Download A. Revolution Notes

The American
Revolution
(1775)
I. First Continental
Congress
1. Discuss acceptable forms of
protest & reaction
2. Assert the rights of
colonialsrepeal Coercive Acts
3. Urged colonies to
1. Build up military reserves
2. Organize boycotts of British goods
4. Dec. of Rights and Grievances
The Shot Heard ’Round the
World!
II. The Fight Begins
1. Lexington & Concord
1.
2.
3.
4.
British General Thomas Gage
Seize armaments & rebels
Minutemen
Minutemen forced a treat of the
British, 250 KIA
Bunker Hill
2. Bunker Hill—June 17, 1775
1. Colonists were defeated
2. 1000 British KIA and WIA
3. Significance
1. Massive casualties on the British
2. King declared the colonies in rebellion
3. Hessians mercenaries
III. Strengths/Weaknesses
Colonies vs. Britain
1. British Advantages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Larger population
Greater financial resources
Professional army
Large Navy
Indians generally allied with the British
Many Americans, Tories loyalists
Black, offered freedom, for service
2. British Disadvantages
1.
2.
3.
4.
Britain’s military stretched thin
European style of fighting
3,000 miles from home
Destroy Washington’s Army
3. Colonial (Patriot) Advantages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fighting for liberty & way of life
Excellent Officers
Guerilla Warfare
French help after 1778
Protracted war—British lose their
will
4. Colonial Disadvantages
1. Smaller army
2. Continental Congress had no
power to tax or create currency
3. Most Americans Loyalists or
indifferent
4. Supply shortages
5. A long war
The Second Continental
Congress
(1775)
Olive Branch Petition
IV. Second Continental
Congress
1. May 1775
1. Congress drew up military plans
2. Declaration of the Causes and
Necessities of Taking Up Arms
1. American army, led by Washington
2. American navy, disrupt British
shipping
V. Common Sense
1. Thomas Paine, Jan. 1776
2. Read all over (120,000 sold)
3. Attacked the entire system of
monarchy and empire
4. “Monarchy & hereditary
succession have laid the world
in blood & ashes”
5. John Locke’s ideas
VI. Declaration of
Independence (1776)
1. Richard Henry Lee-Lee’s
Resolution
1. American colonies should be
independent states
2. Confederate form of government
formed for future discussion
3. Foreign relations should begin
with other countries
Declaration of
Independence (1776)
(cont’d)
2. John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas
Jefferson (who wrote the
declaration)
3. Enlightenment (Locke) influence
4. 1st part (includes Preamble)
1. Necessity of independence; for basic
natural laws and rights
5. 2nd part
1. Lists abuses/maltreatments of the king
and his gov.
6. July 4, 1776-formally approved
7. 1st constitution—the ARTICLES
OF CONFEDERATION!!!
VII. Independence (Not
Dependence)
1. Patriots--independence
2. Loyalists or Tories—sided with
Great Britain
3. Indifferent
VIII. Battle of Saratoga
1. Albany, NY, 1777
2. British Gen. Burgoyne defeated
by General Horatio Gates
3. Turning Point
1. France joined the Americans
IX. Battle of Yorktown &
the Treaty of Paris 1783
1. Yorktown, 1781
1. Last major battle of the
Revolution
2. Washington & the French force
the surrender of British General
Cornwallis
Battle of Yorktown & the
Treaty of Paris 1783
(cont’d)
2. At Paris 1783
1. Formal recognition of the U.S.
2. Western boundary to the Mississippi
River
3. Fishing rights off Newfoundland
4. Americans agreed to repay debts to
British merchants
5. Promise not to punish Loyalists
The Building of a New
Nation (1787-1800)
I. Articles of
Confederation
1. 1781
2. Provided:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Central government
Unicameral legislative branch
Unanimous vote to amend
2/3 needed to pass laws
Articles of Confederation
(cont’d)
3. Some weaknesses
1. No power to tax
2. No power to
enforce treaties
3. Every state has 1
vote
4. No power to
regulate
commerce
5. Unanimous vote
to amend
4. Problem Created
1. Growing debt; can’t
pay army.
2. Britain keeps troop
on American soil.
(They should’ve
left)
3. Unequal
representation
4. Trade hindered
5. Difficult to amend
II. Post-War Problems
1. Economic depression
2. Sovereignty of the U.S.
challenged
3. Barbary Pirates—North
Africans
III. New Laws
1. Land Ordinance of 1785
1. New townships
2. Sale of public land to pay off
national debt
2. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
1. Territories w/60,000 apply for
statehood
2. Equal status w/ other states
3. Banned slavery North of Ohio
River
IV. Shay’s Rebellion & its
Aftermath
1. Daniel Shays
2. High taxes, debtor prisons
3. 1786—Demanded restitution &
tax relief
4. Congress failed to protect the
people
5. The A.O.C need to be fixed!!!
V. Constitutional Convention
(Philadelphia Convention)
1. May 25, 1787—55 delegates from
all states but RI met.
2. Washington elected chairperson
3. James Madison.
1. Central Government—power would
exceed the power of the states
2. Separation of Powers—exec., leg., &
jud. Branches
4. A.O.C would be thrown out!!!!
VI. A Great Compromise is
Reached
1. June 11, 1787—Roger
Shermanthe Great Compromise
(Connecticut Compromise)
1. House of Reps.: based on the pop. of
states
2. House of Senate: equal
VII. An Executive Decision
and the 3/5 Compromise
1. Electoral College—cast votes
as reps. of their states.
2. Presidential Powers:
1. Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces
2. Chief Diplomat
3. Veto legislation.
3/5 Compromise
3. What about the slaves?
4. 3/5—Southern slaves would be
counted as 3/5 a citizen
1. A deal for passing the Northwest
Ordinance
2. 1808—South ended legal
importation of slaves
VIII. Federalists vs. AntiFederalists
1. Federalists
1. In favor of the Constitution
2. Strong central government
2. Anti-Federalists
1. Opposed the Constitution
2. In favor of strong states’ rights
IX. Structuring the New
Republic
1. April 30, 1789
1. Washington takes office
2. John Adams VP
3. Washington sets precedents
1.
2.
3.
4.
Secretary of State-Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury-Hamilton
Secretary of War- Knox
Attorney General-Randolph
4. “Cabinet”—these 4 men
XI. The Bank of the United
States (BUS)
1. National treasury would keep its
deposits in the bank
2. Jefferson opposed
3. Hamilton support the BUS
4. Elastic Clause
5. Parties emerge