Chapter 6 - Making War & Republican Governments

British’s Strengths & Weaknesses in American Revolutionary War

• Strengths:

  • manufacturing leader (ships & weapons)

  • established government

  • well-trained, experienced soldiers

  • more money (gold)

• Weaknesses:

  • underestimated the enemy

  • misunderstood the conflict: a revolutionary war, mercenaries

  • vast territory

Patriots’ Strengths & Weaknesses in American Revolutionary War

• Strengths:

  • General Washington: leadership & skillful retreats

  • Persistence

  • aid & assistance from civilians

• Weaknesses:

  • untrained soldiers

  • lack of money (Continental Congress had no power to tax)

  • inflation

  • blockades

  • no navy

Evacuation Day, March 1776

• Siege of Boston ends (began after Battles of Lexington & Concord) thanks to Washington & Knox

• British fleet leaves Boston Harbor

• Patriots finally control New England

The Revolutionary War Shifts to the Middle States

• British take NYC on Sept. 15, 1776

• Continentals nearly crushed; Washington & army retreat across NJ

Washington Crossing the Delaware, Dec. 1776

• Washington leads troops across the icy Delaware River on Christmas night for a surprise attack against the Hessians (German battalion) at Trenton

• Followed by a victory at Princeton

• modest victories raised spirits & morale, men re-enlisted for winter of 1776-77

Battle of Saratoga, Sept.-Oct. 1777

• BIG turning point in the American Revolutionary War

• came following several Patriot defeats in 1777

• Patriots defeated British at Saratoga, greatest victory yet

• led France to recognize American independence AND enter the war

• France risked an open alliance with America (1778: Treaty of Amity & Commerce, Treaty of Alliance)

• with France’s money, troops, supplies & navy, war becomes equal

Valley Forge, Dec. 1777-Jun. 1778

• Harsh conditions: bad food, bad lodging, bad weather, locals refused to help, widespread disease & death, increased desertions & resignations

• Washington’s leadership helped survival

• Baron von Steuben’s training: instituted discipline & professionalism into army ➔ army that emerged was smaller, but professional military force

• a major turning point where the Continental Army was "reborn" and emerged united, resilient, and capable of confronting British regulars

The Frontier War of the American Revolutionary War

• West of Appalachian Mountains, more skirmishes between American settlers and Indians

• Most Indians support British:

  • they feared an independent American nation would aggressively encroach on their western lands and expel them

  • British maintained active networks and long-standing fur-trade ties, whereas many tribes had experienced direct violence and encroachment from colonial militias

• War moves west (present-day IN and IL);  Americans and French allies take settlements and post, and take back Vincennes fort…Ohio River Valley

In what ways did the British misunderstand the conflict with the colonies?

• failed to consider the Patriots a real threat ➔ lost troops & wasted resources in futile attacks

• fought a traditional war (ex: thinking capturing seaports would force surrender), but Patriots kept fighting back despite setbacks

How were the Patriots able to continue fighting despite losing most of the battles?

• Washington’s leadership: he retreated to save lives

• civilians staying strong through the financial burdens

• French & Spanish helped

How important was French assistance to the Patriot’s struggle?

VERY important: secret weapons & supplies in early war, open alliance with money, troops & navy later

British Invade the South

• Britain sought help from southern Loyalists – but did not support Loyalist militias. Waged conventional war.

• British won early victories, seaports.

• Continental Army and militias (guerilla warfare) take on British army under Lord Cornwallis. 

• Spanish attacks divert British army. 

British’s Southern Strategy

• Dunmore Proclamation of 1775: slaves & indentured servants who are willing & able to help Britain get path to freedom IN VA ➔ VA General Assembly Response: any slave caught supporting Britain will NOT be spared, BUT all who return will be spares

• Patriots feared slave uprisings, but Washington eventually allowed African Americans to serve (5000 by 1777) ➔ tempting GB to offer land, freedom & protection of all slaves join them (Philipsburg Proclamation of 1779)

Siege of Yorktown

• Washington and Rochambeau armies trap Cornwallis at Yorktown, 2:1, 20K vs 9.5K

• French Navy fleet blocks British escape by Sea

• France help was PIVOTAL

• Cornwallis surrenders on October 19, 1781 – the war is essentially over (Yorktown was the last military confrontation of the war)

Main Factors that contributed to Patriots Success in Revolutionary War

• British made tactical mistakes.

• British misunderstood political nature of the conflict.

