AP United States History

Structure of Colonial Society

1760’s — an optimistic post-war period– striking ethnic and racial diversity– 60% of population under 21 years old– high level of post-war prosperity– wealth unevenly distributed

Americans were proud to be part of Europe’s most thriving, prosperous empire

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Person of reason and scienceLittle formal educationAutobiography – enjoyed learning / reading1721—Franklin and brother formed theNew England Courant – (weekly newspaper)

Satirized political and religious leaders –BostonThe Religious leaders did not like this and were hostile towards himHe left 1723 – PhiladelphiaDevoted to pursuit of knowledge

Experimented with electricity – 1756 – lightning rod inventedDesigned a stovePromoted the spread of reasonOrganized groups that discussed literature, philosophy, and science

The Great AwakeningReligious movement - started in New England – 1730’sWithin 10 years it burnt itself out1750-1760 renewed–most impact/northern colonies Prior to this, many complained religion lost vitalityLooked back in historyMinisters no longer touched the heartsSouth lacked enough ministers

Jonathan Edwards Northampton MA. Sparked the Great Awakening in AmericaCalvinist – people were dependent on God’s willThought fellow ministers had become softOmnipotence (all-powerful) spoke of internal damnationYoung people flocked to hear himExcitement spread – evangelical ministers

Albany Congress Franklin Plan – Grand Council – blueprint for colonial unityPlan fell apart – But he had stated the colonies needed to be united to surviveMany American colonists wanted the English to defeat the Indians in Ohio Valley and push the French away. (Wars cost money) SEE -political cartoon –important -121

Ohio Valley French were in control of the Ohio ValleyBritish decided to destroy Ft. DuquesneGeneral Braddock, English & colonist soldiers =2,500French and Indians killed 70% French –little damage

Seven-Year War

Called the French and Indian War in AmericaMay 1756 – British declared war on FranceWorld War William Pitt took personal control of Army and Navy

Meanings of Empire Colonist in 1760’s did not anticipate national independencePost-war era – heightened economic and political expectation following the end of Seven Years warPopulation grew – 1776 =2.5 milDiversity amazed European visitorsEnglish, French, Dutch, Germans, Indians, Africans

Population

Young – 60% under 21Most small childrenMany who would fight for revolution not born during Stamp Act Crisis

Post-War

High level of prosperityQuality of living similar to EnglandTypical family included 3 children – money left over /buy consumer goodsEven poorest benefited from rising standard of living

Wealth

Not evenly distributedSouth most wealthy – prospered in part by owning slaves90% of slavery in SouthMiddle colonies followed by New England

Breakdown of Trust

King George III (England) –1760 age 22 George hated people associated w/George II reign Determined to play an aggressive role in government

Whigs Political leaders did not want the king interferingSelected Earl of Bute as chief minister – upset Whigs (Parliament)1766 Bute left officeKing would have several ministersPeople in power – sub-ministers confused about what expected of them King showed little interest in American Colonies

Parliament Members of Parliament share in blame for wedge in coloniesAlso all correspondence – handwritten – 3 month for info to get to AmericaEngland ruling class also insisted that Parliament was dominant

Power supreme in matters involving taxationAuthority to make lawsEnglish Parliament did not want to share any powers with any form of government in AmericaEnglish ruling class looked at Americans as Englishmen and couldn’t understand Americans’ frustration

Taxation Without Representation

Americans did not feel that Parliament looked out for their best interest1763 – Georgia defended the power of assemblies in AmericaOver a century the assemblies expanded its authority / taxation and spending

England did not try and stop this expansion of power / local administrators took a bigger role with timeNow it seemed unreasonable that Parliament wanted to show its supremacyLegislators felt they had some inherent rights/ like House of Commons in England

Grenville 1764 Chancellor George Grenville insisted to Americans that even though they had not elected representatives to Parliament / America was virtually represented (virtual representation) Parliament represented the political interests of allThe Americans did not agree / representatives are those that are elected by the peopleSomeone not elected by them could not tax them

Connecticut Assemble 1964 Conn. Assemble – “No law can be made or abrogated without the consent of the people by their representatives” America and England could not agree

Appeal Political ideology in America contained strong moral componentsGreat Awakening created awareness of obligation of conduct –public and private – ScripturesAmericans expressed political beliefs in language taken from English writers

John Locke Two Treatises of GovernmentPeople possessed natural and inalienable rightsGod-given rights of life, liberty and propertyFree men formed contracts –this was the foundation of civil government –consent of peopleJustified rebellion against arbitrary governmentsAmericans like Locke’s ability to unite religious values with popular government

