🦬US History – Before 1865 Unit 6 – The American Revolution

Key Events and Timeline

• 1763: End of the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) with the Treaty of Paris
• 1764: Sugar Act and Currency Act passed by British Parliament to raise revenue from colonies
• 1765: Stamp Act imposed direct tax on printed materials in colonies, leading to protests and boycotts
  • Stamp Act Congress convened in New York to coordinate colonial response
• 1767: Townshend Acts placed duties on imported goods like glass, lead, paper, and tea
• 1770: Boston Massacre occurred when British soldiers fired on a mob, killing five colonists
• 1773: Tea Act passed, granting East India Company monopoly on tea trade and triggering Boston Tea Party
• 1774: Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party
  • First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to coordinate colonial resistance
• 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of armed conflict between Britain and colonies
• 1776: Second Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence on July 4th
• 1777: British captured Philadelphia but suffered major defeat at Saratoga, turning point of the war
• 1778: France formally allied with the United States following the American victory at Saratoga
• 1781: British forces under Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, effectively ending major combat operations
• 1783: Treaty of Paris officially ended the war, recognizing American independence and establishing borders

Major Figures

• George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and first President of the United States
  • Provided crucial military leadership and served as a unifying figure during the war
• Benjamin Franklin: Prominent Founding Father, diplomat, scientist, and inventor
  • Played a key role in securing French support for the American cause
• Thomas Jefferson: Primary author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States
• John Adams: Advocate for independence, diplomat, and second President of the United States
• Samuel Adams: Radical patriot and organizer of the Boston Tea Party
• Thomas Paine: Author of influential pamphlets like "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis"
  • His writings helped build public support for the revolution
• King George III: British monarch during the American Revolution
  • His policies and actions contributed to growing colonial resentment
• Lord North: British Prime Minister during much of the American Revolution
  • Oversaw the implementation of controversial policies like the Coercive Acts
• Marquis de Lafayette: French aristocrat and military officer who served as a major general in the Continental Army
  • Played a significant role in securing French aid for the American cause

Causes and Tensions

• Salutary neglect: Period of lax enforcement of colonial trade regulations by the British government
  • Allowed colonies to develop a sense of autonomy and self-governance
• French and Indian War: Conflict between Britain and France for control of North America (1754-1763)
  • British victory increased the national debt, leading to new colonial taxes and regulations
• No taxation without representation: Colonial grievance that they were being taxed without elected representatives in Parliament
• Mercantilism: Economic system that prioritized the wealth and power of the mother country over the colonies
  • Britain sought to maintain a favorable balance of trade and restrict colonial manufacturing
• Enlightenment ideas: Philosophical movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, and limited government
  • Influenced colonial leaders and provided intellectual justification for resistance
• Growing colonial identity: Development of a distinct American identity separate from British identity
  • Strengthened by shared experiences, interests, and grievances against British policies
• Economic and trade restrictions: British attempts to regulate colonial trade and manufacturing to benefit the empire
  • Included measures like the Navigation Acts, Sugar Act, and Townshend Acts
• Political and military presence: Increased British political control and military presence in the colonies after 1763
  • Quartering Act required colonies to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers

Revolutionary Ideas and Philosophies

• Natural rights: Concept that individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property
  • Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and incorporated into the Declaration of Independence
• Social contract theory: Idea that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed
  • If a government fails to protect citizens' rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish it
• Republicanism: Political philosophy emphasizing self-governance, civic virtue, and opposition to corruption
  • Colonists sought to establish a republican form of government free from British monarchy and aristocracy
• Separation of powers: Division of government into distinct branches to prevent concentration of power
  • Influenced by Montesquieu's ideas and later incorporated into the U.S. Constitution
• Consent of the governed: Principle that government must derive its power from the people it governs
  • Colonists argued that British rule violated this principle due to lack of representation
• Individual liberty: Belief in the importance of protecting individual freedoms and limiting government power
  • Reflected in the Bill of Rights and emphasis on personal freedoms in the new nation
• Religious freedom: Idea that individuals should be free to practice their religion without government interference
  • Many colonists sought to escape religious persecution and establish greater religious tolerance
• Equality and justice: Aspiration for a society based on equal rights and opportunities for all citizens
  • Declaration of Independence proclaimed that "all men are created equal" with unalienable rights

