Chapter 7

The War for IndependenceBrits had the best army and navy but underestimated AmericansNo center for Brits to capture

The Patriot ForcesMostly militia defendedShort terms of enlistment, undisciplined officersHowever Continental army fought the big battlesWar had to be won with the Continental ArmyContinental army was a rallying symbolWomen played a big role (would help them get rights later)

The Loyalists1/5th of the people were loyalistsWent to Canada, Britain and the CaribbeanMany slaves and Indians were loyalistsBrits freed slaves-Americans would push aggressively into Indian territoryOr conservatives who don't like upheavalLoyalists were not united-couldn't help Brit war effortDid fight irregular warfare in the south

The Campaign for New York and New JerseyBrits tried to cut off New England but failed=boast to shattered American morale

The Politics of AlliancesWanted a weak American dependent on themGave money but reluctant to directly support a republican revolutionSaratoga convinced France to actively support AmericaWould be the first to recognize AmericaNo peace with Britain without notification of the otherSpain also enters war-gives supplies from New OrleansSpain wanted to take British possessions in Ohio valley-French were to make sure that Spanish got there before the AmericansSpanish and French navies meant that Britain had to pull troops out from New York to protect Caribbean colonies

Indians and the RevolutionIroquois joined the Brits as the Americans would more aggressively take their landCherokees, Creeks, Choctaws and Chickasaws also joined BritainHowever one Iroquois tribe supported America=Iroquois vs. Iroquois

The War in the SouthMost important fightingWar here begun with slave uprisingMany blacks fought for BritainNew strategy-lobsters would take control step by step and then give the land to the loyalists who would run itCornwallis decides to abandon the Carolinas for Yorktown, Virginia=Carolinas fall back into American control

YorktownFrench land 5000 troops the northFrench and Americans with French fleet surround YorktownIn England, Lord North resigns, King George wants to carryon= end of the war

The United States Congress AssembledWeak central governmentAmericans were trying to get rid of a central government in the first place

The Articles of Confederation

Wanted a loose union of the statesMajority of the states was needed for a decision-but nine states were needed for a major decisionFederal Government had no power to tax

Financing the WarStates had their own currencyContinental currency was uselessBank of North America-run by Robert Morris-stockpiled gold backed up new currency=stability

Negotiating the End to the WarFrench were able to blunt American demands (they had a lot of influence as they financed the American war)Americans were aware of this and signed a secret treaty with Britain without the FrenchTherefore Americans only got East of the Mississippi, Canadian fishing rights, instead of all of CanadaBut in truth the Mississippi was in Spanish handsSpain also got Florida back

The Crisis of DemobilizationThe Brits were leaving (slowly)American officers were promised life pensions at the expense of half pay if they fought for the entire war, but with the war almost over and Congress still haven't decided on the amount the officers were worried that the issue would go unresolved. They were able to convert the amount into a bonus and five years of full pay

The Problem of the WestIndians were betrayed by both sidesBrits abandoned their allies and Americans still took their allies landOnce population reached 20,000 the territory would get self-government and once it reached the population of the smallest state they would be given statehood.The Land Ordinance would provide a survey dividing up the land into squares (independent settling)However Congress was desperate for money and sold most of the land to the Ohio Company (company settling)The Northwest Territory would be eventually carved up into five states until then it would be ruled by a court of judges and a governor

Revolutionary Politics in the StatesMost People were loyal to their states

The Broadened Base of PoliticsDuring the pre-revolution era more people were involved in politicsSouth Carolina had relaxed $$ requirements and universal male suffrageTory party was destroyed, Whig party was balanced=new left wingers

The First State ConstitutionsPennsylvania was radical, Maryland was conservative, New York in the middleIn Pennsylvania once a conservative states, the Tories were all loyalists=they leftMaryland had high $$ requirements for office

Declarations of RightsAll states had rights based on the Virginia Declarations of Rights16 resolutions that said people are freePeople had the right to abolish an oppressive government

The Spirit of ReformRevolutionary atmosphere breed reformFemale suffrages in New JerseyWomen played a big role in revolution therefore could demand more a after

Jefferson repealed the Law of Entails (land couldn't be split up after death by heirs) this was a symbol that aristocratic England was goneJefferson: Establishing Religious FreedomAnglicans were loyalists so they couldn't opposeEnlightenment=people could chose religionJefferson wanted to also get public education, reduce crimes for capital punishment, and free slaves

African Americans and the RevolutionMost slaves fought for BritsIn the north slavery was abolishedSlaves freed did increase=black schools, churches community

Economic ProblemsBig inflation from Congress printing paper moneyFood riots due to high pricesFew exports vs. lots of imports

State RemediesManufacturing states introduced tariffs, however to be effective it had to be a national effortFarmers wanted legal tender laws=allow debts to be paid in goods, or in the state currency regardless of its worthIn Rhode Island, people could pay their debts in the state currency

Shay's RebellionWhen merchants forced farmers to pay off debts in hard currency which the farmers didn't have, many were sent to jail=rebellionGave firepower to conservatives, clip the wings of mad democracy