The British Advantage Best professional army, mostly veterans
Naval dominance, allows for mobility and supply Status as a nation:
currency, government, allies Loyalists in the colonies
Slide 6
The American Advantage Interior lines Better commanders French
support (eventually) Guerilla tactics
Slide 7
American Problems No central govt. for most of the war No
funding Colonies divided Question of leadership Currency and
inflation Inexperienced army
Slide 8
First shots in 1775 with Lexington and Concord Independence
declared in 1776 1776 a bad year for colonists Washington defeated
and forced to retreat several times Wintered in Valley Forge, army
nearly collapsed
Slide 9
Washington needed a victory to keep army together Decided on a
surprise attack on German mercenaries (Hessians) on Christmas Eve
Crossed the Delaware River to get there Total success for
colonists
Slide 10
Slide 11
Trenton still only a small victory Real turning point came at
Saratoga Benedict Arnold defeated British attackers Convinced the
French to support the colonists
Slide 12
French offered money, uniforms, training, soldiers, and naval
support Also offered the first international recognition as an
independent country Crucial to winning the war
Slide 13
Oct. 1781, British Gen. Cornwallis surrenders to Gen.
Washington French crucial to the victory Final victory for the
colonists Did not necessarily mean the end to the war Treaty of
Paris not signed until 1783
Slide 14
Slide 15
First govt.: The Articles of Confederation Note the title Con-
(Anti, against) -federation (strong alliance of individual states)
This was a LOOSE alliance
Slide 16
Federalism Power shared between different levels of govt.
Federation Most of the power goes to the central govt.
Confederation Most of the power goes to the states
Slide 17
3 key weaknesses to the AoC No ability to tax No ability to
regulate trade No ability to regulate currency Virtually ALL the
power held by individual states Central govt. not able to
function
Slide 18
A new govt. was needed Federal govt. needed more power
Constitutional Convention met May 1787 Constitution ratified in
1790
Slide 19
Massachusetts trying to pay off war debt Raised taxes on
farmers Daniel Shays leading a rebellion in 1787 Ended quickly
Showed how fragile the system was Showed the need for a stronger
govt.
Slide 20
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan Big state vs. small state
Slavery Slaves represented? How to stop the abuse of power Who to
trust?
Slide 21
The Great Compromise Bicameral (2-house) legislature BOTH
houses must agree The Three-Fifths Compromise Slaves count as 3/5
of a person for representation All men created EQUAL?
Slide 22
Separation of Powers Separation between state & federal
govt. Separation between the branches of govt. Three Branches
Legislative Congress (House of Rep. & Senate) Executive
President Judicial Supreme Court Checks and Balances Each branch
has some power over the other
Slide 23
Staggered Elections House of Rep. 2 yrs. Senate 6 yrs.
President 4 yrs. Federal judges - Life Electoral College Intended
to protect smaller states
Slide 24
Two major factions emerge Federalists favored ratification
Believed Constitution gave right amount of power to federal govt.
Anti-federalists opposed Believed Constitution gave too much power
to federal govt.
Slide 25
Written by key Federalists Alexander Hamilton James Madison
John Jay Argued in favor of ratification Explained the Constitution
and why is was better than the Articles
Slide 26
Anti-federalists demanded restrictions on power of federal
govt. Key figure was Thomas Jefferson Bill of Rights written to
satisfy those demands
Slide 27
First 10 amendments to the Constitution Each is a restriction
on the power of the federal govt. After the Bill of Rights the
Constitution will be ratified
Slide 28
1 Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition 2
Right to keep and bear arms 3 Quartering of soldiers 4 Search and
seizure, probable cause 5 Double jeopardy, self-witness, due
process, public domain
Slide 29
6 Speedy & public trial by jury, informed of charges, right
to lawyer 7 Jury in civil cases, supremacy of jury 8 Excessive
bail, no cruel & unusual punishment 9 Other rights of the
people not to be infringed 10 All other powers to the states
Slide 30
Democratic-Republicans *Led by Thomas Jefferson *Power to state
govts. *Support from farmers *Strong in South and West *Strict
interpretation of Cons. *No Bank *Supported France Federalists *Led
by Alexander Hamilton *Power to federal govt. *Support from bankers
and merchants *Strong in North and East *Liberal interpretation of
Cons. *Wanted Federal Bank *Supported Great Britain
Slide 31
George Washington elected Served two terms Could have served
more Chose to set precedent Bipartisan appointments Alexander
Hamilton Sec. Treasury Thomas Jefferson Sec. State
Slide 32
Farmers in the West couldnt afford to ship grain Distilled it
into whiskey to make it cheaper to move Federal govt. raised taxes
on whiskey to pay for Hamiltons programs Westerners defied the
tax
Slide 33
In 1794 farmers attacked federal troops Washington ordered
militia out with Hamilton 2 nd in command Bloodless surrender Two
convicted of treason and pardoned Showed Washington's skill as a
leader
Slide 34
The Storming of the Bastille, July 14, 1789
Slide 35
Citizen Genet French emissary to the U.S. Turned out to be a
rabble rouser Embarrassed even Jefferson The XYZ Affair U.S.
attempts negotiations with France 3 French diplomats, nickname X,
Y, & Z Demanded a personal bribe to meet Public outcry in
U.S.
