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Reasons for taxes on the colonies
Britain had a very high war debt (increased taxes on landlords and merchants)
Increased amount of british troops needed on western border w/ native land
British debate over colonies
mid-1800s view on colonies changed as Britain saw the value of the land, population, and taxes (not just raw materials) (territorialists)
Mercantilists wanted to give Canada back to France in exchange for Guadelope (commercially valuable)
Territorialists wanted to keep Canada (a lot of land)
Debate over whether colonies should expand westward
King George III
unstable parliament (removed whigs)
intellectual and psychological limitations (contributed to instability)
George Grenville
Prime Minister in 1763
believed colonists should obey laws and pay a part of the cost of the war
Colonies encroach on native land
English colonists moved into upper ohio valley; natives objected to the encroachment
Ottowa Chieftain Pontiac struck back
Proclamation of 1763: meant to prevent escalation of fighting that might threaten western trade. It forbid settlers to go beyond the Appalachian Mountains
Gave london control of westward expansion and kept settlers in profitable coastal areas and kept fur trade for british
John Stuart and Sir WIlliam Johnson: in charge of “Indian Affairs” for the colonies
White settlers still went past the boundary
Mutiny Act of 1765
British troops were stationed in America
the colonists had to assist in provisioning and maintaining the army
British navy patrolled American waters to search for smugglers (increased customs)
NY and MA refused to follow it, NY assembly was disbanded as result
The Sugar Act of 1764
replaces the Mollasses act of 1733
strengthened enforcement of the duty on sugar (decreased duty on Molasses) - (indirect tax)
created vice-admiralty courts to try smugglers (no trial by peers)
The Currency Act of 1764
required the colonial assemblies to stop issuing paper money and retire paper money already in circulation
forces colonies to pay british in more stable currency: gold and silver
The Stamp Act
tax on most printed documents in the colonies (direct tax)
affected most colonists - got pissed
used to fund british troops that protect americans
British were collecting 10x more revenue from the Americas than before 1763
Tensions between American groups
“paxton boys” group from western pennsylvania descended on Philadelphia with demands for relief from colonial taxes and for money to fight natives
1771: small-scale civil war: regulators (south carolina farmers) organized against high taxes that local sheriffs collects - suppressed
Challenges to landownership: Ethan Allen
Effects of Grenville PRogram
post-war depression: colonists believed in part caused by Gernville programs
places hit hardest see the most rebellion (Boston)
england’s economy is hurt
colonists used to self government hate grenville program, creates a string of revolts (most of which are in NE/urban port cities)
Patriots
Defenders of american rights
Sons of Liberty: Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry, middle/working class, intimidated royal officials throughout the colonies
Stamp Act Congress: called for only american assemblies being able to tax the colonies
patriot lawyers and publicists provided the resistance movement with an intellectual rationale, political agenda, and a visible cadre of leades
used violence/intimidation/boycott
actions nullified parliament’s taxes
Parliament reaction to patriots
parliament split: anger over resistance and some desired to leave colonists alone (economic hit on england)
Lord Rockingham: mollified colonists by repealing stamp acts
Declatory Act of 1766: reaffirmed parliament’s authority to make laws and were binding on colonists
Townshend Program
Charles Townshend (exchequer) runs gov for William Pitt
Duties on paper, paint, glass, and tea imported to america
increased enforcement of commercial regulation
turned american resistance into an organized movement
Colonial Boycotts
still boycotted external taxes because of lack of colonial consent
non-importation agreements amongst colonies
massachusetts assembly circulated a letter to colonies to oppose all taxes
Lord North
took over as pm after townshend died repealed all taxes except on tea
Homespun movement
daughters of liberty
in 1769 US in a surplus of goods (don’t need britain anymore)
The Boston Massacre
competition for scarce employment + colonial resentment of england
dock workers throw stuff at soldiers, soldiers fire killing people
Samuel Adams = leader of public outrage
Crispus Attucks: African American rope maker killed in massacre
Committee of correspondance
began in boston by Samuel Adams to publicize grievances
spread throughout the colonies as a way to coordinate their protests
Philosophy behind the revolution
Americans want a written permanent constitution - England’s is too flexible
puritan influence
Scots considered england tyrannical
country party and Whig’s philosophy
enlightenment philosophy
Virtual Representation
used to counter patriot argument of representation
idea that parliamentary leaders invest in american companies so have their interest in mind
American vs. British view of governing
Americans argued for a division of sovereignty: parliament could make some decisions but so could the colonial assemblies
British believed Parliament could be the only authority
Sinking of the Gaspee
Rhode islanders burned and sank a british ship in 1772
British sent commission w/ the power to send the rioters back to england for trial
Tea Act
East India Company was almost bankrupt but owed british gov money since it used british troops to quell uprising in india
tea act of 1773 gave the company the right to not pay the navigation taxes
the company could undersell local merchants and create a monopoly
Colonists boycotted tea (women!)
