History: AOS 3 SAC 2

Consequences of American Revolution

Post Declaration of Independence

Second Continental Congress sent document to Philadelphia > printing 200 copies broadside (large propaganda posters). Copies sent to;

• Legislative assemblies

• Military commanders

• British Governors/ Generals

• King George III

Public Reactions to Declaration of Independence

began reading 4 days after passage passed.

• George Washington ordered it be read aloud to unify his troops, and provide clarity of action (aims of revolution)

• Provoked attacks on Loyalist homes/ businesses

July 1776, New York, crowd attacked statue of King George III, sending it away to be melted into 40,000 bullets.

Hostile Reactions to Declaration of Independence

Loyalists dismissed the Declaration.

• Mid August 1776, copies of Declaration reached London and press > Parliament nor King George issued official documents

British Ministry commissioning 110 page response to Declaration > not influential

Initial military challenges of Revolutionary War

August - September 1776, approx. 34,000 British troops landed on Long Island and lower Manhattan.

New york fell to British > Washington’s army forced West

• Washington’s army fell to 19,000 men

• Patriot spy (Nathan Hale) hung by British, September 1776

Caused Patriotic morale to die down.

Mercenarie and Hessian Troops

Mercenaries: Soldiers who fight anyone who paid them, even a foreign army.

British payed for mercenaries known as Hessians > mainly came from Hesse (South-West Germany.)

• Made up 25-30% (30,000) of British land forces.

• Poorly paid, many soldiers forced into service, yet disciplined.

Winter in Pennsylvania 1776

Mid-December, Continental army set up camp on Pennsylvania side of Delaware River.

• Other Side of Delaware River in New Jersey > Hessian regiment set up in Trenton.

• Neither British nor Hessian expecting trouble until March- April 1777

Thomas Paine’s role in Revolutionary War

Travelled with Continental army, publishing ’The American Crisis’ (1776) > aimed to boost morale.

• 12 essays published after 18 months

• Circulated amongst officers reading excerpts to soldiers > later circulating in cities.

“These are the times that try men’s souls”

Crossing The Delaware River

Morning of 25th of December 1776, Continental Army crossed Frozen Delaware River > began 14km march to Trenton.

• 2 Continental soldiers died > due to harsh conditions

American soldiers killed around 1000 Hessians, including their Commander - Colonel Rall

Continental Army seeking support

U.S Army barely had 3000 men, Inadequate supplies, and inexperienced officers. Delegates sent abroad to lobby for:

• International recognition of U.S

• Trade agreements

• Seek Loans, equipment and military appliances.

Benjamin Franklin = Sent to France.

Treaties with France

Success in ‘Battle of Saratoga’, led French to support U.S, and Louis XVI to sign 2 treaties on Feb, 1778:

• Treaty of Alliance: Military alliance stating neither France/ U.S could agree to separate peace with Great Britain.

• Treaty of Amity and Commerce: Promote trade/ economics between France and U.S.

Around 5500 French troops arrived in America 1780.

Experiences of Woman during Revolutionary War

Domestically woman:

• Took over management of farms/ shops

• Used rifles to defend property

• ‘Daughter of Liberty’ raised funds and sourced equipment for army

Woman who followed husbands to encampments:

• nurses, cooks, cleaners, mended uniforms, searched for weapons/ ammunition.

Mary Katherine Goddard

Baltimore woman > successful journalist and Publisher in U.S.

• Congress approached her to print copies of declaration.

Mary included full name on DOI > declaring it had been printed by a woman.

Experiences of African Americans during Revolutionary War

George Washington suggested that the enlistment of African Americans be prohibited despite their status > as a slave or freeman.

Around 5% of Continental Army made up of Black soldiers

• Lord Dunmore - Governor of Virginia - issued proclamation > promising freedom to any slave volunteering to take up arms

• Within 1 month > 300 slaves in ‘Ethiopian regiment’ > 30,000 slaves after 5 months.

Experiences of Native Americans during Revolutionary War

War impacted 25,000 Native Americans, with many avoiding getting involved yet were victims of British/ America soughting allies:

• 33% (1 third) supported british, 33% supporting America, 33% remaining neutral.

Oneida and Tuscarora tribes > supported Americans

Iroquois Confederacy > supported Britain

Experiences of Loyalists during Revolutionary War

Sep 1778, Massachusetts passed ‘Banishment Act’ > tested suspected loyalists, requiring them to pledge loyalty to revolution and insult King George III.