Slide 36
Jays Treaty Chief Justice John Jay sent to England to negotiate
a treaty Signs a treaty that strongly favors Britain Public outcry
in U.S. over 1-sided treaty
Slide 37
John Adams elected President Adams a Federalist with a majority
in Congress Two key pieces of legislation under Adams The Alien and
Sedition Acts The Judiciary Act of 1801
Slide 38
Made it much harder for immigrants to become a citizen Made it
illegal to bring the federal govt., Congress, or the president into
disrepute This was a blatant violation of 1 st Amendment!
Republicans countered by proposing nullification
Slide 39
Adams serves only 1 term Thomas Jefferson elected in 1800 Adams
passes Judiciary Act just moments before Jeffersons inauguration
This vastly expanded the judiciary by adding 16 new federal judges
Adams able to appoint new judges for lifetime terms
Slide 40
Jefferson cried foul Sec. of State James Madison refused to
deliver commissions Marbury, one of the lower level appointees,
sued Madison Lawsuit goes to the Supreme Court
Slide 41
First major Supreme Court case Chief Justice John Marshall
Ruled that parts of a previous law were unconstitutional First time
the Supreme Court had overturned a law passed by Congress
Establishes judicial review as a precedent
Slide 42
Federalist Legislation is repealed Cut spending Cut taxes
Repealed Alien and Sedition Acts Sold stock in Bank Jefferson
downsizing the U.S. Govt.
Slide 43
France regains control of Louisiana Territory from Spain in
1800 Main city was New Orleans, strategically located at mouth of
Mississippi River U.S. interests threatened, esp. farmers Jefferson
sends envoys to negotiate purchase of New Orleans for $10 million
dollars Napoleon sells entire territory for $15 million
Slide 44
Slide 45
Slide 46
Expedition to explore the new territory Vast amount of
unexplored land Unclear on borders Looking for the Northwest
Passage
Slide 47
Slide 48
Guided to the Rocky Mts. by Sacajawea, an Indian guide First
Americans to cross over to the Pacific Sketched maps and took notes
on animals, plants, land, and natives Laid groundwork for further
westward expansion
Slide 49
Jefferson passes the Embargo Act of 1807 This forbids all
exports from the U.S. Federalists hated this Law was largely
ignored for 2 years When govt. cracked down, it almost wrecked U.S.
economy Failed to damage Britain or France Jefferson finally
relents, Embargo severely damaged his popularity
Slide 50
James Madison elected President in 1808 Not a strong leader A
Democratic- Republican (Even though he wrote some of the Federalist
Papers)
Slide 51
In 1810 trouble began again with Indians in the Ohio Territory
Many tribes united behind Tecumseh and his brother the Prophet Nov.
1811 Governor William Henry Harrison defeated the Indian coalition
at the battle of Tippecanoe Westerners claimed the British incited
the Indian actions
Slide 52
Britain still not withdrawn from Ohio Territory, blocking
westward expansion Impressment (kidnapping of American sailors)
British navy blocking grain shipments to France, grain prices drop
in U.S. Britain in many ways not respecting U.S. sovereignty
Slide 53
The U.S. declares war on Britain in June 1812 Why 1812? June
1812 is also when Napoleon invades Russia, Britain distracted
Slide 54
Republicans tended to support the war Federalists HATED this
war Nicknamed it Mr. Madisons War Differences represented by region
Westerners most eager for war South also supported Easterners most
against it Many Eastern states refused to participate
Slide 55
War goes badly for the first two years U.S. has virtually no
standing army Remember the cuts Jefferson made Navy also badly
outmatched Some success at 1-on-1 combat, but ultimately to no
effect Early battles in Canada a failure Still, Madison is
reelected in 1812
Slide 56
Naval victory on the Great Lakes allows the U.S. to attack the
British in Canada in 1813 Harrison again defeats Indians allied
with the British Slow progress, but eventual victories
Slide 57
British sail up the Potomac River in 1814 Offload in Wash. D.C.
and burn the city Retaliation for the Americans sacking York
(Toronto)
Slide 58
Slide 59
British navy laid siege to Fort McHenry in 1814 Francis Scott
Key goes to British fleet under flag of truce to negotiate Kept
onboard overnight Watched the battle from a British ship Wrote the
poem Defence of Fort McHenry Later put to music
Slide 60
Slide 61
British efforts in the North were ultimately thwarted Andrew
Jackson led the campaign in the South Fought both British and
Indians
Slide 62
Jackson leads U.S. soldiers against the Creek Indians known as
Red Sticks Battle took place in March, 1814 in Alabama Called
Horseshoe Bend because of the river it was fought near
Slide 63
Slide 64
Houston a key figure in the attack Wounded several times Barely
survived Went on to lead Texas Revolution
Slide 65
Napoleon defeated in 1814 and exiled U.S. looks for peace
Treaty solves none of the issues that started the war Only stopped
the fighting Signed Dec. 24, 1814
Slide 66
British were preparing the attack in late 1814 Attack occurs
Jan. 8, 1815 AFTER the treaty Why? British in North America didnt
know about the treaty yet BUT they knew of negotiations and hoped
to get a better deal if they won
Slide 67
The British land outside the city Jackson mounts a defense
Major victory for the U.S. British humiliated and the Treaty of
Ghent confirmed Andrew Jackson now a war hero
