THE LEGACY OF THE WAR

The Costs of War Deaths – 25,700 Americans; 10,000 British Missing – 1,400 Wounded – 8,200

Debts & Losses Soldiers have no money – government gave land certificates – some sold these for food America in debt $27 million Loyalists – lost their property – some moved to Canada Bitter memories – civil war between Loyalists & Patriots Benedict Arnold – Traitor – betrayed and turned over American fort to the British

TREATY of PARIS – Sept. 3, 1783 Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay – wrote formal peace negotiations with British 1. US was independent 2. Boundaries – Canada to Mississippi to Florida 3. US ok to fish off NewFoundland, Canada 4. Each side repay debts owed each other 5. British return enslaved persons they captured 6. Return property seized from Loyalists Neither side fully lived up to terms of treaty

BOUNDARY DISPUTES Spain control large area of America – both banks of Mississippi – threatened American shipping British – not give up Detroit Native American’s land west of Mississippi now threatened and nation moves westward

CREATING A NEW NATION LIBERTY! - became the most important legacy of the Revolution May 1776 – Continental Congress advised all colonies to establish new governments Many state constitutions: Freedom of press Freedom of religion Prohibit slavery Establish public schools

Articles of Confederation Need a national government – in addition to state government Continental Congress started in 1777, finished 1781 Gave limited powers to central government – Wage war Sign treaties

Freedom & Slavery Conflict between liberty and slavery Vermont outlawed slavery Pennsylvania passed law to free slaves Elizabeth Freeman – sued for freedom and won Richard Allen – started Free African Society & African Methodist Episcopal Church Thomas Jefferson – a slave owner – fears for America if slavery allowed to continue

Religious Freedom James Madison & Thomas Jefferson – “SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE” 1777 Thomas Jefferson – Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom – people have natural right to freedom of opinion Basis for U.S. Constitution Bill of Rights - guarantee for Religious Freedom

UNITING the STATES Colonies had been quarrelsome But Rev War turned colonies into states Americans saw how important to work together as a nation CHALLENGE AHEAD…How to remain united as a nation of independent states!!