Download Towards Revolution

Towards Revolution
Localism vs. Nationalism
The conviction that local
concerns and local interests
and local loyalties are more
significant and command a
higher loyalty than national
concerns, interests, and
goals.
A state of mind in which the
supreme loyalty of the
individual is given to the
nation as opposed to any
other group of which the
individual is a member.
Localism & Nationalism in the Birth of
America
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Localism and Nationalism are
not exclusive
They existed side-by-side in the
Colonies during the years
leading up to the Revolution
Local concerns remained
dominant, but American
Colonists came together more
and more frequently in common
interest
The British Empire in 1763
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The British Empire doubled in size
after the Treaty of Paris
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So did the British debt
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Proclamation of 1763
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Colonists could not
cross the Appalachian
Mountains
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Native American land
Permanent military force in the
American Colonies
George III
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British king from 1760
– 1820
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Mentally ill? Porphyria?
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Tyrant?
George Grenville
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Appointed Prime Minister to solve the
Crown's debt problem
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Disastrous two years
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Taxation
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Sugar Act – reduced the rate of a
previous tax but enforced its
collection. Search warrants,
inspections, etc.
Stamp Act 1765
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Purpose: direct tax to raise revenue to pay for
the British Army in the Colonies
Purchase “stamps” for documents and papers,
such as deeds, court docs, licenses, newspapers,
etc. Effected most colonists.
“Taxation without Representation?” - direct vs.
virtual representation
Stamp Act Congress – Nine colonies sent
representatives to NYC. Petitioned Parliament.
Stamp Act rioting – “Sons of Liberty.” Boston at
first but spread to other colonies. Forcefully
removed Stamp Distributors. Boycotted British
goods; very effective.
1766 Parliament repealed the Stamp Act.
Grenville dismissed.
Townshend Revenue Acts and Violence in
Boston
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Raise revenue for Crown
appointments in the colonies
independent of the Colonial
Assemblies. Doubly egregious.
Boston Massacre – March 15, 1770
The Gaspee burns. Rhode Island
1772.
Boston Tea Party – Response to the
Tea Act of 1773. Saving the East
India Company. Samuel Adams.
Coercive Acts and the 1st Continental
Congress
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1774 Parliament passed four Acts known as the
Coercive or Intolerable Acts in the Colonies.

Closed Boston Harbor until the tea was repaid
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Removed colonial elected governors and
replaced them with Crown appointees
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Move trials of royal appointees out of Mass.
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Allowed more housing of British soldiers
First Continental Congress, 1774

Though the Coercive Acts were against Boston
it actually served to unite the Colonies
somewhat

Philadelphia, September 1, 1774. All but
Georgia sent representatives.

Did NOT declare independence! Instead called
for a colonial-wide boycott on British goods.
Committees of Correspondence.
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First political unification of the Colonies.
Symbolic independence?
“The Shot Heard 'Round the World”
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Lexington & Concord April 19, 1775
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Gen. Gage
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Paul Revere and William
Dawes midnight rides
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Lexington – 8 Americans
dead, 1 British soldier
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Concord – 49 Americans,
73 British
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War began, but who was
fighting and why?
2nd Continental Congress
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May 10, 1775, Philadelphia initially
De facto Colonial government through the beginning of the
War
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Initially 12 Colonies represented (GA again)
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Did not push for independence at first
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Notable members: Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John
Hancock, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Jay, George
Washington (briefly)
Appointed Washington as Commander in Chief of the
Continental Army
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Battle of Bunker Hill – June 17, 1775
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Olive Branch Petition
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Opposition to independence
Whigs vs. Tories
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Loyalties remained divided in the Colonies after
the outbreak of fighting
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Whigs = Patriots, supported Revolution
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Tories = Loyalists, supported Britain
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The numbers changed throughout the conflict,
but a best guess is that 25% of the colonial
population did not support independence.
Around 40% fully supported independence. The
remainder stayed neutral or changed depending
on the tenor of the conflict.
Tories included clergy, royal officials, many
wealthy New England merchants, Southern
traders and some planters
African slaves and freemen went to both sides
Common Sense & Independence
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Though the Colonies had not declared
independence, the fighting continued. England sent
over a large army and German (Hessian)
mercenaries
January 1776, Thomas Paine published Common
Sense
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Simple language outlining
independence and the creation of a
Republic
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Sold more than 100,000 copies in
three months. Widespread appeal
for independence
Despite not having full backing in Congress (NY,
PA, DE, MY did not agree) Thomas Jefferson was
asked to draft the Declaration of Independence
July 2, 1776 all but NY approved independence.
Adopted on July 4, 1776.
Common Sense, Thomas Paine
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“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary
evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same
miseries BY A GOVERNMENT, which we might expect in a country WITHOUT
GOVERNMENT, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by
which we suffer.”
“We have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest
constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A
situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The
birthday of a new world is at hand, and a race of men, perhaps as numerous as all Europe
contains, are to receive their portion of freedom from the event of a few months.”
“Wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for God's sake let us come to a final separation.”
Articles of Confederation
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First plan for a permanent union between the Colonies
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Federal power vs. state power (nationalism vs. localism?)
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The AoC had a distinct lack of central/federal power
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Congress could NOT:
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Tax
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Raise and army
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Enforce federal laws in states
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Have a federal court
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Make a standardized currency (could
only coin and borrow money, not
prevent a state from making their own)
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Regulate trade between states
War for Independence, 1776 - 1783
The War Starts Poorly...
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General Howe commanded the
main British Army (with Hessian
mercenaries mixed in)
Though Washington took back
Boston, on Aug. 27, 1776 Howe
routed the Continental Army at
Brooklyn Heights. Largest battle of
the War. Took control of NYC.
“Times that try men's souls.” Thomas Paine
Continental Army plummeted to
around 5,000 troops. More were to
leave by Dec. 31, 1776.
Battles of Trenton and Saratoga
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Battle of Trenton
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Christmas, 1776 Washington
crosses the Delaware River and
captures a Hessian Army at
Trenton
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Huge morale boost for the
Continental Army
Battle of Saratoga
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October 1777 American general
Horatio Gates defeats a British
Army at Saratoga, NY
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Turning point of the War!
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France decides to aid the American
Republic openly
The French Alliance
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France's open involvement changed the
War for Independence into an international
war. Spain and the Dutch also sided with
the American Republic.
Forced England to protect its interests in
the West Indies against France and Spain
Money and military leadership. Generals
Rochambeau and Lafayette.
International acceptance of the American
government
The War continued in earnest for three
more years though. Much of this fighting
involved indecisive engagements in the
South and the Western frontiers.
Yorktown, 1781
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British forces, now under the command of Lord
Cornwallis, fortified their position at Yorktown, VA.
Meanwhile the French Navy defeated a British fleet
outside the Chesapeake, cutting off any British
retreat.
A combined American and French force laid siege
to the British in late September, 1781.
On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered his
army to Washington.
The Revolutionary War was effectively over, though
peace would not come until 1783.
Treaty of Paris, 1783
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America won its independence
Treaty worked out by Benjamin
Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams
Boundaries extended west to the
Mississippi River, excluding Canada
Gave Florida to Spain
Unlikely international success with the
Treaty. Only the new Republic was
satisfied with the outcome.
Moving Forward
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The new American Republic won its independence.
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The Articles of Confederation remained weak.
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The majority of states were happy with this union
since they feared a strong central power and valued
their local concerns over those of the new nation.
The instability of the Articles put the Republic to an
early test, however.
To whom did the phrase “we hold these truths to be
self-evident that all men are created equal” apply?