• 300 loyalists sent to exile.

Guilty of Crimes > subject to punishment without trial

Shunned, persecuted, and assaulted, losing land and possessions > due to English Common Law.

Prior to Battle of Yorktown

Early 1781, Patriots appeared to be winning in Southern States with 2 fleets of French troops arriving to ally continental army:

• One fleet under Lieutenant General Compte de Rochambeau

• Other under Lieutenant Compte de Grasse

Battle of Yorktown

August, 1781, Washington orders French troops to South of Virginia:

• British outnumbered > 14,000 American/ French troops against 7,000 British troops.

British surrender 19th October, 1781.

• February 1782, British Parliament agreed to sign peace treaty with America

Washington’s aims during Revolutionary War

Washington extended duration of war in hopes it would:

• Drain treasury in London

• Erode Support for war in Britain

• Bear pressure on British government, who was politically unstable

Economic challenges post war of Independence

Mid 1780s, U.S bankrupt due to war debt of $54 million > Congress aimed to print more money, yet banknotes lost value:

• 1781, continental dollar worth 5 cents of silver dollar.

Robert Morris -superintendent of Finance-

• Stopped printing money, organised sizeable loans of gold/ silver coins, and established ‘Bank of North America’

Economic Challenges for Veterans and Furloughs

Soldiers meant to receive ‘Enlistment Bounty’ > but many went unpaid as congress nor states could afford bounties:

• 1778: promised 80 dollars and 100 acres of land if they enlisted.

• 1779: increased to 200 dollars

1781, 2400 pennsylvania soldiers camped in NJ to protest for payments and discharge orders

• Congress only issued Furloughs > unpaid leave

Newburgh Conspiracy, 1782

Plan by Continental army officers to challenge authority of Congress > due to inability to meet financial obligations

• 1782, army camped on field near Newburgh New York, preparing to sit out winter of 1782-1783 in protest > hit by shortages

Drafting Treaty of Paris

American diplomats:

• John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin

British Delegate:

• Richard Oswald

Ratified Jan 14 1784

Conditions of Treaty of Paris #1

Fishing:

• Americans gained fishing rights in oceans East of British Canada.

Acknowledgment:

• British acknowledgment of American Independence

Territory:

• British territory between Appalachian mountains and Ohio River Valley surrendered to U.S

Conditions of Treaty of Paris #2

Debts:

• Honouring private and commercial debts existing before revolution.

Mississippi River:

• Both Nations allowed access to Mississippi river > trade

Loyalists post Treaty of Paris

British urged state governments to:

• Stop seizing property of loyalists and to rearrange compensation > yet duty bound by any treaty.

1783 onwards 80,000-100,000 loyalists left U.S for British provinces in Canada:

• 46,000 relocated to Nova Scotia, and Ontario

• 415 enslaved African Americans travelled with owners > 1783

Native American tribes post Treaty of Paris

12,000 Native Warriors participated in war > majority from 6 nations of iroquois Confederacy.

• Americans viewed tribes as obstacles of Western expansion

• Congress initiated negotiations with tribes > done through intimidation, and tended to favour congress.

Late 1785, 50 Native American delegates formed ‘Western Confederacy’ > rejecting land transfers and declaring them illegal.

Trade implication in Americas post war

July 1783, Colonial Governors in British-West Indies received orders not to sell or trade goods with America.

• Denied Americans access to profitable ports and trade networks.

• American trade deficit rose from $1 million in 1783 > $2 million in 1784.

Could not trade with french due to economic instability

Debts in Americas post war

Recession mid 1780s, causing many including soldiers to borrow from banks/ Private creditors.

• Debt collection difficult > struggled to pay back loans due to shortage of gold/ silver coins/ decreased value of money.

Increased taxes to try and pay off war debt.

American Currency

Thomas Jefferson suggested U.S should have its own coinage > created their own decimal currency.

• Created/ implemented > July, 1785.

Shays Rebellion

1787, Daniel Shays (ex-capitan continental army) and 1200 men led assault on Federal Arsenal at Springfield.

• Mass state assembly led militia > rebels defeated Feb 1787 in Petersham

More than 1000 Regulators underwent trial > 6 sentenced to execution

Purpose of Shays Rebellion

Protest against oppressive state economic policies post war of independence:

• Experiences of debt stricken farmers being recognised

• Taxes lowered

• Laws regarding repayments relaxed.

Signified weakness of AoC in > raising army, levying taxes, remaining order.