The Boston Tea Party
Dec 1773
Bostonians dressed as Mohawks threw tea into the harbor
response: 1774 policy of coercian
Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
closed boston port
reduced colonial self government: stripped charter so only loyalists can run the gov
permitted royal officers to be tried in other coloniesor in england when accused of crimes (vice admiralty courts)
quartered soldiers in colonist’s barnes and empty houses
added fuel to the fire
The Quebec Act
extended boundries of Quebec to include French communities between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
gave political rights to roman catholics + legality of roman catholic church
Americans thought this was a plot to subject them to the Tyranny of the pope + believed it woud limit westward expansion
First Continental Congress
1774 Virginia committee of correspondence called a special meeting in the Raleigh Tavern @ Williamsburg and issued a call for a continental congress
Sep 1774: first continental congress in philadelphia had delegates from all colonies (except georgia)
rejected a plan for colonial union under british authority
endorsed a statement of grievances and called for the repeal of all oppressive taxes since 1763
reccomended that colonists make military preparations against British in boston
agreed to non-importation, non-exportation, and non-consumption (to cut off all trade with GB)
agreed to meet again next spring
formed continental association to enforce the agreements
Conciliatory Propositions
passed in 1775 by Lord North
proposed colonies could tax themselves at parliament’s demands
repealed earlier taxes
colonies didn’t get word in time: by the time they did the first shots had already been fired
Lexington and Concord
colonists in massachusetts were preparing their “minutemen”
General Thomas Gage (commanding British garrison) sent soldiers from Boston to Lexington and concord in April 1775 to suppress colonists and seize their illegal supplies
William Dawes and Paul Revere set out to warn the villages and farms; when the troops arrived in Lexington minutemen were ready
British still defeated them. On the way to Concord, farmers hiding in trees took down 3x the number of British soldiers (British discipline was a detriment)
First shots of the war: “shots heard round the world”
Second Continental Congress
led by John and Samuel Adams: 1775 greatly divided
Rejected the olive branch petition: authored by John Dickinson
challenge british rule because of brutality and corruption
establish continental army
appoint George Washington to lead continental army
Thomas Paine
“Common Sense”
published in Jan 1776 - a call for independence and republicanism
aroused the general public and quickly turned thousands of american against british rule
Message was popular and clear: reject arbitrary powers of king and parliament and create independent republican states: “tis time to part”
The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
influenced by John Locke
blamed the rupture on George III ( appeal to sympathies of english people and to the philosophy of natural rights)
“all men are created equal”
all men possess the “unalienable rights” of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
government derives its “just powers from the consent of the governed”
declaration led to an increase in foreign aid
Prohibitory Act
closed colonies to all overseas trade (naval blockade)
responses to independence
mixed response from americans
colonies became states + wrote constitutions
1777: articles of confederation were adopted by congress (not ratified until 1781) very weak central government
americans mobilizing for war
needed weapons, soldiers, and supplies
relied heavily on equiptment captured from the British and that came from european nations (mostly France)
congress had no authority to levy taxes, printed a bunch of money to pay for war: massive inflation and value of paper money plummeted
local farmers and merchants preferred to do business with British who could pay in stable gold and silver
couldn’t control inflation so paid for war with loans
few people volunteered for military service so gov began drafting or paying bounties to recruits (ended up with mostly lower class)
