Ending the War

Why the Americans Won Better Leadership Foreign Aid Home Field Advantage Motivation

Why England Lost (aka Arrogance) British Generals assumed that the Colonists were just farmers and were unable to fight Reasons for War Fighting for a King vs. Fighting for a purpose The British strategy was to “divide and conquer” The American strategy was “fight for our lives” using snipers, spies, and allies United Allies France, Prussia (aka Germany), Poland, and MORE helped the US England had a lot of enemies… specifically the French who were mad about losing the French and Indian War (7 Years War) Knowledge George Washington’s spy network allowed him to know what the British knew, and prepare! England was fighting in a land that they didn’t know very well

Costs of the War

England, France, and… the United States of America Treaty of Paris1783 England, France, and… the United States of America The United States is independent. Set borders: Mississippi River (west), Canada (north), and Florida (south) Each side pays the debts they owe to the other countries from before the war British must return any slaves they had captured or freed. Congress would recommend that states return property seized by states from Loyalists.

Articles of Confederation America’s First Government

Form of Government Last state ratified it in 1781. ratified means to make official. The Articles created a republic. Republic is a system of government in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives.

Strengths of the Articles Under the Articles, the government could wage war, conclude peace, and sign treaties Weak central government guarded against tyranny Confederation Congress voted on all laws; very democratic

Weaknesses of the Articles States collect taxes and have to give it as a gift to the Congress. Legislative Branch (Congress) No courts, no President! Could not moderate disputes between states Could not regulate trade between states Changes to Articles required approval of all 13 states

Two Successful Laws Land Ordinance of 1785: a way to divide and sell public lands Set up townships in Northwest Territory Land sold for $1 per acre Northwest Ordinance (1787): how a territory could become a state Population must be 60,000 No slavery in new states Setup a process for orderly growth of the nation

Problems of the Confederation Era U.S. faced serious problems, but the Confederation Congress did not have the power to solve them: Great debt from the war Unable to raise sufficient revenues Could not pay soldiers’ wages

Shays’s Rebellion Farmers in Massachusetts rebelled against the government because they were losing their farms for non-payment of state taxes. The state called for help from the army The army ended the rebellion quickly The rebellion was the last straw for many in the United States – the Articles of Confederation had to be fixed!

The Articles of Confederation in one word: WEAK