Military Campaigns and Strategies

• Guerrilla warfare: Unconventional military tactics used by the colonists to compensate for their lack of resources
  • Included hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and targeting of British supply lines
• Fabian strategy: Employed by Washington to avoid direct confrontation and wear down British forces over time
  • Focused on preserving the Continental Army and prolonging the war to exhaust British resources
• Siege of Boston: Successful colonial campaign to force British troops to evacuate Boston in March 1776
  • Demonstrated the effectiveness of colonial militia and boosted morale
• Battle of Saratoga: Turning point of the war in October 1777, where the colonists defeated a major British army
  • Convinced France to openly support the American cause with military aid and diplomatic recognition
• Southern campaign: British strategy to focus on the southern colonies and recruit Loyalist support
  • Led to significant victories at Charleston and Camden but ultimately failed to subdue the rebellion
• Yorktown campaign: Final major military engagement of the war in 1781
  • Washington's forces, with French assistance, besieged and captured a British army under Cornwallis
• French alliance: Crucial military and financial support provided by France following the colonial victory at Saratoga
  • French naval power helped counter British naval superiority and isolate British forces
• Hessian mercenaries: German soldiers hired by the British to fight in the American Revolution
  • Their presence further alienated colonists and strengthened the resolve for independence

Global Context and International Impact

• Enlightenment ideals: Revolutionary principles of liberty, equality, and self-governance inspired by Enlightenment thinkers
  • American Revolution seen as a practical application of these ideals on a national scale
• French involvement: France's decision to support the American cause was influenced by its rivalry with Britain
  • French aid was crucial to the colonial victory and helped legitimize the revolution internationally
• Diplomatic efforts: American diplomats like Benjamin Franklin worked to secure European support and recognition
  • Negotiated the Treaty of Alliance with France and the Treaty of Paris to end the war
• Inspiration for other revolutions: American Revolution served as a model and inspiration for other revolutionary movements
  • Influenced the French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, and Latin American independence movements
• Shift in global power dynamics: American independence weakened British power and influence in the Western Hemisphere
  • Contributed to the rise of the United States as a major global power in the following centuries
• Economic impact: Disruption of trade during the war and post-war economic challenges for the new nation
  • Need to establish new trade relationships and rebuild the economy after years of conflict
• Native American alliances: Various Native American tribes formed alliances with either the British or the colonists
  • These alliances had significant impacts on the course of the war and future relations with the U.S.
• International recognition: Diplomatic efforts to gain recognition of American independence from European powers
  • Culminated in the Treaty of Paris, which established the United States as a sovereign nation

Aftermath and Early Nation-Building

• Articles of Confederation: First governing document of the United States, ratified in 1781
  • Created a loose confederation of states with a weak central government
• Economic challenges: The new nation faced significant debt, trade disruptions, and financial instability after the war
  • Led to debates over taxation, tariffs, and the role of the federal government in the economy
• Western expansion: American independence opened up new opportunities for westward migration and settlement
  • Raised questions about the relationship between the federal government and the states regarding western territories
• Constitutional Convention: Meeting in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation and create a new governing framework
  • Resulted in the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, establishing a stronger federal government
• Bill of Rights: First ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and limiting federal power
  • Added to address concerns about the potential for government overreach and protect civil liberties
• Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist debates: Political disagreements over the ratification of the Constitution
  • Federalists favored a stronger central government, while Anti-Federalists advocated for greater state autonomy
• Formation of political parties: Emergence of competing political factions in the early republic
  • Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
• Foreign policy challenges: The new nation had to navigate complex international relationships and establish its place in the world
  • Included issues like the Jay Treaty with Britain, the Quasi-War with France, and the Barbary Wars

Legacy and Historical Significance

• Establishment of a democratic republic: The American Revolution created a new form of government based on representative democracy and republican principles
  • Served as a model for other nations and influenced the development of modern democratic systems
• Influence on political thought: Revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality, and self-governance had a lasting impact on political philosophy
  • Inspired future generations to fight for freedom and challenge oppressive governments
• Expansion of suffrage: The revolution led to a gradual expansion of voting rights, although initially limited to white male property owners
  • Set the stage for future struggles to extend suffrage to women, African Americans, and other marginalized groups
• Unresolved issues of slavery and inequality: Despite the revolutionary rhetoric of equality, the new nation failed to address the institution of slavery
  • The contradiction between the ideals of the revolution and the reality of slavery would lead to future conflicts and the Civil War
• Economic and territorial growth: American independence set the stage for rapid economic development and westward expansion
  • The United States would become a major industrial and agricultural power in the 19th century
• National identity and unity: The shared experience of the revolution helped forge a sense of national identity and unity among the diverse colonies
  • However, regional differences and competing visions of the nation's future would continue to shape American politics
• Global influence and leadership: The success of the American Revolution positioned the United States to become a global leader and influencer
  • American political, economic, and cultural ideals would have a significant impact on the world in the centuries to come
• Ongoing debates and interpretations: The legacy of the American Revolution remains a subject of ongoing historical analysis and debate
  • Scholars continue to explore the revolution's causes, consequences, and relevance to contemporary issues