Commonwealth tradition John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon –spent part of life in political oppressionPower very dangerous and could destroy liberty unless countered by virtuePeople who shared this belief looked at bad policy as sin and corruptionShould be sacrifice of self-interest for public good

Writers Of the time reflected that Americans were more virtuous than people in England1760’s -writers not sure how long colonists could stand for arbitrary taxation, standing army, Anglican bishop – external threats designed to crush liberty

1774 Conn. declared present ministry corrupt / led by the devil—wanting to take away liberties and properties and enslave the peopleCalled Britain’s leaders pimps and parasitesWriters roused men and women to resist England with force

Newspapers

Spread information to large populationsMajority of adult males could readPeople followed events concerning other citiesPeople shared political experiences—drew Americans closer togetherJohn Adams—said “13 clocks…to strike together”

Resistance

Seven Year War – England in huge debtAnnual budget only paid the interestGeorge II did not disband troops after warLargest peacetime army /English history

Costs

Maintaining the army cost moneyBurden of cost –taxpayersGovernment –looked for new ways to tax

America

Doubted the value of the large armyTroops in America did little to maintain peace on frontier1763—Indians wanted to stop settlers moving west

Neolin Known as the Delaware ProphetVisions – Indians need to restore culture to original state – before white manPontiac – Ottawa – coordinated an uprising – Pontiac RebellionAttacked Detroit – other Indians attacked Pennsylvania, Virginia frontierAfter a year Pontiac wanted peaceBritish army unable to defend settlers

Indians

Suffered from the end of the Seven Year warNo longer played the French against EnglishSettlers now moved westPontiac’s Rebellion – increased racism

Paxton Boys

1763 – Murdered Indians, men, women and childrenPeople treated them like heroesFranklin spoke against killing of Indians during peacetime

Proclamation of 1763

British government – prohibited granting land beyond headwaters of riversWest of the Appalachian MountainsArmy looked at as an obstruction to economic development / police that cost too much

National Debt

EnglandResponsibility to reduce debt –GrenvileFelt colonist –contribute to maintenance of army

Revenue Act

Sugar Act 1764New burden on Navigational ActsAmericans forced to trade only with EnglandSugar Act and other acts to follow – colonies expected to generate revenue

Sugar Act said –America needed to pay expense of its own defense Parliament reduced tax on molassesDiscourage smuggling, briberyAmericans felt the tax unjustAmericans should make their own tax

Mobilizing the People Sugar Act created debateColonists did not offer alternative to taxHouse of Commons assumed Parliament did have the right to tax colonistsGrenvile – then wanted to establish Stamp ActTax on stamps and seals for legal documents

Virginia House of Burgesses Patrick Henry introduced 5 Resolutions protesting the Stamp ActDeclared Virginia only had the right to tax Virginia – House passed thisSaid it was unjust and destroyed libertyThe Speaker accused him of treason

Newspapers

Spread word of incidentReported that resolutions had full support of House (not correct)Other Americans took up the radical voiceMass –meeting to protest Grenvile’s policies

Stamp Act Congress 9 colonies sent representatives – 1765Leaders from different areas discussed problemsDrafted petition to king and Parliament – no taxes should be imposed on colonies without consentResistance to Stamp Act spread from representatives to the streetMass protests were organized

Sons of Liberty Boston- burned in effigy the local stamp collector /tore down his office buildingViolence frightened colonial leadersNov. 1, 1765 stamp distributors had resigned Sons of Liberty persuaded colonial merchants to boycott English goods Samuel Adams one of the leaders

Boycott

Colonists depended on British goodsImported more than what was neededPeople were encouraged to use lessMobilized women-made their own dresses – did without goods

Saving Face Grenville was replaced w/ RockinghamHe wanted to end the stamp act and encouraged people to petition Parliament to repeal the actAmerican boycott was having some effectAct was repealed by Parliament

Declaratory Act Stated parliament’s supremacy over AmericaAmericans, however, felt responsible for the Stamp Act repealStill insisted no taxation without representationAmericans now looked with less respect to royal leaders –governors, custom collectors, military personnel

Tea and Sovereignty

Charles Townshend – Chancellor 1767Revenue Acts – designed to make money on American imports (tea and others)American Board of Customs – to enforce the actsGovernor of New York ordered to veto all bills passed colony assembly

Quartering Act

More troops sent to America and Americans must allow them to stay in their homeAmericans resisted this and all new taxes

Boycotts continuedMass. Sent letters to other assemblies looking for ways to stop the Townshend ActsEngland looked at this- attempt at a united treasonMass. Ordered to rescind their request – voted 92-17 to defy EnglandGovernor then dissolved House of RepresentativesOther colonies then came out in support of Mass.

