APUSH Lecture 2A
(covers Ch. 5)
Ms. Kray
Some slides taken from Susan Pojer

 Analyze the goals and influence of the Declaration of
Independence
 Analyze the impact of the revolution on women, African-
Americans, and Native-
Americans

• In 1775 the colonies were neither prepared for nor united behind fighting a war with Britain
• Key Questions:
– Should we demand independence?
– If yes, how will we structure our new nation?
• Wanted to be a new type of nation, dedicated to enlightened ideals (role model)
• U.S. attempt to live up to those ideals = on going trend in U.S. History

• Delegates divided on what to do
• Olive Branch Petition
– Conciliatory gesture
– Pledged colonists loyalty, asked king for assistance w/Parliament
– Rejected by King George
• Declaration of the Causes and
Necessities for Taking Up Arms
– Called on colonies to supply troops
– Named Washington commander-inchief
– Authorized invasion of Canada

• July 4, 1776: colonies declare independence
• Why the shift?
– Costs of the war too high to justify anything else
– British hired foreign mercenaries
– Colonists felt British were forcing them to declare independence
• Declaratory Act 1775: colonies in rebellion, closed off trade, no concessions
• Naval blockade

• Published in January 1776
– Sold 100,000 copies
• Argued it didn’t make sense:
– for a large continent to be ruled by a small, distant island
– for colonists to pledge allegiance to a king and British government that were corrupt and whose laws were unreasonable

• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Enlightenment Document
– Social contract, natural rights
– Locke’s theories
• Impact:
– Encouraged Patriots to fight on
• But created deep divisions in
American society (Loyalist vs.
Patriot)
– Led to increased foreign aid
– Inspired other revolutions

 40% of pop.
 Strongest in New
England & VA
 5,000 African
Americans fought
Peter
Salem recog. for bravery
 20-30% of pop.
 Strongest in NY, NJ,
& GA
 Generally wealthier
& more conservative than
Patriots
 Gov’t officials
 Anglican clergy
 Native Americans

Strengths
Weaknesses
Britain

Superior #s

More $$$

Superior navy

Professional army

20-30% of pop. =
Loyalist
Colonists
 Superior leadership
 Open foreign aid

Fighting defensively

No urban nerve center
 Tough & self-reliant
 Moral advantage
 Mil. stretched thin
 Inept gov’t & mil. leadership
 Many don’t want war
(Whigs)

To win they must conquer

Base of operations was 3,000 miles away

Poorly organized

Lack of unity

Jealousy between states

Shortage of $$$

Skyrocketing prices

The Americans
Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line].
Guerilla tactics
[fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down]
Make an alliance with one of
Britain’s enemies.
The British
Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So.
Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally.
“ Divide and
Conquer ”  use the
Loyalists.

Phase I : New England [1775-1776]
• Apr. 1775 
Bunker Hill
– British suffer heaviest casualties of the war
• Mar. 1776 
British leave
Boston for
Nova Scotia
• Failed
American invasion of
Canada

The British suffered over 40% casualties.
Their heaviest casualties of the war

Phase II : NY & PA
[1776-1778]
• More traditional fighting
– Br. goal = cut U.S. in two
– Not a good time for
U.S. army
• 1776  Br. Gen. Howe takes NY
• By 1777  Br. take
Philly too
• Washington’s army plagued by shortages
– Valley Forge

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [1/3
Loyalists and 1/3 neutral].
State/colony loyalties.
Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental
Army.
Poor training-until the arrival of
Baron von Steuben.

Exports & Imports
1768-1783
Wholesale
Price Index:
1770-1789
95% drop in trade, goods scarce, rampant inflation, continentals almost worthless

• Major turning point
• U.S. victory allowed France to enter war!

Phase III : The Southern Strategy
[1780-1781]
Britain thought there were more
Loyalists in the
South.
Southern resources more valuable/worth preserving.
The British win a
# small victories, but can’t pacify the countryside
American Gen.
Nathanael
Greene keeps up the pressure

• Last major battle of war – we win w/lots of French help
• Cornwallis sent aide to surrender to
Washington

• U.S. gains independence
• Mississippi River recognized as western border of USA
• USA gets fishing rights off Canadian coast
• Americans would pay debts owed to
British merchants & honor Loyalist claims for confiscated property

American Revolution was a political and social revolution

• Approx. 20-30% of the population were
Loyalist
• 100,000 fled the country by end of war, why?
– Hounded by Patriots in their community, harassed by legislative and judicial actions
– Left behind estates & important positions
• Their flight created new opportunities for
Patriots to acquire land and influence
– led to significant social change

• Most states adopt this principle
– 1786: Statute of Religious Liberty written by Thomas Jefferson
• Anglican church disestablished

• Revolutionary War meant an increased exposure to the concept of liberty but seldom the reality
• In the North
– Revolutionary sentiments + evangelical fervor = growing anti-slavery sentiment
– Most northern states passed laws ending slavery
• Continental Congress voted to abolish importation of slaves and most states went along

• In the South :
– Some slaves took advantage of British presence to escape
– White southerners feared revolution would foment slave rebellions
• Some engaged in open resistance -- Thomas
Jeremiah and Lemuel Hayes
– Slaves offered freedom if fought for patriot cause
– Some slave owners voluntarily freed their slaves ( manumission )
• The Revolution exposed the continuing tension between the nation’s commitment to liberty and its commitment to slavery

• Generally weakened the position of Native
Americans
• Patriot victory increased demand for western lands
• White attitudes took a turn for the worst
– Many resented assistance
Mohawk other Indian assistance to Brits
– Paternalism

• Generally weakened the position of Native
Americans
• Patriot victory increased demand for western lands
• White attitudes took a turn for the worst
– Many resented assistance Mohawk other Indian assistance to
Brits
– Paternalism

Deborah Sampson i mpersonated a man so she could fight
• Left in charge of farms and business
• “camp followers”
• When war ended, returned to their traditional roles
Molly
Pitcher – took her husband’s place at the
Battle of
Monmouth

Abigail Adams pleaded w/her husband John, “ . . .
Remember the Ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors
”
• The Revolution did raise issues about women’s roles in society
– Mary Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the Rights of
Women , 1792
• Called for protection against abusive and tyrannical men
• The significant legal restrictions all women, but particularly married women, lived under remained

• Women did find a role for themselves in the new republic
• They would be the teachers of republican virtues in order to raise good citizens

Abigail Adams pleaded w/her husband John, “
. . .
Remember the Ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors ”
• Some political leaders, like Ben Franklin, supported education for women & other feminist reforms
– Wide discussion on the future role of women in the new republic
– Few concrete reforms established
• Revolution actually seemed to confirm and strengthen the patriarchal structure of society

 Analyze the goals and influence of the Declaration of
Independence
 Analyze the impact of the revolution on women, African-
Americans, and Native-
Americans