War for Independence The Revolutionary War Chapter II

Second Continental Congress Delegates from the First Congress with new comers, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson would be the chief author of the document He would be influenced by the Enlightenment period in Europe

Declaration of Independence Jefferson divided it into four sections 1 st Introduction or preamble 2 nd Declaration of Rights 3 rd Grievances against the King 4 th Resolution of Independence

-John Trumbull

In Congress, July 4, 1776 “we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.” “certain unalienable rights…life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” (idea of Locke) “the representatives of the United States of America.” “free and independent states.” -John Hancock presides over Congress

Foundation of Democracy Ancient Greece 500 bc Magna Carta 1215 The Petition of Rights 1626 English Bill of Rights 1689 Social Contract Theory (Thomas Hobbes 1651) Natural Rights (John Locke 1690) The biggest impact was of Early democracy was separation of powers #4

First Attempts at Democracy Mayflower compact 1620 Self Government Virginia House of Burgess Representative type of Government

Common Sense At the same time as the convention Common Sense appeared Pamphlet by Thomas Paine Spread revolutionary ideas to the colonies One of the first major pieces of literature in American history

Revolutionary War Battle of Bunker Hill British victory however lost 2400 men to America’s 400 Showed the difference is fighting style Washington moves his troops to Boston area British leave Boston

Strengths and Weaknesses British Well equipped, trained army Help from 50,000 loyalist Help from Native Americans and Slaves Hired help called Mercenaries America Home field advantage Washington New fighting style Fighting spirit Large amount of land to conquer

Battle of Trenton

Washington Crosses the Delaware Christmas of 1776 Washington leave Pennsylvania with 2,400 troops Crosses the iced over Delaware river Surprises about 1,400 Hessian troops America suffered five casualties This was a great moral victory for America Volunteer troops increased

Battle of Saratoga & Yorktown Turning point of War, major US victory French were now willing to help Yorktown, Virginia Washington had Cornwallis surrounded, and French were coming in from the sea Cornwallis surrendered to Washington

Treaty of Paris Great Britain must recognize the independence of United States of America 2. Border between USA and Britain was set up in the north (great lakes and Mississippi) 3. Mississippi became the western border 4. Florida was returned to Spain 5. Great Britain agreed to withdraw all troops

Critical Period With the war over America had to set up a government for the new nation They were afraid of creating something that gave too much power to one man (like King) Washington, in one of the most important acts of his life, retires after the war giving up control of his army This shows that one man is not stronger than the nation as a whole At this time the US was a collection of 13 individual governments

Articles of Confederation First attempt at a government 1777 Approved by the Continental Congress One branch of government: Legislative Representatives from each state Each state had its own constitution All of the power was in the States: no power of the Federal government

Weak Government Groups called Nationalist called to strengthen the national government Nation was in debt from the war, had no way of collecting money Nation did not have the ability to collect taxes

Weakness of the Articles One vote for each state regardless of size No power to collect taxes Congress had no power to regulate foreign trade No separate executive branch or president No national court State had all the power, no National power Articles were a weak “league of friendship”

The Northwest Territory 1785 The single greatest accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation Land sold in the Ohio valley to raise money for federal government Set up process for admitting future states like Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, & Wisconsin Set up some of the first Universities in America Slavery was prohibited in the new territory America knew that a stronger government was needed

Shay’s Rebellion Daniel Shay Revolutionary War Veteran Issue over debt, banks tried to seize property Shay was looking for lower taxes & debt relief Thousands supported Shay under Revolutionary ideas. Massachusetts militia used to stop rebellion Exposed the weakness of state government Exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation