The Enlightenment

• The Setting

• Natural Law

• Nature’s God

• Reason

• Idea of Progress

• Realms of Thinking

• Example of the Scientific Revolution

Road to Revolt

• No Taxation without Representation

• Mercantilism

• Various Events

• Coercive Acts

• Lexington and Concord

• Colonial Debates: patriots, loyalists and opportunists

Reluctant Revolutionaries

• Act of Rebellion and Treason

• Who were the leaders? Only ones?

• The Continental Congress

• George Washington’s role

• Colonial Divisions

• Early Campaigns

Mobilization

• The British Empire

• Colonial Aims: Independence or Loyal

• Finances

• Military Preparedness

• Allies: slaves? Indians? Other nations?

• Public Opinion divided

1775-76

• Fortunes of War• Thomas Paine’s Common Sense• Republicanism: representative gov’t• The Declaration of Independence• Early state governments• Feature in Constitutions• The Articles of Confederation, 1781: The US

Military Campaigns

• British Strategy

• Loss of New York

• Battle of Saratoga

• France’s Entrance

• Western and Southern Campaigns

• Yorktown

The Other Americans

• The Role of Women: At home and t/o the campaigns.

• Voice of Abigail Adams

• Slaves and Freedmen

• The Plantation system

• The Debates

• Contributions

Paris Peace, 1783

• The Map of North America

• Western boundry: Mississippi

• North: Great Lakes and Canada

• South: Florida and the Gulf

• The Atlantic

Post War Blues

• Foreign Affairs: Brits, French and Spain

• Domestic Economy: Debt and Depression

• Shay’s Rebellion

• United States?

• Northwest Ordinance

• Gathering Storm

The Articles of Confederation

• The ratification and purpose

• Deficiencies

• Taxation, revenue and regulation

• Coercive Powers

• Legislative authority

• Mt Vernon and Annapolis

• Off to Philly