• Patriots were highly motivated and Washington was a shrewd leader.

• Patriots received critical assistance from France.

• Washington’s leadership

• Patriots controlled local government

• local militiamen

• Currency Tax: hidden cost of using inflationary continental bills, but civilians willing to endure it

The Second Continental Congress—what did they do??

• Successes:

  • Declared war

  • Declared independence

  • Advised states to form governments

  • Chose & kept Washington

  • Created military

  • Conducted victorious war

  • Created diplomatic corps

  • Created Articles of Confederation

• Failures

  • Financing the war (blame it on states) ➔ leads to post Revolution economic instability & influenced Hamilton’s Three Point Plan

What happened to the Western Lands post Revolutionary War?

• Western settlement threatened to escape the government’s control

  • settlers crossed the Ohio River and provoked war with Native Americans

  • US feared secession (break away) of settlers

• federal government was in debt & cash-strapped ➔ Western Lands became the Treasury of the new government

Land Ordinance of 1785

• a system for dividing public lands into townships

• uniform sizes, standardized prices

• favored wealthy speculators

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• for IN & OH

• how states would be added & governed

• if no people in territory = governor and judges

• if population of 5000 adult free men = governor, judges & assembly

• if population of 60,000 = apply for statehood

• freedom of religion

• rights of common law

• NO SLAVERY in Northwest territory (a precedent), protects yeoman farmer ideal from competing with southern planters

Post Revolution Conflicts with Spain and Britain

• no respect from Spain or Britain

• Spain forbade American trade with New Orleans

• During war Spain respected the US BUT after saw them as a threat because American expansion west

• Britain: returned to mercantilism, no American trade with British West Indies, kept frontier forts on American lands

Weakness of Articles of Confederation

• Congress could NOT levy or collect taxes

• Congress powerless to regulate interstate commerce & foreign trade

• One state, one vote REGARDLESS of size

• 2/3 majority votes required to pass new laws

• ALL votes required to change laws

• NO separate executive branch to enforce acts

• NO system of federal courts

The Great Depression of 1784-88

• less trade, more unemployment, lower prices, greater debts

• most farmers in debt, lacked cash to pay creditors/suppliers and taxes

• lawsuits and losses of crops, livestock & farms

• some states’ debtor relief measures angered/cheated creditors

• Washington will fix this

Shay’s Rebellion

• trouble in MA with farmers debt, taxes & penalties

• riots & protests because farmers loosing their farms due to not being able to pay creditors/taxes

• Daniel Shay and mob attacked MA courts & captured, but message clear: US needed better rules (stronger national government)

What form of national government did the Patriots create initially, and what events revealed that a new government was necessary?

After the war, Patriots refused to entrust the new Union (federal government) with much power, most authority remained with the states. Shay’s rebellion revealed the need that a new, stronger federal government was needed.

Early State Governments Post Revolution

• state governments already in place (assemblies)

• 150 years of self-government

• willing to reform state governments, NOT give up power to other governments

The Constitutional Convention

• by 1787 most Americans agreed the Articles were flawed:

  • Congress needed power to regulate interstate and international commerce

  • Congress needed the power to tax people

• 12 of 13 states (not RI) sent delegates to Philadelphia to amend the Articles

Who were the Constitutional Convention Delegates?

• ALL White Males

• Most were educated, talented & wealthy

• more than HALF were lawyers

• “well-bred, well-fed, well-wed, and well-read”

What was the Constitutional Convention like?

• utmost SECRECY so delegates could speak freely

• Washington elected president of convention

• Leading Thinkers:

  • Alexander Hamilton: disliked democracy, sought balance of aristocracy, monarchy & republicanism

  • James Madison: skeptical of democracy, favored republicanism with checks & balances, believed a large republic with diverse interest would best preserve common good

  • both Hamilton & Madison supported STRONG central government

The Virginia Plan of Government - “The Large State Plan”

• proposed by Madison

• Three branches: legislative, executive & judiciary

• Bicameral legislature: representation in BOTH houses based on population

• National Congress would have power to veto ANY state law

• 7 year term President

The New Jersey Plan of Government - “The Small State Plan”

• proposed by William Paterson

• Unicameral Legislature: EQUAL representation regardless of population

• Executive Committee, NO single President

• STRONG states

The Great Compromise - “The Connecticut Compromise”

• proposed by Roger Sherman of CT

• Executive branch

• Bicameral Legislature:

