The American Revolution

Causes

of the

American Revolution

1

The American Colonists developed

A strong sense of autonomy from

1607-1763

a strong sense of self government

a different understanding of key

Enlightenment political ideas

2

Conflicts with Great Britain

developed over

The imposition of imperial controls

after 1763

Parliament’s attempts to impose

higher taxes on the American

Colonies after 1763

3

The Meaning of Words

Great Britain American Colonies

Sovereignty

◦ Parliament possessed ultimate

sovereignty to govern the

Empire.

◦ Parliament’s acts formed the

British Constitution

◦ Parliament could change the

constitution

Sovereignty

◦ Colonists believed in local

autonomy

◦ Local colonial assemblies,

elected by property owners,

perform local legislative

functions.

◦ Colonial assemblies could

impose direct taxes

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The Meaning of Words

Great Britain American Colonies

Constitution

◦ An unwritten document based upon English Common Law

◦ Was based on precedents

◦ The basis of government was a balance between

monarchy (royalty: the King)

Nobility (aristocracy: the House of Lords)

Commoners (democracy: the House of Commons)

◦ Based upon balanced sharing of power

Constitution

◦ Colonies accepted and understood the British view of common law and the rights of Englishmen

◦ Colonists developed the belief that constitutions should be written documents

They were an agreement between ruler & ruled

◦ Influenced by the colonial charters in North America

◦ Believed there was a need for written laws in a developing/dangerous society.

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The Meaning of Words

Great Britain American Colonies

Representation

◦ Believed in virtual

representation

◦ Parliament, as a whole,

represented the Empire “as a

whole”

Representation

◦ The American colonies

accepted the British view until

1763.

◦ After 1764, the American

colonies developed the view

that Parliament should mirror

the people (property owners)

and their interests. (actual

representation)

◦ Increasingly, Americans

believed in John Locke’s idea of

the consent of the governed.

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The British refused to realize that their

American colonies had developed differently

From mid-1775 to early 1776, the

conflict was an attempt by colonists to

exert their rights as British subjects

within the Empire.

British bungling and American

agitation during the early phase of the

conflict caused the war aims of the

colonists to change from demanding

rights as British subjects to outright

independence

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Phase 1: Conflicting Aims within the

Empire: April, 1775 to July, 1776

The Americans were fighting for

◦ repeal of unjust legislation

◦ home rule and self-determination

within the Empire

The British were fighting for

◦ the status quo

◦ Parliamentary supremacy

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The Battles of Concord and Lexington

April, 1775

The British attempted to seize

colonial gunpowder & arms stored

at Concord, Mass.

◦ Colonial Militia “Minutemen” resisted

◦ fired the ‘shot heard round the world’

Colonials drove the Redcoats into

Boston and laid siege to the town

9

Meeting of the Second Continental

Congress, May, 1775

All 13 Colonies were represented

there was no real sentiment for

independence

◦ wanted redress of grievances

◦ agreed to raise an Army and Navy

selected Geo. Washington as Commander in

Chief

◦ outstanding character, great leadership abilities

◦ was a symbol for all to rally around

10

First Colonial Victories

Colonials assumed the offensive

◦ won victories at Ticonderoga and

Crown Point (May, 1775)

◦ proved that the British were not

invincible

Colonials gained provisions, gunpowder

and reinforcements

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June, 1775 Continental Army seized

Bunker Hill

◦ threatened British position in Boston

◦ Sig> Colonials proved themselves as soldiers

King George III proclaimed the colonies in

“open rebellion” (August, 1775)

◦ Sig> King hired Hessian mercenaries to fight in the

colonies

Continental Army began a campaign to

invade Canada from New England

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The Movement toward

Independence

177613

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

He called for independence and

republicanism

believed the colonial cause was for self-

determination and democracy

Sig>Paine stimulated discussion of

independence from Britain throughout 1776

◦ heightened the realization that the colonies

must declare independence before they

could receive aid from France.

14

Actions of the Second Continental

Congress, May - July, 1776

Richard H. Lee (Va.) introduced

resolution calling for independence

◦ proposal was studied

Jefferson selected to write the

Declaration (approved on July 4, 1776)

Justified the colonial revolt & contained

a bill of indictment against Geo. III

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Significance of the Declaration of Independence

Was a general statement concerning the

colonist’s right to revolt.

