AP US Review�The American Revolution
�The people, even to the lowest ranks, have become more attentive to their liberties, more inquisitive about them, and more determined to defend them than they were ever before known or had occasion to be.�
John Adams, 1765
Steps to the revolutionary war:
Salutary neglect
European wars:
King William�s War (1689-97)
Queen Anne�s War (1702-13)
King George�s War (1744-48)
culminate in the
Seven Years (French and Indian) War (1756-63)
The Albany Plan of Union-- reps from several colonies met in Albany, NY in 1754. Franklin�s plan for common defense req�d taxation to raise armies for defense�while not adopted, set precedent for 1770�s. (Based on Iroquois league�a confederation of indep entities.
Immediate impact:
Brits supreme in N America, British view of colonists contribution is low;
Colonial view is opposite�proud of their military performance, confident they could defend themselves.
Proclamation of 1763�prohib colonials west of Appalachians
New Revenues and regulations:
Sugar Act-(aka revenue act of 1764) intended to raise revenues for crown, duties on sugar and luxuries
Quartering Act- req�d food and shelter of colonists for soldiers 1765
Stamp Act- to raise $ for british forces in colonies, first direct tax in the colonies
Stamp Act led to strong colonial reaction- Patrick Henry calls for no taxation w/out rep., James Otis calls for so-called stamp act congress (NY)�resolved that only colonial legis can approve taxes in colonies. Sons and Daughters of Liberty formed, tarring and feathering, destruction of revenue stamps
Declaratory Act- 1766, stamp act repealed, but asserts right to tax and make laws in �all cases whatsoever�
Phase II- 1767-1773
Townshend Acts- req�d revenue to pay Brit appointed officials thru revenues collected in colonies. Also provides for search of homes (writs of assistance) and suspends NY�s Ass�y for defiance of Quartering Act. Dickinson�s Letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania argue that parl can regulate commerce but cannot tax w/out consent (and tariffs are a tax). 1768, James Otis and John Adams pen the Massachussetts Circular letter urging colonial legislatures to petition parl to repeal townshend. Colonists Boycott Brit goods. Boston sees increase in Brit troops.
Repeal of Townshend- Lord North urges parl repeal Townshend due to loss of trade. Tensions ease w/exception of Boston Massacre
Boston massacre- 1770, Commitees of Correspondence formed by, among others, Sam Adams, keep alive the notion that liberties are threatened. March 1770, a crowd harassing Brit troops guarding customs house is fired upon. Five die, but troops defended by John Adams, who wins an acquittal. Sam Adams labels event a massacre
Gaspee�hated customs ship runs aground, burned
Boston Tea Party- response to Tea Act of 1773 (made East India CO. tea cheaper than smuggled Tea), Dec 1773 �Indians� raid ship and destroy cargo
The Intolerable Acts
Coercive Acts- 1774, four:
Port bill closed port of Boston
Mass Gov�t act incr. pwr of royal governor, reduced legis pwr
Admin of Justice Act allows royal officials trial o/s colonies if indicted
Quartering act expanded to put troops in private homes in all colonies
Quebec Act�1774, est Roman Cath as official relig of Quebec, created gov�t w/o ass�y
Why were the Americans angry? They viewed the quebec Act as a direct attack on the American colonies because it took away lands along the Ohio river. Also there was fear that similar laws would tke away rep gov�t in the colonies. Finally, anti- catholic resentment.
Phase Three: Revolution
First Continental Congress, 1774, attended by diverse group from radical to conservative. Patrick Henry, Sam and John Adams radical. GW, John Dickinson moderate. John Jay, Joseph Galloway conservative. Of course loyalists are unrepresented.
Creates Suffolk resolves to reject Intolerable acts, Declaration of Rights and Grievances (letter to king to address grievances), and calls for 2nd congress if colonial rights are not recognized.
Kings gov�ts responds by declaring Massachussetts to be in a state of rebellion and sent additional troops
Fighting Begins:
Lexington and Concord, 18 Apil 1775
Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775 (actually Breed�s Hill)
May 1775, Second Continental Congress meets- Declaration of the Causes and Necessities for Taking up arms, GW appointed commander in chief of new colonial army, Benedict Arnold to raid Quebec, navy and Marine corps created to raid Brit shipping
Also, Olive Branch Petition sent in July�pledged loyalty to King George III and asked him to intercede with parliament to secure peace and protection of colonial rights.
King instead endorses Parliament�s Prohibitory Act (Aug 1775) that declares colonies in rebellion.
Nov 1775�Battle of Quebec (a failure; Benedict Arnold felt cheated of recognition owed)
Jan 1776, Thos Paine�s Common Sense
5 March 1776�Ticonderoga cannons on Dorchester Heights; British evac Boston
7 June 1776-- Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduces resolution to declare independence; adopted 2 July, and Jefferson�s Declaration of Independence adopted 4 July.
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Welcome to the revolution.
April-October, 1776—the Battles of Long Island, White Plains, and Fort NY
Christmas Night, 1776—Battle of Trenton (Washington crosses the Delaware)
September, 1777—Battles of Saratoga and Bennington
Winter of 1777 – 1778-- George Washington and his army struggled to survive the cold weather and snow at Valley Forge. They did, and emerged a stronger army as a result