The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution Social 20-1 “How thirteen colonies created a nation that no one quite foresaw”

2. Causes of the American Revolution • Treaty of Paris • Boston Massacre • Stamp Act • Taxation without Representation • Boston Tea Party • Intolerance Acts • Quebec Act • Navigation Acts • Enlightenment thinkers

3. PAUL REVERE & BUNKER HILL • Start of revolution • Paul Revere’s ride = ‘the British are coming, the British are coming…’ • First battle at Bunker Hill near Boston

4. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE • July 4th, 1776 • ‘life, liberty, & pursuit of happiness’ • Drafted by T. Jefferson from ideas of Locke & Montesquieu • Check & Balance

6. On the Eve of the Revolution ?

7. Loyalist Strongholds

8. Washington’s Headaches • Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral]. • State/colony loyalties. • Congress couldn’t tax to raise money for the Continental Army. • Poor training [until the arrival of Baron von Steuben.

9. Exports & Imports: 1768-1783

10. Military Strategies The Americans • Attrition [the Brits had a long supply line]. • Guerilla tactics [fight an insurgent war  you don’t have to win a battle, just wear the British down] • Make an alliance with one of Britain’s enemies. The British • Break the colonies in half by getting between the No. & the So. • Blockade the ports to prevent the flow of goods and supplies from an ally. • “Divide and Conquer”  use the Loyalists.

11. Aftermath of the Revolution

12. Aftermath • England was shocked at having lost one of their most valuable colonies. However, they are able to finance the war (easily) and are not hurt by the conflict • France is utterly broke after the war, and is barely able to finance their debt. • To be continued… • The 13 colonies struggle to identify themselves as a nation and to finance the war. However, they are fairly successful

13. Features of American Nationalism • What do you believe is/are the key features of American Nationalism?

14. Features of American Nationalism • Political – Republican system; liberty • No aristocracy/nobility • Self-made man • Social – Frontier/pioneering; individualism • “Melting pot” – assimilation into American culture • “Collective Consciousness” • Spirituality/Religion – stems from a strong Christian background in many areas • Economic – the American Dream • Relationship to the land – land of opportunity

15. Unification of the States Loyalists Liberty and Individualism Slavery Social & Geographic Impacts of the Revolution

16. Unification of the States To prevail against the British, the 13 colonies had to unify However, the colonies were fundamentally different Republicanism • All power comes from the people, rather than some supreme authority • An independent, high-character population is needed • AKA: Small Landowners

17. Loyalists • As noted earlier, up to 1/3 of Americans sympathized with the British and wished to remain subjects • As a result of the war, many left the States • Led to the creation of Upper and Lower Canada • Led to the beginnings of Anglophone and Francophone tensions

18. Liberty and Individualism • Remember the ideal of a Republic: • Need small landowners • Only white, male landowners were eligible to vote though • Contributions of women towards the war effort was recognized, but women were still subordinate to men • Continuation of slavery – a question of how to integrate “blacks” • Native Americans exploited and displaced

19. Slavery • Slavery was vital to the South’s economy • African-Americans were not seen as equals • The British freed some slaves during the Revolution, while others earned freedom during the war • But again, they were not seen as equals

20. Geographic Impacts • The new American nation only existed in a small portion of land • There was a great desire to spread West • “Manifest Destiny” • A belief (and later a document) which outlined the American right to expand • The right to control ALL of North America

21. Geographic Impacts

22. Consequences & Conclusions

23. Changing conceptions of Nation European/British American Nation = Republic Patriot Nation – only those who share American ideals are welcome Power of the common person & independence • Nation = Empire • Civic Nation – all welcome so long as they appreciate British politics • Power of the crown and the aristocracy

24. Conclusions • The American Revolution began a series of revolutions against traditional political and economic systems • The concept of a “nation” began to change – here, our definition is born • Nation: a group of people who decide they are a nation • Think Critically: Why was so much blood shed in this revolution, when Canada achieved its independence through diplomacy?