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6. A People in Revolution. A People in Revolution. The War for American Independence The Experience of War Peacetime Opportunities and Challenges Toward a New National Government Conclusion: Completing the Revolution. The War for American Independence. First Moves.
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6 A People in Revolution
A People in Revolution • The War for American Independence • The Experience of War • Peacetime Opportunities and Challenges • Toward a New National Government • Conclusion: Completing the Revolution
First Moves • 1776, British hold Boston • Move headquarters to New York City • Remain there until end of war • George III attempts reconciliation • Declaration of Independence to be revoked • No possibility for reconciliation
The War for Independence1776-1778 • War in the North • War moves across Pennsylvania, New Jersey • Americans take Montréal • American victory at Saratoga • French join the American side • Continental Congress • Lacked power to prosecute the war • Washington given extraordinary powers
The War for Independence:1778 to 1782 • Britain targets southern states • Georgia removed from war • Loyalist following never really materializes • Nathanael Greene sent south • Uses guerilla tactics • Cornwallis moves through Virginia • Reaches Yorktown, August, 1781 • French fleet cuts British off • Cornwallis surrenders, October, 1781
Indians in the Revolution • Iroquois Six Nations hold northern interior • Southern interior • Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek, Cherokee • Cherokee launch raids in 1776 • Their defeat sends a signal to other tribes
Indians in the Revolution (cont'd) • Joseph Brant brings in Iroquois • Involvement devastating for both sides • Oneida and Tuscarora join Americans
Peace • Negotiations begin September, 1781 • Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay • League of Armed Neutrality • Formed against Britain • Extension of Revolutionary War • Treaty of Paris, 1783 • American independence • Western border at Mississippi • Restoration of loyalists property
Explaining American Victory • Assistance from France and the Netherlands • Washington’s leadership • Britain unable to use its advantages • Poor information • Inflexible
Recruiting an Army • Perhaps 250,000 Americans fight • As war continues, enthusiasm flags • Those fighting increasingly poorer, convicts • Supplies poorly manages • Letter from a Revolutionary War Soldier (1776)
Impact of the War • Civilian life • Inflation, currency problems • Urban areas disrupted by occupations
Loyalists • Many evacuate with British after the war • Revenge against some • Rationale • Some loyal because of duty to government • Some feared democratic society
African Americans in the South • Southern slaves seen as pawns • To be used by British as a resource • Feared as weakness by southern whites • Lord Dunmore promises freedom • In exchange for fighting for British • Many join British to gain freedom • Many leave after war
African Americans (cont’d) • Northern slaves petition state legislatures • Slave Petition to the Governor of Massachusetts (1774) • Slave Petition to the General Assembly in Connecticut
Transition to Peace:Major Issues • Dissenters press for religious freedom • Extended to some groups • Virginia establishes separation of church and state • Catholics, Muslims still politically disenfranchised
Transition to Peace:Major Issues (cont'd) • Slavery • Most states halt influx of slaves by 1790 • Challenged in New England, Chesapeake • Pennsylvania frees children of slaves in 1780 • The West • Land grant ordinances, 1785, 1787 • Northwest Ordinance, 1789
Transition to Peace:Economic Problems • Britain • Controls Canada, occupies western forts • British ports closed to American commerce • France, Spain • Restrictions on American commerce • American exports fall, repayment of debt difficult • Robert Morris restructures finances
Transition to Peace:Economic Problems (cont’d) • Surge of conservatism • Pennsylvania’s new Constitution conservative • Massachusetts • Unsound credit • British call in loans • Farmers petition government, with no effect • Daniel Shays leads rebellion, 1787
A New National Government:Federalism • Federalists – support strong national government • Washington, Hamilton, Madison, Jay • Shays’s uprising a signal for stronger government • Government needs power to tax • Anti-Federalists – support states’ rights
A New National Government:Constitutional Convention • Only briefed to revise Articles of Confederation • James Madison • Central figure • Introduces Virginia Plan • Largely responsible for Constitution
A New National Government:Drafting the Constitution • Virginia Plan • Proportional representation • Favors large states • New Jersey Plan • Gives Congress right to tax • Equal representation
A New National Government:Drafting the Constitution (cont’d) • Great Compromise • Representation differs in Senate and House • Direct taxes based on population • Electoral College
A New National Government:Drafting the Constitution (cont’d) • Slavery • Opposed by many • Question of slave trade tabled for twenty years • Fugitive Slave Clause • Convention adjourns, September, 1787 • Three abstain from approval • Sent to Congress for ratification
A New National Government:Federalist Debates • Federalist versus Anti-Federalists • Federalist Papers published • Nine states needed • Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey first • New York and Virginia slow to ratify • Rhode Island the last: May, 1790
A New National Government:Struggle over Ratification • Geographic factors • Federalists along coasts, rivers
Conclusion:Completing the Revolution • Period from 1776 to 1788 • First period of nation building • Unexplored realm of creating a nation • Consequences of wars of independence • Destruction, disruption • Relations with Native Americans impacted • Many new questions about governance