Colonies in Revolt Foner chapters 5-6 Onset of crisis Road to revolution Coming of Independence Progress of the war Toward Victory Recognizing American independence

Breakdown of political trust ► Views of Empire:  British versus American  Subordinate position of colonies vs. equality  Virtual representation  “No taxation without representation” ► eroding the bonds of empire  western expansion created land disputes and conflicts  corrupt authorities ► popular protest  writers  Boston Massacre-1770  Boston Tea Party-1773  Sons of Liberty  Regulators  Ethan Allen in Vermont  Hudson Valley

Paying off the Seven Year’s War debt ► British wanted more efficient and systematic control ► British: “reasonable” for colonists  to help pay for the debt (trillions in today’s $$)  to foot part of the bill for protection  to stop cheating on taxes from trade ► Grenville attempts to reduce war debt ► Sugar, Stamp, Declaratory, Townshend acts  boycott imports  use “homemade”  reawakening of popular protest

Colonial Products and Trade

Final Provocation ► Coercive Acts, Quebec Act, ultimate crisis ► Suffolk Resolutions  Disobey British law, withhold taxes, prepare for war ► First Continental Congress-1774 ► Rights of Englishmen to natural rights ► Shot heard round the world-1775  April-Lexington and Concord ► Second Continental Congress  Raise an army, present grievances, appoint George Washington, Continental Army Commander ► Irreparable breach  blockades  German mercenaries ► Common Sense, Paine “…but an American”  Mass appeal  Ground swell for independence

Declaration of Independence ► Thomas Jefferson, principle writer ► adopted on July 4, 1776 ► break all ties with Great Britain  “When in the course of human events…  “truths to be self-evident”  “inalienable rights”  “history of repeated injuries and usurpations”  list of abuses  “absolute tyranny”  pledge “ lives, fortune, and sacred honor” ROLE IN FOUNDING AMERICA? Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson George Washington Thomas Paine John Adams Samuel Adams

War comes ► Colonial ambivalence (thirds) ► Building a professional army ► Test of will “THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” ► Early Years ► Saratoga (Burgoyne)  French alliance, recognize USA ► War in the South ► Yorktown, 1781 ► Treaty of Paris, 1783 What river?

The American Revolution,  British advantages  American advantages  Black soldiers  Alliance with France and Spain  sagging fortunes  Loyalists  Toward Victory Cowpens and Guilford Yorktown  Opening peace negotiations

War and the People ► Loyalist dilemma ► Indians ► slaves ► voting ► religion ► women ► economy

Winning the Peace ► Peace Treaty of 1783  negotiated by Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay ► Terms secured by playing France against England  independence  U.S. gains all territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada and Florida  U.S. secures fishing rights in North Atlantic

Preserving Independence ► The American Revolution begins construction of new form of government Question remains: a government of the elite or a government of the people?