  • Senate: equal number of representatives per state

  • House of Representatives: number of representatives based on state population

• Judiciary branch

• NO national veto over states (some powers forbidden)

• a system of federalism

Three-Fifths Compromise

• issue: how to count population when determining representation (for House of Representatives) and taxation

• all whites plus 3/5 of slave population

• in hopes of maintaining unity between North & South:

  • no ban on slavery considered for Constitution

  • slave trade extended 20 more years to 1807

  • Fugitive Slave Act of 1790: slave owners had return of fugitive slaves

Principles of the US Constitution

• Popular Sovereignty: people are the only source of the government’s power

• Limited Government: governments has only the powers that the Constitution gives it

• Separation of Powers: government’s power is divided among three branches (legislative, executive, judicial)

• Federalism: federal government and state governments share power

• Checks & Balances: each branch of government has power to limit actions of the other two

• Representative Government: citizens elect representatives to government to make laws

The Struggle Over Ratification

• A ten-month bitter struggle over ratification of the Constitution (official approval) followed.

• 39 of 42 delegates endorsed the new Constitution

• Delegates were supposed to AMEND the articles, not replace them; All states had to approve amendments..so this was deemed a NEW law

• NEED NY and VA to ratify so waited because didn’t protect rights

How many states had to approve the Constitution?

They created new laws…nine states.

Why did Congress send the Constitution to specially elected state conventions for approval?

State legislatures would likely not approve reduced power

Federalists

• Favored strong government and supported ratification

• Only a new government would overcome difficulties facing the nation

• Intimately familiar with the Constitution and well-organized

• Strong leaders:  Madison, Dickinson & Hamilton; Key supporters: Washington & Franklin

• Believed Constitution was not perfect but a strong central government  was necessary for republic’s survival.   End chaos.

• Federalists generally popular in cities (seaports and newspapers).

• Main Argument: separation of powers limits government power.

• people who create the Constitution, have lots of knowledge

Anti-Federalists

• Feared strong government and opposed ratification

• A threat to liberty…plus, no bill of rights!

• Outnumbered Federalists

• Problem:  Anti-Federalists and no alternative plan.

• Strong leaders: S. Adams, Hancock, Clinton, Henry, Lee (successful state politicians)

• Farmers (majority of Americans) opposed Constitution and distrusted Federalists as aristocrats hostile to the Republic

• Antifederalist Farmers feared loss of state debtor-relief laws

• Main Argument:  strong central government will abuse states’ rights and individual liberties.

• more rural/removed from positions of power

The Federalist aka the Federalist Papers

• In 1787-88 series of 85 pro-Constitution essays written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay (pen name “Publius”) were published in NY newspapers

• Brilliant arguments and explanations of republican government and politics… 

  • separation of powers in three branches of government, with checks and balances, would prevent tyranny

  • real threat to liberty was state legislatures that lacked checks and balances

• marketing attempt to convince that new Constitution is best for country & prevent tyranny

State by State Ratification

• DE (12/87) unanimously approved Constitution, followed by PA, NJ, GA and CT.

• MA (2/6/88), MD and SC approved Constitution and the promised amendments that would protect citizens’ rights. 

• NH became 9^th state to approve (with promised amendments) on 6/21/88.  Enough to put Constitution into effect but supporters knew NY and VA must be on board for government to work well.

Struggle for Virginia & New York (and NC & RI) Ratification

• VA = tough fight between top-notch leaders but Washington’s strong support and proposed amendments yield approval.

•  NY = close call/narrow vote but The Federalist and Hamilton’s leadership are decisive; approved 7/26/88. 

****Constitution goes into effect****

• NC  and RI – did not ratify until 11/89 and 5/90 respectively when the new government was already operating.

Bill of Rights

• Several crucial states ratified because they were promised a bill of rights.

• Anti-Federalists supported and Federalists did not oppose a Bill of Rights (the latter didn’t think it was necessary). Madison, “The Father of the Constitution”  took charge of the amendments.

• also feared that this would be the only rights people have? (9th amendment solved that)

• protected both individuals and states against what people feared would be too much government power.  

• First Eight Amendments:  Individual Civil Liberties 

• Ninth Amendment:  Listing certain rights for the people does NOT mean other rights don’t exist. 

• Tenth Amendment: All power not given to the federal government or denied to the states are RESERVED to the states, or to the people. {addresses Anti-Federalist concerns for states’ rights and sovereignty}