militiamen were under the control of their respective states
spring 1775: created a continental army led by George Washinton
War Strategy
US had advantage of fighting on their own ground and having people who were deeply commited to the cause and foreign aid from european competitors of the british
General Howe’s (British) strategy was of winning surrender rather than destroying: tactic failed
General Washington’s Strategy was to draw the British away from the seacoast, a war of attrition
First Phase: New England
after lexington and concord american forces besiefed the army of General Thomas Gage
Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775): patriots lost but highest casualties on british of the whole war
March 1776: British temporarily left american soil b/c boston was unstrategic (evacuation day)
Feb 1776: Patriots crushed uprising of loyalists at Moore’s Creek Bridge in North Carolina; discouraged British plan to invade the Southern States
Invasion of Canada: Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery threaten Quebec in late 1775 and early 1776: fail
congress sent a civilian commission to canada, headed by Benjamin Franklin but the Canadians didn’t support the cause
The Second Phase: The Mid-Atlantic Region
British take new york
dark times for continental army
huge victories at trenton and princeton, saved colonial army
Britain’s strategy - divide colonies and capture Philadelphia (Howe)
Patriot Victory @ Saratoga - turning point of the war. Secured French assistance caused by Howe abandoning Burgoyne
Howe failed to engage with Americas even tho British had advantage
Valley Forge
Continental Army winter camp from Dec 1777 for approx 12000 ill-equipped, battered troops
2000+ men died of dysentery, typhoid, pneumonia, etc.
Mass desertion was avoided by Washington’s strict but inspiring leadership
Baron Friedrich Willhelm von Steuben
Baron Friedrich Willhelm von Steuben was critical in developing military discipline, and training (particularly the effective use of the Bayonet) (father of the US Army)
Von Steuben’s Blue Book was used as a model for the U.S. military for many years
Casimir Pulaski
father of the American cavalry
died at the battle of Savannah
The Treaty of Alliance of 1778
specified that neither France nor America would sign a separate peace agreement before America’s independence was ensured
British reaction to war (by 1778)
the war became increasingly unpopular in Britain (Tax Burden)
in 1778: parliament repealed the tea and prohibitory acts (blockades) and renounced its power to tax the colonies - rejected by Americans due to Treaty of Alliance
The Iroquois and the British
Iroquois had declared neutrality in 1776 but not everyone agreed
Joseph and Mary Brant (Mohawks) persuaded their tribe + the Seneca and Cayuga to support the British
Other Iroquois tribes supported the Americans: Oneida, Tuscarora, and some Onondaga
Caused unraveling of Iroquois Confederacy
The Final Phase: The South
British changed their stratefy to try to undermime the American from within by envoking Southern Loyalists - failed
British encouraged slaves to join their cause w/ the promise of emancipation - turned white slave holders against them
Support for independence increased
British had some success but patriot guerilla groups harrassed the british
Nathaniel Greene
British crushed a patriot force under Horatio Gates - washington replaced Gates with Nathaniel Greene (Guerilla Warfare)
Greene divided the American forces into small fast-moving contingents - used rifles w/ greater aim
one contingent inflicted large blows on Cornwallis
Greene combined his forces and caused a lot of casualties on British - Cornwallis abandoned the Carolina campaign
Battle of Yorktown
British withdrew to receive supplies sent by sea, went to Yorktown to wait for ships to carry the troops to NYC or Charlestown
Washington & Rochambeau; joined Lafayette in Virginia by land while de Grasse sailed with additional troops for Chesapeake Bay and the York River
Caught Cornwallis between land and sea - British capitulated Oct 17, 1781 - British surrended 7,000 men
After yorktown, British still occupied a lot of territory but it was the last major battle of the war
Winning the Peace
Lord North stepped down as PM: Lord Shelburne succeeded him
