, an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will.

17. Causes of the American Revolution The French and Indian War (or 7 Years War) • The French and Indian War raged from 1756-1763 • Ended with the Treaty of Paris. • The French and English had been fighting for control of Europe since the late 1600s; • three major wars were fought between 1689 and 1748 • When these countries went to war, the colonies went to war as well. • In North America, the two countries fought for control over the Ohio River valley

18. The French and Indian War • Under the treaty, France lost all claims to mainland North American.

20. French and Indian War • After the French and Indian War, England acquired all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. • The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

21. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Impact of the 7 Years War (French and Indian War): • French debt and the French Revolution (1789) • Great Britain’s victory in 1763 left the country with a large financial debt. • England’s George Grenville (Prime Minister) adopted new policies to solve its financial problems that angered the colonists:

22. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Proclamation Act of 1763 • drew a line from north to south and declared that colonists could not settle any land west of the line without the British government’s permission

23. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Sugar Act of 1764: • increased the tax rates on imports of raw sugar and molasses; also taxed silk, wine, coffee and indigo as well.

24. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Currency Act of 1764 • banned use of paper money in the colonies because it lost

25. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Stamp Act (1765) • required stamps to be bought and placed on most printed materials, including newspapers, pamphlets, posters, wills, etc. • Quartering Act (1765): • “the colonists must pay” for their own defense • Required certain colonies to provide food and housing for British soldiers.

26. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Colonial responses to the Stamp Act: • Sons of Liberty: formation of groups that met and protested the Stamp Act by beating and intimidating stamp act distributors

27. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Stamp Act Congress: • Representatives from 9 colonies met and issued the Declaration of Rights and Grievances • Stated that only the colonists’ representatives , not the British Parliament, had the right to tax the colonists (no taxation w/o representation)

28. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Non-importation agreement • When the Stamp Act took effect, the colonists began to boycott all goods made in Britain. • 200 merchants from New York signed a non-importation agreement, pledging not to buy and British goods until Parliament repealed the Stamp Act • Britain repealed the Stamp Act in 1766

29. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Declaratory Act (1766): • Stated that the colonies were subordinate to the British Parliament who had the power to tax them • Townshend Acts: • Revenue Act of 1767: customs duties on glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea • Legalized writs of assistance (general search warrants w/o cause)

30. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Tea Act of 1773 • East India Company given monopoly for colonial tea business with small tax • Made tea cheaper, but imposed a small tax on the tea • Buying tea meant the colonists accepted a British tax

31. Rise of Colonial Discontent • Colonists Response • Boston Tea Party: (December, 1773): 150 men boarded ships carrying tea and dumped 342 chests of tea overboard • Destroyed10,000 sterling worth of tea

32. The Colonists Must Pay!! • Coercive Acts (1774): Called the “Intolerable Acts” by the colonists • Boston Port Act: closed Boston’s harbor until tea was re-payed. • Massachusettes Government Act:banned town meetings in MA; all council members, sheriffs, judges appointed by colony’s governor (not elected) • Administration of Justice Act:trials of British officials and soldiers in England • Quartering Act: amended to allowed soldiers in private homes • Quebec Act: no elected assembly in Quebec territory

33. The Revolution Begins • First Continental Congress (meets in Sept. 1774): all colonies send representatives to decide how to respond to the Coercive Acts • Passes the Suffolk Resolves: urged colonists not to obey the Coercive Acts • Minutemen organized: a special unit of the militia trained to fight at a moment’s notice • First shots at Lexington and Concord (April, 1775) • 73 British soldiers killed, 174 wounded • 49 colonists killed, 46 wounded

34. The Second Continental Congress • The 2nd Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in May, 1775 (three weeks after the first shots at Lexington and Concord) • The 2nd Continental Congress: • created the Continental Army (1775) • Selected George Washington as General and Commander and Chief of the new army

35. The Colonies Declare Independence • In January, 1776, after months of turmoil and indecision, Thomas Paine published a radical, persuasive pamphlet called Common Sense. • Blamed the monarchy for the colonists’ troubles. • Declared that the time had come for independence • Sold 150,000 copies • Convinced colonists to declare independence.

36. The Declaration of Independence • In July 1776, Thomas Jefferson submitted a landmark document he had drafted in which the colonists declared themselves independent. • On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence. • The colonies now became the United States of America.

