U.S. History Outline: III. The Revolutionary War
Two main conflicts for colonies:
Achive home rule
Decide who would rule at home
After Lexington & Concord battles, King George declared colonies in rebellion
Olive Branch Petition
Colonies offered to be loyal if Crown fixed grievances
Britain sent no reply
British hired German troops - Hessians
Britain built up Boston blockade
"Common Sense" pamphlet
Influenced Americans towards independence
Spoke against monarchy
July 2, 1776 - Motion of Virginia
Virginia moved that colonies declare themselves independent
July 4, 1776 - Declaration of Independence
Justified the Revolution
Nov. 1777 - Articles of Confederation
Foreign military experts aided the Colonials:
Baron von Steuben
Marquis de Lafayette
France aided colonies with money and weapons
France hoped a colonial victory would help them regain Canada
Spring 1776 - Washington sent to Boston to break blockade
Continental army about one-third the size of British army
Benedict Arnold - Siege of Quebec
Ethan Allen
Took Ft. Ticonderoga and Crown Point
Prevented British attack down Hudson River to New York
Stole cannons, which Washington took to Boston
British evacuated Boston, but took New York
New York was a haven for Loyalists
Became center of British operations
Gen. Howe (British) chased Washington around New England until winter
Battle of Saratoga - Gen. Bergoyne (British) defeated
Gen. Howe turned over command to George Clinton
Winter 1776 - Washington crossed Delaware River
Dec. 26, 1776 - Washington launched surprise attack on British
Day after Christmas, British were still too drunk to fight well
1777 - British realized they could not acheive quick victory
New plan - split colonies in half from New York
1777 - Adams and Franklin sought and received more aid from France
1778 - British switched their attention to the South
British expected to find Loyalists in South, but didn't
Cornwallis and Clinton (British) vs. Nathaniel Green (Continental)
British spent most of their time wandering around the South looking for the Continental Army
Dec. 1778 - British captured Savannah
1780 - British captured Charleston
Clinton went back to New York
Cornwallis marched to Virginia, headed towards New York
Yorktown - Cornwallis became trapped there
Cornwallis decided to dig in and wait for naval reinforcement
French navy (lead by DeGrasse) blocked his escape
Oct. 19, 1781 - Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown
Franklin, Adams, and John Jay in France
France wanted Canada and Gibraltar for Spain
Continental delegates left discussion
France received only Guadelupe from the Revolutionary War
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Recognized colonies' independence
Granted colonies territory from Canada to Florida, Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River
No reparations (penalties) for war
Aftermath of Revolutionary War
American Indians lost all support from British
Loyalists were transported to Nova Scotia, where many died
Most of America's ruling class (landed elite, associated with Crown) left colonies
Tradesmen and professionals (mostly lawyers) moved into leadership roles
First stirring of abolitionism and suffrage
First move towards manufacturing/industry within the colonies
State governments created
Most had weak executive branch, religious freedom
Property was required to vote
Massachusetts - first constitution with direct election of governor
Some states outlawed slavery (Pennsylvania and Massachusetts)
Articles of Confederation
Federal government controlled war and foreign policy and issued money
Federal government could not regulate trade, draft troops, or levy taxes
Each state had 1 vote in government, 9 had to agree for majority
Ohio Valley - an Articles of Confederation success
Claimed by New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia
Federal government convinced all three to give up their claims
States agreed not to claim land west of the Appalachians
Under Articles of Confed., federal government controlled land in Ohio Valley
Northwest Ordinance
Federal government carved up Ohio Valley, planned development, sold land
Criteria for statehood - population of 60,000 and a petition
Indian removal program in the Appalachians
Creek War (1790)
Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)
Anthony Wayne defeated Indian coalition
Shay's Rebellion - an Articles of Confederation failure
1786 - Shay wanted tax and debt relief, more money
Federal government had trouble raising army to put down rebellion
1787 - Shay defeated in battle, but some of his demands were enacted
Washington felt that country needed a new government
Annapolis Convention
Five states attended
Recommended that all states meet and find ways to improve Articles of Confed.
Washington supported motion
Constitutional Convention (May - Sept. 1787)
All states except Rhode Island attended
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise, 3/5 Clause
Bill of Rights was discussed but not included in final draft
Short terms for House of Rep. members (2 years), long terms for Senate (6 years), President's term in the middle (4 years)
Ratification Conventions (1788)
Constitution sent out to each state to ratify
Conventions were held by the people of the state, not the state legislatures
Antifederalists opposed the Constitution
Antifeds in New York and Virginia opposed it
Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights to get ratification
Rhode Island was last state to ratify (only 9 states needed for majority)
12 Amendments passed (only 10 ratified) - Bill of Rights
Judiciary Act of 1789 - created federal judiciary
Cabinet created - Sec. of State, Sec. of War, Sec. of Treasury, Attorney General, Postmaster
Bond issue - how to pay off war debt
Question was whether to repay bonds at face value
Hamilton wanted bonds paid at face value
Hamilton - leader of Federalists, also favored tariffs, excise tax on whiskey
Whiskey Rebellion
Western farmers in Penn. refused to pay whiskey tax
Washington led militia to put down rebellion
Much easier to put down than Shay's rebellion, thanks to Constitution giving federal government more power
New states - Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee
Foreign affairs under Washington
French-English war - U.S. remained neutral
Jay's Treaty
Took no action against British attacks on neutral American ships
Very unpopular because it was amicable to England
Pickney's Treaty (1795, with Spain)
Gave U.S. transport rights on Mississippi River
Allowed U.S. to store goods in New Orleans
Election of 1796
Southern Federalists didn't support Hamilton, Northern Federalists didn't support Pickney
John Adams (Federalist) elected
Downfall of Federalists
Adam's repressive laws
Alien Act - discouraged immigration
Sedition Act - got a few news reporters arrested
XYZ Affair
U.S. Ambassador to France turned away
France would only talk to him in exchange for bribes
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Prompted by Alien and Sedition Acts
Said that states could nullify federal laws
Fights in Congress over Alien and Sedition Acts, other partisan issues
"Tongs incident" - a Federalist congressman from Connecticut and an Antifederalist from Vermont attacked each other with cane and fireplace tongs during a heated debate
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