Articles of Confederation

1781-1789, U.S first constitution, outlined:

• Structure of government

• Responsibilities of states

• Matters of laws, foreign affairs and defence

13 states retain sovereign power > right to govern themselves

Why was Articles of Confederation Controversial

Congress represented states on basis of one vote per state:

• ‘One vote per state’ only thing protecting small states from being outvoted by larger states > politically and economically.

Public suspicion of monarchy as central power

Annapolis Convention: September, 1786

First formal moves in changing AoC > over 4 day period in Annapolis, Maryland.

• Only attended by 5 states: Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware.

• Delegates drafted recommendation of redraft to congress > 1787

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison in attendance.

Philadelphia Convention 1787

May-Sep, 12 states sent 2 delegates from each state to draft new governing document (constitution)

• Total of 55 delegates > Rhode Island refused to participate

• Focused on stronger federal power

George Washington > Chairman.

Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan

Virginia Plan: 3 Branches of Government > Executive, Legislature, Judicial and 2 houses.

• Legislature elected on proportional basis > states with highest population = better represented.

New Jersey: Legislature would have significant power > contain 1 house with all states represented equally.

Slavery

1787 Slavery referenced in two sections of the constitution:

‘Three Fifth Clause’ > considered three fifths of a free person.

• Counted towards population to determine seats in Congress > increased legislative power of Southern states.

‘Sunset Clause’ > Banned Federal Government from prohibiting importation of slaves until 1808.

• Virginia largest number of slaves > 220 000 in 1780.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Federalists: supported Constitution and strong central government.

• Educated people > farmers and small Businesses owners

Anti- Federalists: against Constitution > feared diminish State Power, Individual rights, powerful army under control of 1 president.

• Wanted localised represented government > reduce tyranny

Federalist Papers

From 1787-1788, Madison and Hamilton published 85 'Federalist Papers', outlined how constitution could:

• Mitigate political tyranny through checks and balances

• Lower taxation

• Reduce military oppression.

Bill Of Rights

Ratified December 1791 > explicitly protected rights of the people such as:

• Freedom of speech, assembly and religion.

• Anti-federalist’s mainly supported bill

Madison drafted amendments > Inspired by enlightenment ideas

NorthWest Ordinance

Passed 1787 > split Western territories between Appalachian Mountains, Mississippi and Ohio River into 17 equal blocks.

• Outlined how land would be settled, governed, admitted to Union.

• 5000 free males > Territorial assembly

• 60,000 > considered State

NorthWest Ordinance impacts on Native American/ Slaves

Instructed “their land and property should never be taken without consent” > rarely adhered to.

• Prohibited slavery in New territories/ States > supported by Washington, Jefferson

Angered Southern States > believed Congress had no right to impose restrictions

Social Changes

Inheritance changes > all males had equal inheritance rights.

Arranged marriages faded out > based on personal preference rather than social, economic advancement.

Rise of meritocracy: society governed by people according to merit rather than family ties.

Primary Evidence: Social Changes

In Penn, proportion of children receiving education > doubled.

• One Third in early 1770s > over two thirds (70%) after 1787

“Even in the freest country, our property is the subject to the control and disposal of our partners” - Abigail Adams to husband John, 1782.

Factors leading to improved economic Outcome post ratification

Immigration remained high through 1780s > more workers.

Samuel Slater > set up small, profitable industries in New England and Northwest > industrialized America

• In South, invention of ‘Whitney’s Cotton Gin’ boosted cotton production

Corporate America post ratification

Corporate charters increased > 1781-1785 11 charters granted, increasing to 22 charters by 1786-1790.

• Allowed government to target specific needs of community > building schools, colleges and infrastructure

• Increased turnpikes (tolled highways)

First American Presidency

December 1788 - January 1789:

• Electors chosen in each of the states > each elector processing 2 votes

• George Washington > First American president, John Adams > Vice Captain

Rhode Island/ North Carolina did not vote > not ratified the Constitution

African American treatment: Primary Evidence

1790, First US Census revealed Massachusetts was only state that had no slaves:

• Slaves prohibited from voting, owning gun, joining militia.

1770s > emergence of anti-slavery groups, such as ‘Pennsylvania Abolition Society’

• Benjamin Franklin was president of anti-slavery society

Woman treatment: Primary Source Evidence

New Jersey only state to provide voting rights to all inhabitants of colony 1776 > only reserved to widowed white woman.

• Revoked 1807