Patriotic Martyrs 4,000 troops sent to Boston (taken from Nova Scotia and Ireland)This was done to save moneyAmericans -why so many troops in America?Soldiers camped at Boston Common would shout obscenities at passing citizensIn their spare time some took up part time jobs – taking work away from locals – led to the….

Boston Massacre March 5, 1770Young boys (and others) threw rocks and snowballs at soldiersA mob grew and soldiers feared for their safetyTroops fired into the crowd – 5 Americans deadLocals called this a massacre Paul Revere (propagandist)

Lord North

Appointed to replace Townshend after his deathActs repealed except teaStill supported Declaratory Act

Last Days of the Old Order For awhile British officials and colonists put aside differencesBritish goods flooded American portsNorth attempted to win the American trustHowever custom officials abused their power of search and seizureTaking supplies form people and pocketing the money

Samuel Adams

Adams kept the cause alive Reported the tax on tea remained in forceAdams resisted all attempts by England to maintain control of the coloniesHe was a leader of the Sons of Liberty

Committee of Correspondence Established by AdamsTo communicate colonial grievances to other colonies

Boston Tea PartyMay 1773—Parliament passed the Tea ActLowered the price on teaEngland wanted to save its business – East India Tea CompanyParliament allowed the company to sell directly to Colonies

England wanted colonists to buy this tea and not tea smuggled from Holland (American’s favorite)Some looked at this as England trying to gain American support to tax without representationAlso undercut powerful merchants who made money on Dutch Tea

New York- colonists turned back tea shipsIn Boston the governor would not let the Tea ships return to EnglandLocal patriots would not let them unloadSons of Liberty dressed as Indians boarded the ships and threw the tea into Boston Harbor

Coercive Acts Intolerable ActsClosed Boston harborRestricted town meetingsAllowed the British governor to transfer English officials arrested – send to EnglandAuthorized army to quarter troops wherever needed

Thomas Gage

Appointed as Royal Governor (Boston)Samuel Adams and others felt that England was trying to enslave colonists

Quebec ActJune 22, 1774—England established a new Civil governmentGave local Catholics a voice in governmentNo legislative bodyAmericans felt that England was trying to deny colonists fundamental rightsThis was a threat to all colonists

People in other colonies looked at what was happening in BostonOther colonies supported Boston yet still little talk of independenceColonies sent food and moneyFranklin and others felt that England was trying to punish America like an errant child.

Decision for Independence

Committee of Correspondence – would southern colonies support northern colonies?Would Pennsylvania stand up to Parliament?Called for a meeting of all colonies

1ST Continental Congress

55 elected delegates from 12 colonies (None from Georgia) Philadelphia 9-5-1774Differences soon emergedAgreed to stop commerce with England until England repealed the Intolerable ActsAgreed to meet the following year

Shot Heard Around The WorldApril 18, 1775 General Gage dispatched troops to seize rebel weaponsPaul Revere warned patriots in Lexington and ConcordMilitia in Lexington met the British on the 19th

Both groups faced each other on Lexington GreenShot rang out and British soldiers fired into the militia – 8 died

Battle RoadWord spread and other colonists (Minutemen) came to support the militiaArmy marched on to ConcordA small band of British soldiers were turned back at ConcordThe soldiers then returned to BostonOn the road back, patriots attacked the army killing many

Bunker HillJune 17 - Militia formed a defense on Bunker Hill (outside Boston)British attacked – most of the battle fought on Breed’s HillThe Americans gave up the ground when they ran out of suppliesConsidered a victory as they killed may English soldiers 40% casualties

Second Continental Congress

May 1775 – PhiladelphiaFormed a continental army –George Washington placed in chargeIssued paper money to pay for military suppliesMany wanted to sever ties with England but no decision for independence

Prohibitory ActPassed by Parliament December 1775Declared war on American commerceWould not allow the colonist to trade with the rest of the worldBritish navy blockaded ports and seized American ships on the high seasVirginia's governor urged slaves to rise against their owners

Wrote Common Sense120,000 copies soldStated the people of America had the right to be free from an oppressive governmentPersuaded American to sever ties from England

Thomas Paine

IndependenceCongress voted for independence on July 2, 177612 states for Independence (New York did not vote)Thomas Jefferson drafted the documentChallenged Americans to make good on the principle that all men are created equal (Did not include blacks, women and other minorities

Fighting For Independence American had challenged the strongest military in the worldEngland had a strong manufacturing baseStrong professional army and navySupplemented by hired German troops (Hessians)Officers had battle experienceKnew war required discipline, money and sacrifice

England anticipated a show of force would stop the revolution Humble the rebels in Boston and other colonist would desert the cause for independenceBritish did have some obstacles to overcomeTransport men and supplies across the oceanAmerica was too vast to be conquered the normal military methodUnderestimated the American will to be free

