Chapter 07 - The Creation of the United States

The War for Independence

Brits had the best army and navy but underestimated Americans

No center for Brits to capture

 

The Patriot Forces

Mostly militia defended

Short terms of enlistment, undisciplined officers

However Continental army fought the big battles

War had to be won with the Continental Army

Continental army was a rallying symbol

Women played a big role (would help them get rights later)

 

The Loyalists

1/5th of the people were loyalists

Went to Canada, Britain and the Caribbean

Many slaves and Indians were loyalists

Brits freed slaves-Americans would push aggressively into Indian territory

Or conservatives who don't like upheaval

Loyalists were not united-couldn't help Brit war effort

Did fight irregular warfare in the south

 

The Campaign for New York and New Jersey

Brits tried to cut off New England but failed=boast to shattered American morale

 

The Politics of Alliances

Wanted a weak American dependent on them

Gave money but reluctant to directly support a republican revolution

Saratoga convinced France to actively support America

Would be the first to recognize America

No peace with Britain without notification of the other

Spain also enters war-gives supplies from New Orleans

Spain wanted to take British possessions in Ohio valley-French were to make sure that Spanish got there before the Americans

Spanish and French navies meant that Britain had to pull troops out from New York to protect Caribbean colonies

 

Indians and the Revolution

Iroquois joined the Brits as the Americans would more aggressively take their land

Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws and Chickasaws also joined Britain

However one Iroquois tribe supported America=Iroquois vs. Iroquois

 

The War in the South

Most important fighting

War here begun with slave uprising

Many blacks fought for Britain

New strategy-lobsters would take control step by step and then give the land to the loyalists who would run it

Cornwallis decides to abandon the Carolinas for Yorktown, Virginia=Carolinas fall back into American control

 

Yorktown

French land 5000 troops the north

French and Americans with French fleet surround Yorktown

In England, Lord North resigns, King George wants to carryon= end of the war

 

The United States Congress Assembled

Weak central government

Americans were trying to get rid of a central government in the first place

 

The Articles of Confederation

Wanted a loose union of the states

Majority of the states was needed for a decision-but nine states were needed for a major decision

Federal Government had no power to tax

 

Financing the War

States had their own currency

Continental currency was useless

Bank of North America-run by Robert Morris-stockpiled gold backed up new currency=stability

 

Negotiating the End to the War

French were able to blunt American demands (they had a lot of influence as they financed the American war)

Americans were aware of this and signed a secret treaty with Britain without the French

Therefore Americans only got East of the Mississippi, Canadian fishing rights, instead of all of Canada

But in truth the Mississippi was in Spanish hands

Spain also got Florida back

 

The Crisis of Demobilization

The Brits were leaving (slowly)

American officers were promised life pensions at the expense of half pay if they fought for the entire war, but with the war almost over and Congress still haven't decided on the amount the officers were worried that the issue would go unresolved.  They were able to convert the amount into a bonus and five years of full pay

 

The Problem of the West

Indians were betrayed by both sides

Brits abandoned their allies and Americans still took their allies land

Once population reached 20,000 the territory would get self-government and once it reached the population of the smallest state they would be given statehood.

The Land Ordinance would provide a survey dividing up the land into squares (independent settling)

However Congress was desperate for money and sold most of the land to the Ohio Company (company settling)

The Northwest Territory would be eventually carved up into five states until then it would be ruled by a court of judges and a governor

 

Revolutionary Politics in the States

Most People were loyal to their states

 

The Broadened Base of Politics

During the pre-revolution era more people were involved in politics

South Carolina had relaxed $$ requirements and universal male suffrage

Tory party was destroyed, Whig party was balanced=new left wingers

 

The First State Constitutions

Pennsylvania was radical, Maryland was conservative, New York in the middle

In Pennsylvania once a conservative states, the Tories were all loyalists=they left

Maryland had high $$ requirements for office

 

Declarations of Rights

All states had rights based on the Virginia Declarations of Rights

16 resolutions that said people are free

People had the right to abolish an oppressive government

 

The Spirit of Reform

Revolutionary atmosphere breed reform

Female suffrages in New Jersey

Women played a big role in revolution therefore could demand more a after

Jefferson repealed the Law of Entails (land couldn't be split up after death by heirs) this was a symbol that aristocratic England was gone

Jefferson: Establishing Religious Freedom

Anglicans were loyalists so they couldn't oppose

Enlightenment=people could chose religion

Jefferson wanted to also get public education, reduce crimes for capital punishment, and free slaves

 

African Americans and the Revolution

Most slaves fought for Brits

In the north slavery was abolished

Slaves freed did increase=black schools, churches community

 

Economic Problems

Big inflation from Congress printing paper money

Food riots due to high prices

Few exports vs. lots of imports

 

State Remedies

Manufacturing states introduced tariffs, however to be effective it had to be a national effort

Farmers wanted legal tender laws=allow debts to be paid in goods, or in the state currency regardless of its worth

In Rhode Island, people could pay their debts in the state currency

 

Shay's Rebellion

When merchants forced farmers to pay off debts in hard currency which the farmers didn't have, many were sent to jail=rebellion

Gave firepower to conservatives, clip the wings of mad democracy