What are you willing to fight for?

The American Revolution (1775 – 1783)

The People Involved:1. English– Many opposed the war. Soldiers = Low

pay/ low will to fight2. Patriots- Believed in the cause; would die for

freedom Weak army and high desertion rates

3. Tories– Loyalists to England Usually older/ wealthier in South, NY, and NJ

4. Women- (“Republican Women”) Huge help to Am Rev effortMade supplies during boycotts; fed and clothed Patriots; espoused ideals of Am Rev to children; plowed fields; ran household; set up correspondence on current events; spied on Eng

5. Slaves- Fought on both sides for freedom› Ideas of “Unalienable Rights” and Equality

Comparing Sides:• Cause = Freedom• Home Turf• More Men than England• Luck!• Problems = Divided on Support;

Elected Military Leaders; Low Pay/ Resources; Regional Differences

English

• Superior Army/ Navy• Mercenary( hired soldiers) Help

(Hessians)• Problems = Poor leadership; No

plan; No will to fight; far from home; other foreign problems; poor conditions for soldiers

Patriots

From Sparks to a Fire for Freedom and New Government

Declaration of Independence – › The document written by Thomas Jefferson in

which America “divorces” England and explains why!

Articles of Confederation – 1st U.S. Government structure after separation from England› Created a weak Central Government (with a

Powerless President and Congress) Outcome = Bad start but it was a start!

Declaration of Independence

So Then What Happens? May 1775 = 2nd Continental Congress

› Olive Branch Petition- sent to King suggesting that either the colonists be given free trade and taxes equal to those levied on the people in Great Britain, or no taxes and strict trade regulations- meant to settle the dispute without a full war- King ignores the petition so….

› Continental Army is created and George Washington leads it

› England sends 20,000 more men to the colonies to squash rebellion

Washington’s Plan

1. Evade England2. Keep army together3. Fight only when there was an advantage

and eventually wear England down4. Do not fight European-Style war (one side shoots, the other side shoots)

Key Points: The American Revolutionary war started in the

year 1775 and it was set off by a British army trying to seize ammunitions in Concord of Massachusetts.

British mainly controlled the areas in New York and Philadelphia. The rest of the land was under the control of colonists.

In 1778, United States of America and France signed a pact of trade and commerce and this allowed them to depend on France as an ally- France declares war!

Basic Story of Am Rev 1. New York = Americans win battle 2. Boston = Americans holding their own 3. Americans try to invade Canada = They

lose badly 4. New York = Americans lose and retreat

(realize they can’t win European Style war) 5. Small Victories Increase American morale 6. Bad Winters (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania,

Morrison, New Jersey) hurt morale and troops 7. New York = England loses army 8. Virginia = England loses army in South 9. England gives up

Revolution Timeline

Outcomes: The House of Commons in Great Britain

voted to end the war in 1782

The British pulled the remaining troops from South Carolina and Georgia in 1782 finally marking the end of the American Revolutionary War.

In 1782, Britain also signed a declaration in Paris that it would cease to combat North America.

Treaty of Paris Sept. 3, 1783 Officially ends American Revolutionary War!

Outcomes:1. England = Gracious losers (Wanted to create

American-French wedge) and gives up all land from:

a. Atlantic Coast to Mississippi Riverb. Canada to Florida

2. Americas promise to:a. Treat Loyalists fairlyb. Set up fair rules for England to collect Pre-War Debts

*Both promises were never kept3. American’s dream for Freedom is now a reality!

Articles of Confederation

Now that the colonists have their own country, how are they going to set it up and keep it functioning on its own?!?

The Articles of Confederation was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution

Why were the Articles of Confederation so weak?

What we didn’t like about the British. . .

• Taxation without representation

• Large central government (monarchy) had all the power

• States always had to listen to the king

• All power was in the King’s hands.

• King could change the rules/laws any time

So the Articles of Confederation…

• Federal government could not tax

• States didn’t have to follow laws and treaties.

• States had their own laws and didn’t have to follow any other states’ laws

• No executive branch or national court system.

• Any amendment required all 13 states

What’s the Problem? Federal government could not tax; very

difficult to raise money.

States didn’t have to follow laws and treaties.

Each State had its own laws.

No executive branch or national court system.

Any amendment required all 13 states, so very difficult to modify.