The document provides background on the American Revolution and the early United States government under the Articles of Confederation. It describes the weaknesses of the Articles, including the lack of a strong central government and inability to tax or regulate trade between states. Events like Shays' Rebellion showed the flaws in the system and led to calls for a new Constitutional Convention to address these issues.

1. The American Revolution

3. The colonies were generally unprepared for war The American Revolution Unformed nation 1/3 population of Britain Inferior economic and military resources Enemy: world’s greatest armed power Americans deeply divided

16. The Battle of Bunker Hill Casualties: Colonials British 311 1000 Deadliest battle of American Revolution. The American Revolution

17. The American Revolution Canadian operations Arnold Montgomery Convinced British not a local MA affair

18. “ These are times that try men’s souls.” Thomas Paine The Howes: General William and Admiral Richard (top) The American Revolution

19. Battle of Long Island—March 1776-August 1776. British: 32,000 regulars Hessian mercenaries The American Revolution

20. Continental Army: 19,000 untrained recruits/poor equipment British victory: heavy continental losses Washington retreats across Delaware River into PA. The American Revolution

21. Christmas night, 1776 Washington leads the Continental Army across the Delaware River into New Jersey. Key victory: Battle of Trenton— --surprise attack, defeated Hessians with minimal ammunition. The American Revolution

22. January 1777, American victory Battle of Princeton Spring 1777, General Howe wins Battle of Brandywine Creek then takes Philadelphia. Also wins later Battle at Germantown in Maryland . The American Revolution

23. Spring 1777—British plan: Burgoyne moves south from Canada to link with Howe in Albany, NY. The American Revolution

24. Continentals harassed British in wooded areas; many British casualties. Finally surrounded and defeated by Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates at Saratoga. The American Revolution

25. The American Revolution Battle of Saratoga Burgoyne surrenders to Gates

26. Results of Battle of Saratoga British remained along seacoast for remainder of war. British confidence dropped— did not previously believe colonials could defeat them in battle. Led to alliance with France (1778) and French commitment to send troops as well as weapons and ammunition. The American Revolution

27. Winter 1778-- Howe still controlled Philadelphia Continental Army—deadly winter at Valley Forge, PA Little funds for supplies or to pay troops. Congress sold bonds to American investors & foreign governments Congress printed American money leading to inflation. The American Revolution

28. Europeans aided Americans Baron Friedrich von Steuben from Prussia Drillmaster —made “ soldiers out of country bumpkins.” Marquis de Lafayette— 20 year old French aristocrat The American Revolution

29. The War in the South The American Revolution

30. The War in the South The American Revolution British government imposed new limits on its commitment to the war after Saratoga Decided to enlist the support of loyalists in order to undermine the Revolution from within

31. The War in the South End 1778: Lord Cornwallis takes Savannah May 1780— Cornwallis and Henry Clinton take Charles Town, SC— 5,500 American POW. The American Revolution

32. The War in the South January 1781 Battle of Cowpens The Patriot Guilford Court House Costly British win— Lost 25% of force. The American Revolution

33. The War in the South Continental Army, one French army and 2 French fleets surround Cornwallis. One month siege. Cornwallis surrendered 17 Oct 1781 The American Revolution Battle of Yorktown

34. Treaty of Paris September 1783 U.S., GB, France and Spain U.S. negotiators: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin & John Jay Great Britain, France & Spain recognized U. S. independence Nation’s borders confirmed The American Revolution

35. The American Revolution

36. The American Revolution Loyalists after the Revolution Hounded by Patriots Harassed by judicial & legislative actions 100,000 fled to England and to Canada: created the first English- speaking community in Quebec

37. The American Revolution Social Change after the Revolution Anglican Church disestablished and government subsidies eliminated

38. The American Revolution Social Change after the Revolution Quakers in Pennsylvania were weakened

39. The American Revolution Social Change after the Revolution Position of Catholics improved (Charles Carroll)

40. The American Revolution Social Change after the Revolution African Americans Some: freedom, most no change Revolution exposed the continuing tension between the nation’s commitment to liberty and its commitment to slavery

41. The American Revolution Social Change after the Revolution Native Americans Most tribes ultimately chose to stay out of the war Revolution greatly weakened the position of Native Americans in several ways

42. The American Revolution Social Change after the Revolution Women Left in charge of families Some food riots and attacks on British troops Camp followers Molly Pitcher Women of significant value to army

43. The American Revolution Social Change after the Revolution Women Unmarried: some legal rights Married: no rights at all No property No contracts No legal authority over her children No voting Revolution did little to change

44. The American Revolution Concept of republicanism Power came from people Ideal of small freeholder Concept of equality No aristocracy No equality of condition, but equality of opportunity Excluded women, blacks, Native Amer.

45. The American Revolution Two phases of state constitutions All written Phase 1 Fear of bloated executive power Powerful legislatures Property requirements for voters in all states

46. The American Revolution Two phases of state constitutions Phase 2 Significant strengthening of executive Directly elected Fixed salary Expanded appointment powers Veto power More balance in government

47. During the Revolutionary War, the first American national government formed under a document known as The Articles of Confederation Created 1777; formally approved or: ratified by all 13 states in 1781 The American Revolution

48. The Articles of Confederation A loose confederation of independent states Basis: Fear that a strong central government would threaten power of states and individual freedoms Limited power of national government National government actually impotent Oh, Noooooooo The American Revolution

49. The Articles of Confederation Unicameral legislature (Congress) Each state delegation had 1 vote State delegations chosen by the state legislature of each state Majority vote on regular issues Nine “Aye” votes for major decisions such as war Unanimous approval for amendments The American Revolution

52. Problems stemming from the weaknesses in the Articles Difficulty in achieving unity Different states—different religious and cultural traditions Economic differences Slavery issue Poor inter-state transportation systems The American Revolution

53. Some states Problems stemming from the weaknesses in the Articles Refused to pay taxes to the national government, obey laws passed by Congress, respect terms of foreign treaties Negotiated individual treaties with foreign governments Formed their own armed forces Charged tariffs on goods from other states The American Revolution

54. Key events under the Articles of Confederation Victory in the American Revolution. . . but problems keeping the Continental Army equipped and fed The Treaty of Paris—ending the War for Independence and extended U. S. territory to the Mississippi River The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Procedures for admitting new states, equal to the original 13 Banned slavery in Northwest Territory Bill of rights for territories The American Revolution

55. The American Revolution Ordinance of 1784 120,000 people west of the Appalachian divide 10 self-governing districts Petition Congress for statehood when population equal to number of free inhabitants of smallest existing state

56. Northwest Ordinance The American Revolution

57. Northwest Ordinance The American Revolution Created single Northwest Territory out of lands north of the Ohio River Territory might be subsequently divided into three to five territories Population of 60,000 as a minimum for statehood Guaranteed freedom of religion, right to trial by jury and prohibited slavery

58. Early Battles With Native Americans Native Americans continued to claim tribal lands in northwest. Miami people key victories over U. S. Army 1790-1791 The American Revolution

59. Mad Anthony Wayne The Battle of Fallen Timbers The American Revolution

60. Early Battles With Native Americans August 20, 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers Treaty of Greenville Miamis gave up most land in Ohio for $10,000 a year. The American Revolution

61. Key Event: Shay’s Rebellion (1786) Prevent the state of Massachusetts from seizing property of debtors Many in the U.S. saw this incident as clear evidence of the weaknesses of the Articles Led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia The American Revolution