The American Revolution
(AP)
Thomas Paine and “Common
Sense”


Pamphlet urging
separation (& not
reconciliation) from
England.
Sold over 120,000 copies
in 1st 3-months
Patrick Henry

“Give me Liberty, or
give me death!”
The Radical Whigs



Were English radicals who opposed the
King.
Marginal influence in England, but very
popular in the colonies.
Trenchard and Gordon are most
influential.
The Whig View

English system of govt. is best because its
“balanced” system best protects people’s
liberties.

If balance is off because of corruption, however,
then people’s liberties are threatened.

They think that George III is corrupt and the
system is off.

Leads to a paranoid view that the king is plotting
to take away people’s rights, etc.
The Enlightenment




Revolutionary leaders influenced by the ideas of
the enlightenment.
Enlightenment was an intellectual movement
that stressed natural rights.
Leaders began to question British rule because
they felt that it was infringing (messing with)
their natural rights.
Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson
writes the
“Declaration of
Independence” in
1776.

July 4

Philadelphia



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Many of his ideas come from John Locke.
Everybody had Natural rights—”Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Purpose of Govt. is to protect Nat. Rights.
Right of people to form new governments
if Govt. is not doing its job.
Abigail Adams



“Remember The
Ladies”
Letter to her husband
John Adams.
Turn to pg. 71 in your
book.
Rights of Women


Married women have very few. All
property goes to the husband.
Only in NJ could they vote.
British Advantages




Professional Army
Best Navy in the
world
1/3 of the colonists
are “loyalists” (Tories)
Slaves and Native
Americans will help
Advantages of Americans



Fighting for
something they
believe in.
Fighting on their
home turf.
Leadership of George
Washington
Problems in Funding

National Govt. can only ask states for $ (it can’t
tax).

Sells Bonds

Paper $ (inflation)

Borrow (Dutch and French)
Washington crossing the Delaware
British Failures in 1777



Brits had Americans on the Ropes.
Brit. General William Howe continually
allows Washington to retreat and regroup.
Saratoga—Horatio Gates defeats
Burgoyne.
Burgoyne’s Surrender at Saratoga
French Help



After Saratoga—
French form an
alliance with America.
Sends navy and
troops.
Ben Franklin
The South



Lots of Loyalists.
Brits. Offer to slaves (Dunmore
Proclamation).
Nathaniel Greene
Yorktown



1781--Washington and
French defeat Cornwallis.
Decisive defeat in the
war; End of major
fighting.
Treaty of Paris (1783)
officially ends war.
Why the Americans won

They fought a
defensive war—avoid
big defeat.

Help from the French

Brits. Get tired.

1776--1783
Interpreting the Revolution

Was the American Revolution a social or
political revolution? Or was it both?
War and Society



Many loyalists leave country (and
property)
but distribution of wealth did not change
dramatically.
Those that had Social and political power,
still tended to.
Impact on Religion

Many loyalists had been Anglicans.

In Md. And Va. Anglican church was “official” church.

When Rev. starts, Anglican Church is “Disestablished.”

Va. statute of religious freedom (TJ)

Quakers

Catholics
War and Slavery



Brits. Offer freedom to slaves (Dunmore
Proclamation).
Revolutionary rhetoric (i.e. talk of
“liberty”) seems incompatible with slavery
to many in North.
By the end of the rev., most northern
states abolish slavery (1777-1804).
War and Women

Many Men Gone

“Camp Followers”

Molly “Pitcher”

Abigail Adams
Republican Motherhood

Idea that women had an important role:
To raise their children to be virtuous, civic
minded citizens.

Teachers of Republican virtue

Essential to the Republic
War’s Impact on Native Americans

Neutrality

Some side with Brits.

Result of war is bad:


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A. Means more white expansion
B. Resentment against those that sided with
Brits.
C. “noble Savages”
Review

Who wrote the Dec. of Ind.? What was its purpose? What was the
3-part argument?

Why did the colonists win the Rev. War?

How did the war impact Native Americans?

Describe which religious groups were effected by the American
Revolution?

How did the War effect slavery?

Who were the Radical Whigs and what was their impact on the Rev.

What other group of ideals motivated the colonists to have a
revolution?

Explain the concept of “Republican Motherhood”
War’s Impact on Government


Many fear strong central government and think
power should be concentrated locally.
Creation of new state governments.


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A. Most states get rid of property requirements for
voting.
B. Many have weak (or no) executives.
C. Some have unicameral legislatures (thought to be
more democratic)
D. Some regular people get elected to legislatures.
Power to the People

During the Rev. the idea that sovereignty
resides, ultimately, with the people, takes
hold.
Republicanism

Elite’s Ideology of the revolution

Virtue is the key

Different opinions as to who possesses virtue.


Most feel that one must be independent to have
virtue
Many feel that land ownership is key to being
independent and thus virtuous.
Stop Here
First American Government

The Articles of
Confederation

Too weak, all of the
power was in the
states
The Constitution

1787
Government

A federal Republic
with more balance
between the national
and state
governments.
Legislative Branch
Makes Laws
Executive Branch
Enforces Laws
Judicial Branch
Why an Enlightenment Document



Social Contract—the power comes from
“We The People…”
Checks and Balances—Separation of
Powers
Natural Rights
Surrender of Cornwallis