37. Articles of Confederation • In November, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation. • This was the 1st Constitution of the U.S.A. • Established a weak central government. Why? • Each state sent one delegate to the Confederation Congress. • Had right to declare war and raise armies • Able to negotiate and sign treaties • Could not raise taxes or regulate trade

38. Key Battles of the American Revolution • Lexington and Concord • April, 1775; “first shots” • 73 British soldiers killed; 174 British soldiers wounded • Battle of Saratoga (October, 1777) • “turning point”; 5,000 British troops captured • Convinces the French to join the war against England • Yorktown (May, 1781) • British General Cornwallis surrenders.

39. Treaty of Paris (1783) • The British Parliament voted to end the war following the British defeat at Yorktown. • Signed on September 3, 1783 • Recognized the United States of America as a new nation. • Established the Mississippi River as the western border of the USA. • US acquired Florida

40. The New Nation • When Americans declared their independence and founded the USA, they sought to create an entirely new system of government: • rejected monarchy • Sought to create a republic: a form of government where power resides with a body of citizens entitled to vote. • “Self-government” • “Rule of law” • Popular sovereignty or “Sovereignty of the people” • Public good (subordination of self-interest) • Thomas Paine defined a republic as “the public good or the good of the whole” • Independence and virtue

41. State Constitutions • In 1776, the Continental Congress called on states to overthrow their royal governments and create new republican governments. • The former colonies organized state constitutional conventions and drew up new state constitutions • The state constitutions they created show us how colonists struggled to define the meaning of American revolution and independence

42. State Constitutions • When writing these new state constitutions, problems emerged over a number of issues: • limits of popular sovereignty and the extent of democracy each state would allow. • the division of power

43. State Constitutions • The American Revolution politicized the masses— • mobs, committees

44. State Constitutions • State constitutions range from state to state • Some are radical • Some are moderate • Some are conservative

45. Pennsylvania’s State Constitution • The most radical and fullest expression of democratic-republicanism • moderates routed during war and radicals took charge in the state • no balance of power between elite and people • no limits on popular participation • based on direct will of people • based on “common good “ • thus no soc div. not transplanted to political division

46. Pennsylvania’s State Constitution • No upper house • No Governor • One Assembly (unicameral) • elected Annually • no property-owning qualifications to vote or serve • rotation of office only in 4/7 years • bill of rights • freedom of speech, religion, trial by jury • no debtors prison • extensive educ. system

47. Massachusetts and New York’s State Constitution • This radical constitution concerned and frightened many American leaders • J. Adams sent copies of Thoughts on Government to other states • bicameral legislature with upper for natural aristocracy ($, talent, sense) • appointed judiciary • governor with veto power • divided power by function rather than social lines (English) • Judicial, administrative and lawmaking bodies • less democratic, but more familiar to people • Mass basically this set up as well as NY • John Adams remarked that the Pennsylvania constitution of 1776 was "so democratic that it must produce confusion and every evil work." He would be elected to the Presidency in 1796.

48. South Carolina’s State Constitution • flagrant property qualification: white men had to possess a significant amount of property to vote, and they had to own even more property to be allowed to run for political office. • candidates for governor required to have debt-free estate worth 10k pounds • 2k for senate, 1k for assembly • ruled out 90% of white adult pop. • These property requirements were so high that 90 percent of all white adults were prevented from running for political office! • Poor white men, all women, children, and African Americans (whether free or slave) were considered too dependent on others to exercise reliable political judgment. • John Rutledge served as both South Carolina's president and governor. The state's original constitution, drafted in 1776, called for the election of a state president. But changes made to the document in 1778 saw the state's chief executive become known as "governor."

49. A New Constitution • For many years, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation worried some Americans. • Some felt that the US would not survive without a stronger national government. • People who wanted to strengthen the national government came to be known as “nationalists.” They included: • James Madison • Alexander Hamilton • John Jay

50. A New Constitution: Why • Trade Problems • Congress could not control commerce and the states refused to adopt a uniform tariff policy • Specter of Anarchy • Boundary and trade disputes between the states • Shay’s Rebellion • Rebellion led by revolutionary war captain Daniel Shays in Western Massachusetts 1786 • Revolutionary war veterans were losing their farms due to mortgage foreclosures and tax deliquentcies. • Demanded cheap “paper” money, lighter taxes, and a suspension of property takeovers