By declaring their intention to separate

from Great Britain, Colonists could now

attempt to secure foreign assistance from

European countries, (notably France)

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The Military & Diplomatic Campaigns

of 1776-1778

Phase 1:

Can we really win?

17

Problems facing the Americans

after July, 1776

Americans: Patriots, or Loyalists?

The American Revolution was always a

minority movement

The Loyalists were 20% of the population

conservative, financially well off, usually Anglicans

beneficiaries of the Crown (Royal patronage jobs)

more in Middle & Southern colonies

fled to British lines when war broke out

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The New England Campaigns of 1776

The British won most of them; but did not

pursue the Americans

Washington learned from his mistakes

◦ avoided crushing defeats

◦ won battles at Trenton & Princeton

◦ restored confidence in his leadership and the

ability of the colonial army.

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Fighting in the Middle Colonies:

1777-1778 (after Declaration of Independence)

British failed to destroy Colonial Army

British strategy was to isolate New England from

the other colonies

◦ Br. Gen. Burgoyne invaded N.Y from Canada

◦ Forced to surrender to Colonial Army after

Battle of Saratoga (Oct. 1777)

Significance of Saratoga

◦ revived the colonial cause

◦ led to an alliance with France

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The Need for French Aid: 1775-1777

French covertly helped the Americans

◦ French were still weak

◦ feared war with Britain

◦ provided supplies but no diplomatic help

After Saratoga, France formally recognized

American independence

◦ Signed Treaty of Alliance (Feb., 1778)

◦ agreed to seek “common terms” with Britain (SIG??)

French sent troops & navy to N. America

21

Significance of the French Alliance

Doubled the size of the American fighting

force

◦ French soldiers reinforced Washington’s Army

◦ French Navy engaged the British fleet in the

West Indies

◦ the course of the American Revolution changed

French alliance probably decided the war in America’s

favor

22

The American Revolution became part of a

world war.

◦ French, Spanish, Dutch actively engaged in war

against Britain

◦ by 1780, other European nations had organized

the Armed Neutrality (Catherine the Great)

◦ passive hostility towards Great Britain

Significance> the American colonies did not

achieve independence until the revolution became

part of a European-based world war

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Second Phase of the Revolution:

1780-1781

Military Campaigns and Peace with Great Britain

24

British Military Strategy

Lord Cornwallis’ army would win the war in the

Southern Colonies then move north

◦ colonial army constantly harassed British Army

◦ Cornwallis was forced to retreat toward Yorktown, Va.

◦ Washington’s army blocked British

Cornwallis expected the British Navy to re-supply

and then transport his army to the Middle Colonies

◦ British Navy failed to destroy the French fleet in the West

Indies

◦ French Fleet under Admiral De Grasse arrived off the

Virginia coast: cut off British retreat

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Victory at Yorktown: Oct., 1781

Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at

Yorktown, Oct., 19, 1781

◦ British army continued to fight until Nov., 1782

Significance of Yorktown

◦ British national debt had doubled since 1775

◦ Tory government of Lord North resigned (3-82)

◦ Whigs came to power in Parliament

◦ by 1782, British were ready to negotiate a

meaningful peace treaty

26

The Peace Process: 1780-1783

Process began in 1780 when Continental

Congress sent 3 peace envoys to Paris (Franklin,

Adams, Jay)

◦ they were instructed to not make a separate peace

◦ American goals conflicted with French & Spanish goals

American negotiators ignored their instructions

◦ negotiated with the new British Whig government

Preliminary Peace Treaty signed in 1782, final

peace in 1783

-->Why did the British make peace with the

Americans? <--

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The Treaty of Paris, 1783

Britain formally recognized American

independence

Britain granted the United States generous

territorial boundaries

◦ Mississippi R, Great Lakes, Spanish Florida

United States promised to restore Loyalist

property seized during the Revolution

◦ until this occurred, British would maintain forts

in the Ohio Valley

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Significance of the Peace of Paris

The British gave the United States very

good peace terms

◦ British needed American good will while

continuing to fight other European powers.

Great Power rivalry in Europe helped

secure good peace terms for the United

States.

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