British emmisaries met w/ American diplomats in Paris: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay
French (Vergennes) wanted to wait to make peace until British gave Gibraltar back to Spain - Americans proceeded w/o French and achieved a prelim treaty in Nov 1782
Treaty of Paris: Sep 3, 1783, both France and Spain agreed to end hostilities, recognized US independence
americans get land south of the great lakes, fishing rights, navigation of the mississippi, and forbade british from taking property
americans had to pay prewar debts to British merchants + give property back to lowalists
Loyalists and Minorities
loyalists were alienated during the war - many fled the country
rich loyalists fleeing opened some economic and land opportunities for patriots
revolutionaru gov diestablished anglicanism in virginia and maryland
rev weakened anglicans and quakers and strengthened Romanc catholics (they supported Patriots). After War America got it’s own Catholic hierarchy
The War and Slavery
African Americans: many defected/escaped during the war due to the British’s promise of emancipation
increased exposure to ideas of freedom for slaves caused increase in open resistance
fear of slaves being inspired by revolution caused SC and Georgians + West Indies to be reluctant to support war
North: revolutionary sentiment + evangelicanism spread anti-slavery
South: high white support for slavery
Native Americans and The Revolution
British recruited Natives
Patriots wanted to end proclamation of 1763
Cherokee faction in Western Carolinas and Virginia attacked white settlers in 1776 - patriot militia crushed them
Iroquois caused wide-spread destruction in agriculture of NY and Pennsylvania
Patriot victory meant Americans expected removal of Western barrier
1774: Shawnee Indians attempted uprising on white settlers but attracted no allies and were defeated (Lord Punmore’s War)
1782: white militias slaughtered peaceful band of delaware indians
Women’s Rights and Women’s Roles
men leaving for war meant increasing responsibilities for women in farm and bussiness and increase in impoverished women
some women went to army camps - preformed tasks (some fought)
growing support for women’s rights (Abigail Adams and Judith Murray) but war brought few advances
Women became important for instilling “American values” in new generation - Republican motherhood
The Post-War Economy
America’s economy became independent of the British
British tried to drive Americans from waters but American privateers (fast vessels) fought back
Soon Americans created trade routes w/ the caribbean, souther american, and asia
states traded amongst themselves, homespun movement gave way for a domestic cloth industry
Main ideals of new country
americans agreed on having a republic: gov where power was given to the people
wanted the country to be based on small indpendent landowners and equality and NOT inherited aristocracy (didn’t really happen)
The First State Constitutions
did not embrace direct popular rule (most had upper and lower house)
governors couldn’t hold seat in legislature (curb power of executives and seperate legislative and executive branches)
steps taken to limit popular power: men of middling circumstances
Georgia and Pennsylvania: most democratic
shift to strong executives: by fixed salaries and elected by the people
Toleration and Slavery
slavery survived in southern and border states but not in the North
most states banned importation of slaves
The Articles of Confederation
limited power of the national government
federal gov could: declare war and peace, make treaties, adjudicate disputes between states, print money, and ask states for funds
couldn’t raise troops or taxes
big disputes: how to vote + what to do w/ western land?
Western Land Ordinances
The Ordinances of 1784: divided western territory (now under the control of the confederation) into 10 districts
The Ordinance of 1785: created the survey and sale system (grids) as a way to raise money for the confederation
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: abandoned 10 districts, instead created small sections where people could buy land (1$ per acre), once an area had more than 60k people it could apply for statehood.
