The American Revolution,
1775-1783
The Combatants
Tale of the Tape
• British Advantages
–Army of regulars
–Top Navy
–30,000 Hessians
–50,000 American
loyalists
–Money and
supplies
Tale of the Tape
• American Advantages
–3,000 miles of ocean
–Home Turf
–Fighting for
independence
–Leadership
–Training in F&I War
–Possible French
assistance
First Continental Congress
• First C.C. convened in Phil. in ‘74
–Statement of grievances to King
–Made preparations in MA for
fighting
–Agreed not to consume British
goods
–Agreed to meet again in ‘75
The Fighting Begins
• Lexington and Concord ‘75
–“The shot heard round the world”
–Unclear start to a revolution
• Second C.C. meets 3 wks later
–GA sends no rep.
–Approves “Olive Branch
Petition”
–Reconciliation begins to appear
unlikely
The Shot Heard Round the World
Common Sense
Thomas Paine
• Published Jan.’76
• Sold 100,000
copies in first
four months
• Called for
complete split
from Britain and
its constitution
Declaration of Independence
• Written by
Jefferson
• Formal break with
the crown
When in the Course of Human Events…
Reactions to July 4…
Conducting the War
• Despite individual states vying for
power, Congress given power to
coordinate the war but
–Armies raised from state militias
–Depended on states
volunteering money,
Continental money issued
rapidly
Phase I: New England ’75-’76
• British driven from Mass (Bunker
Hill)
• Invasion of British Canada
–Quebec assualted
–Arnold and Montgomery led
• No Canadian revolution
• British realize the scope of the
revolution
Phase II: The Mid-Atlantic ’76-’78
• Over 30,000 British regulars arrive in
New York under Howe (not a fighter)
• Success in upstate NY for Burgoyne at
first
• Washington attacks during winter with
limited success
• Saratoga
–Turning point
–Outnumbered Burgoyne forced to
surrender
New York City in Flames
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Phase III:The South
• Saratoga gave France the
confidence to support the
Patriots with supplies
• Diplomatic recognition followed in
’78
• Britain’s European wars expand
• French Navy arrives
Phase III: The South (cont.)
• Britain hoped to rely on Loyalists
in the south for support
• Military commitment by Britain
decreases
• Yorktown marks last major battle
–Cornwallis cornered between
land and sea
–French-American army surround
British
“The World Turn’d Upside Down”
War and Society
• Loyalists harassed
–Left behind property and estates
–Many moved to Canada or
Britain
• Native-Americans generally
opposed the Rev.
• Mixed bag for African-Americans
War and Economy
• Eco. suffered at first
–Trade with Britain cut off
–No protection at sea
• Eco. diversified by the 1780s
–New trading partners
–Formation of navy
–Some industry forms
Imports/Exports
Articles of Confederation (’81-’89
• Fed. Gov’t consisted of a unicameral
Congress (9 out of 13 votes to pass a
law)
• 13 out of 13 to amend
• Rep. frequently absent
• Could not tax or raise armies
• Northwest Ordinance a success
• Shays’ Rebellion shows weaknesses
Treaty of Paris of 1783
• US bordered by Mississippi, Canada,
Atlantic, and Florida
• Diplomatic recog. by British
• British promise to evacuate Ohio
Valley
• US promises to pay debts
State Constitutions
• Guiding principle: Do the opposite of
Britain
• Republicanism
• CN & RI simply changed their colonial
charters
• Limited executive branch
• Most had bicameral legislatures
• Property req. for voting
Occupations of Representatives
Toleration and Slavery
• Where it was not used, usually
abolished
• SC and GA refused to halt slave
trade
• Sep. of Church and State (Statute
of Relig. Freedom by Thomas
Jefferson of VA)
Washington Resigns from the Army