Wanted to organize a well trained armyKnew an army depended on endless drill, careful planning and tough disciplineHe avoided all out battles that could destroy the entire army

George Washington

½ million black colonist (mostly slaves)Most supported the idea of freedomHoped that the revolution would set them freeAbout 5,000=soldiers/ fought against the British1778- Rhode Island voted freedom to any slave who volunteeredSouth –10,000 fought for the British / after the war settled in other nations

African Americans

American Will General Howe placed in charge of English armyJuly, 3 1776 he took control of New YorkHe drove the American army across the Hudson RiverAmerican army had lost several engagements and were on the run

Times That Try Men’s Souls British had several quick victories in New York and New JerseyHowe issued a general pardon to any American who would swear allegiance to George III3,000 men and women who lived in the area took the oathPardon failed because English soldiers thought American to be inferior

Delaware RiverDecember 1776 – Washington’s army retreated across the Delaware RiverArmy lacked suppliesMany men who signed for short term enlistments prepared to go homeThese are the Times that try men’s souls – said Thomas Paine

December 25, 1776 Washington took his troops across the Delaware RiverAttacked a fort and took 900 sleeping Hessians by surprise Washington would again attack Trenton Cornwallis trapped the American armyWashington and the army escaped by night and went to winter quarters

Victory in a Year of Defeat England felt that victory was within their graspSummer 1777 General Burgoyne descended from Canada /7,000 troopsIntent was to clear Hudson Valley of reble resistance and then join Howe’s armyW/ German band, 30 carts filled with liquor and belongings to 2,000 dependants and camp followers

American units cut the enemy apart in the deep woods north of AlbanyThe English army was on the runStopped to fight the Americans at SaratogaAmerican army defeated the English and Burgoyne surrendered

Howe moved his army from New York to PhiladelphiaWashington’s troops continued to fight against Howe’s troopsWashington's army was outnumbered Colonial Army launched a counter attack at Germantown on October 4Battlefield was covered in fog and it looked like Washington would win this battle/troops retreated

Valley Forge

Washington and his men retreated to Valley Forge to winter quartersMen quickly built sheltersLack of food, clothes and good shelterDisease took 2,500 lives

French Alliance The French did not like the English and their defeat in the Seven Years WarBenjamin Franklin went to France to try an get them to aid the American causeThe American victory at Saratoga convinced the French that the Americans could defeat the British

England had also drawn the same conclusionThey feared a French allianceApril 1778 Lord North-America-meet w/CongressIf American would stop their fight for independence – England would

Give Americans the right to tax themselvesElect their own governorsRemove British troops

Congress refused

Treaty of Amity and Commerce – commercial relations with France and America America as an independent republicTreaty of Alliance – If France and England went to war – France would not except a truce or peace until England acknowledged American independence

Treaties with France

War

France declared war against England on June 17France then promised American money, supplies and eventually troopsHolland also sent supplies and money to the American cause

Final Campaign General Clinton replaced HoweEngland felt they needed to defeat the colonist in the south to win the war Clinton and his second in command –Cornwallis – landed in the southCaptured Charlestown - American army –6,000 men surrendered

Defeat surprised Congress/ sent 2nd army to South Carolina under General GatesGates was defeated at CamdenGates ran from the scene leaving his troops without a leader

King’s Mountain

Many rebels retreated and waited their chanceOn October 7 colonist soldiers defeated a British Army at King’s MountainThose who tried to surrender were killedCornwallis who was badly supplied spend a great deal of time chasing after American forces

Congress sent General Greene south with a new armyHe joined up with Daniel Morgan (leader of Virginia riflemen)Defeated Cornwallis at

CowpensGuilford Courthouse

YorktownCornwallis went to Yorktown – Washington learned the French fleet was near and could temporarily blockade the Chesapeake BayWashington forced marched his troops to Yorktown With him were thousands of French troopsCornwallis was cut off from the sea

Cornwallis had troops from his outer perimeter pulled backThis allowed the Colonial army to get closer and shoot cannon balls at the fortOctober 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered his entire armyLast major battle of the warWar now in the hands of diplomats

Loyalist DilemmaLoyalist were in a tough spotThey faced loosing life and property from rebelsBritish never trusted them – not considered equalsAmerican /supported independence -them as traitorsSome were executedTory-head is in England, body in America and neck ought to be stretched

Winning the PeaceBenjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John JayInsist on recognition of independencePeace September ,1783

IndependenceLands east of Mississippi to America (except Spanish FloridaGranted important fishing rights in the north

Congress promised to help English merchants collect debts – post warCompensate Loyalists – whose properties had been confiscated

America was now an independent nation –recognized by other nations of the world