prohibited slavery in the northwest
Speculators buy land and sell for more
Native Resistance to Western Expansion (after the war)
Little Turtle leads forceful resistance
Battle of Fallen Timbers: ends in Treaty of Greenville and Miami Indians gave up land (1794)
Economic and Political Issues of the Confederation
Post war depression (confederation couldn’t pay war debts)
Redemption of war bonds (speculators) angered veterans and farmers
political disputes over economic issues
Shay’s Rebellion: showed need for government reform
people wanted national policies (fear of disorder)
The Constitutional Convention
called for by Hamilton and supported by Washington and Madison b/c of Shay’s Rebellion
Washington elected president of the convention
Delegates (rich men) from every state except Rhode Island
The Virginia Plan: (supported by larger states) - 2 houses based on populations, upper house elected by lower house who were elected by the people
New Jersey Plan: urged all states given equal representation - one house legislature
Compromise: The Connecticut Plan: lower house based on population, upper house 2 senators per state
Population was determined by census every 10 years
The Constitution of 1787
Madison
ultimate authority comes from the people
federalism (shared power betweeen states and fed)
seperation of powers: three branches of gov
wanted to prevent despotism and the tyranny of the people
gave no rights to natives and POC (3/5 of a person)
Selection of president: electoral college chosen by state legislatures
Concessions on slavery
congress was denied the power to regulate slavery for 20 years: mollify north and south
fugitive clause: allowed masters to reclaim enslaved blacks who took refuge in other states
3/5tth clause: a slave considered 3/4ths in counting population for legislature (didn’t want them to count for taxes)
The Federalist Papers
written to persuade (NY) of t==he importance of ratification of the constitution==
Main authors: Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay
Debate on the constitution
anti-federalists: afraid of creating strong and potentially tyrannical government that would end individual liberty
delaware first to ratify; NY, MA, and VA want Bill of Rights
10 amendments limit government’s power over the people, the 10th reserved powers for the states not outlined in the constitution
The Executive and Judicial Branch
washington elected first president unanimously, John Adams is VP
president could nominate cabinet members but senate must approve: once approved only president could fire
secretary of state: jefferson
secretary of the treasury: hamilton
secretary of war: knox
Judiciary Act of 1789: congress chose 6 supreme court justices, court would decide constitutionality of state laws
Hamilton’s Financial Plan
Congress should assume all state debts to establish good credit
charter a national bank: centralized banking and currency would stabilize inflatioon
Hamilton loosely interpreted the constitution: “all laws which shall be neccesary and proper” (Jefferson and Madison opposed)
Tarrifs and Excise taxes would help pay off the national debt
States that had paid their debts opposed assumption of debt b/c they didn’t want to pay taxes for other states’ debts
Deal w/ Virginians: capitol will be in the south (Washington DC) if virginia supports assumption
Nationa Bank was granted 20 year charter - restored public credit, increased bond sale, and helped merchants and manufacturers - small farmers bore largest brunt
emergence of political parties
most founders believed political parties were dangerous
Madison + others believed federalists had become an overbearing/corrupt majority
emergence of the Republican Party: large partisan influence
The (Democratic) Republican Party
leaders: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
Jefferson believed in an agrarian republic: did not want development of an advanced industrial economy. wanted decentralization and strong relations w/ France
Republicans supported French rev even through the radical phase
more popular in rural south and west
Federalists
more popular in Northeast and Southern Seaports
favor industrialization and trade
want strong relationship w/ Britain
Issues of the early republic
Whiskey Rebellion - PA farmers refused to pay whiskey tax, Washington used militia to enforce it
What to do with natives?
constitution recognized natives and gave them some sovereignty but not independent nations
Maintaining Neutrality
Proclamation of Neutrality: lucrative for american farmers during chaos of French rev
Citizen Genet: french guy who tried to recruit Americans to French cause
US privateers attacking spanish and english ships
violated neutrality: washington demanded French recall him
Britain seize US ships trading w/ French in west indies
Jay’s Treaty: commercial agreement with britain: must pay for the stuff they seize
Pickney’s Treaty: w/ spain, opened missippi river and new orleans to americans, settled florida borders.
The Election of 1796
Washington’s farewell adress - warned against foreign alliances and rivalry politics
divided federalists
some support adams but some prefer Pickney which leads to Jefferson winning second most votes (he becomes VP)
Quasi War w/ France
caused by Jay’s and Pickney’s treaties
XYZ affair: Talleyrand demands bribe to talk about ending attacks on US vessels
Adams outraged: creates navy and allies with British against French
French step down
New trade agreements w/ Napoleon
The Alien and Sedition Acts
to shut down opposition to Federalists
Alien Act restricted foreigners
Sedition Acts: allowed gov to prosecute opposition as treason: anti-federalist newspapers targeted
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: states had right to nullify laws they deem unconstitutional (Jefferson and Madison) - didn’t get much support
The “Revolution” of 1800
peaceful transfer of power between parties (SUPER uncommon)
election of 1800: Adams vs. Jefferson
adams was very unpopular b/c of Alien and Sedition acts
73 votes ach for Jefferson and Burr
Jefferson wins election (hamilton swayed congress in his favor cause Burr is untrustworth)