Chapter 4 American Revolution 1754 1783 1 Section

Chapter 4. American Revolution: 1754 -1783 1

Section 1: Colonies Fight For Their Rights Key Concept 3. 1 – Britain’s victory over France in the imperial struggle for North America led to new conflicts among the British government, the North American colonists and American Indians, culminating in the creation of a new nation, the United States. Topic: Tensions between Britain and its American colonies grew as British leaders sought greater control over their North American empire 2

Section 1: Colonies Fight For Their Rights OBJECTIVES: • Summarize Events that fueled colonial discontent • Explain how the Stamp Act affected the relationship between Britain and the colonies 3

French and Indian War • Great Britain and France fought for dominance in Europe since 1600 s • 3 Major Wars between 1689 & 1748 • Conflict eventually came to America in a 4 th conflict in 1754

French and Indian War • 1 st Skirmish: • British & French both interested in the OH River valley • French liked it b/c allowed easy travel from New France to LA for fur trade • British wanted it b/c of interested British fur traders & land speculators • land speculators - people who bought empty land to sell to others for profit

French and Indian War • New France attempted to block British claims to the region: • New France’s governor, Marquis Duquesne ordered French forts built from Lake Ontario to OH R • Britain responded when Governor of VA, Robert Dinwiddie ordered British fort built in PA • French seized it before completion & built Fort Duquesne

French and Indian War • Dinwiddie sent 21 -year-old Major George Washington of Virginia Regiment to confront the French forces: • Engaged French in brief battle • Retreated & built stockade - Fort Necessity • French ultimately forced British surrender & retained control of the OH R Valley

Albany Conference • Even before the fighting in the OH R valley began, British urged colonies to work together & to negotiate alliance w/ Iroquois Why? 1. Colonies lacked unity 2. Iroquois controlled western New York territory the French had to pass thru to reach OH R • 7 colonies met in NY w/ 150 Iroquois leaders

Albany Conference • Achieved: 1. Iroquois refused alliance but agreed to be neutral 2. Colonies agreed that British should appoint one supreme commander of all troops 3. Issued Albany Plan of Union developed by Benjamin Franklin • Proposed colonies to unite to form federal gov’t • Plan was rejected but showed 1 st move toward uniting for common defense

British Triumph • New British commander in chief Gen. Edward Braddock arrived in VA w/ 1, 400 troops: 1. Linked up w/ 450 colonial militia & appointed Lt. Col Washington as his aide 2. Braddock intended to take Ft. Duquesne 3. Braddock overconfident & unconcerned about Native Am. allies of French 4. 7 miles from Ft. Duquesne, Braddock was ambushed by French & Native Americans & killed

British Triumph • Washington rallied troops & organized retreat • Ambush had consequences: 1. Myth of British superiority called into question 2. Delaware Indians began attacking British settlers in their territory

British Triumph • For next 2 years, French & Indian War raged both in North America & in Europe • Became known as the Seven Years’ War • British PM William Pitt decided to commit most of the military effort against the French in North America & India: 1. Native Americans gave up the fight under this renewed vigor 2. French outnumbered

British Triumph • General John Forbes as new commander atacked Fort Duquesne & renamed it Fort Pitt (later became Pittsburgh) • Battle in Quebec City = Turning Point • Pitted British Gen. James Wolfe against French Gen. Louis Joseph Montcalm on Plains of Abraham • Both killed

British Triumph • Spain tried to enter the war on the side of France • British seized Spanish colonies in Cuba & Philipines • Treaty of Paris ended war in 1763: 1. Eliminated French power in North America 2. British gained New France, all of LA east of Mississippi except for New Orleans 3. Spain gave Florida in order to get Cuba & Philipines back 4. Spain compensated with New Orleans & LA west of Mississippi

Colonies Grow Discontented • British came out of the war a victor but in debt • Felt that colonies should pay their fair share • Policies that they enacted to get this fair share angered colonists

Proclamation Act of 1763 • Pontiac’s War: 1. Chief of the Ottawa, Pontiac united several Native American tribes (Ottowa, Delaware, Shawnee, & Seneca) to fight the British 2. Attacked several towns 3. British decided to limit western settlement to avoid cost of another war & to protect fur trade 4. Proclamation Act drew line along Appalachian Mts. N to S & forbade settlement west of that line w/out permission of British gov’t

Customs Reform • George Grenville became PM in 1763 & decided to enact new tax policies: 1. to reduce British debt 2. to pay for British troops stationed in North America

Customs Reform • Parliament also passed a law to prevent smuggling • Merchants were smuggling goods in & out of colonies w/out paying customs duties - taxes on imports & exports • Required smugglers to be tried in viceadmiralty courts run by naval officers not courts w/ juries under British common law

Customs Reform • One of the smugglers arrested & tried in viceadmiralty court was John Hancock who had prospered by smuggling molasses from French colonies in Caribbean • He was defended by John Adams

Sugar Act • Grenville introduced the Sugar Act • changed tax rates on raw sugar & molasses imported from foreign colonies • New Taxes on silk, wine, coffee, pimento, & indigo

Sugar Act Colonist angry reaction: 1) hurt trade 2) violated several traditional English rights a) presumed guilty until proven innocent if accused of smuggling • b) allowed British to seize goods without due process - proper court procedures & prevented lawsuits by merchants whose goods improperly seized • •

Sugar Act • Many pamphlets circulated among colonies condemning Sugar Act • Ex. written by James Otis • argued no taxation without representation • Grenville & Parliament were not sympathetic • 1) Sugar Act remained in force • 2) enacted Currency Act of 1764 which prevented paper money b/c it lost value too quickly • Colonists had like paper money because it lost value & meant loans easier to pay back

Stamp Act Crisis • Grenville pleased that Sugar Act brought in more money • Believed was not enough • Passed Stamp Act in 1765 • 1) required stamps placed on most printed materials including newspapers, pamphlets, deeds, mortgages, even playing cards • 2) It was the first direct tax on the colonists

Stamp Act Crisis • Parliament then passed the Quartering Act • 1) forced colonies to pay more for their own defense • 2) If no barracks provided for British troops, private citizens forced to house British troops in own homes, taverns, inns, etc.

Stamp Act Crisis • Colonist reaction: • 1) Huge debate among colonies • 2) flood of editorials, pamphlets, speeches against the various taxes • 3) In House of Burgesses in VA, series of resolutions passed declaring that people could not be taxed unless it was passed by own representatives • 4) similar statements in other colonies

Stamp Act Crisis • Summer of 1765: • 1) Sons of Liberty & Daughters of Liberty organized outdoor demonstrations • 2) Intimidated stamp distributors • 3) Hung effigies of stamp distributors • 4) Ransacked the home of one stamp distributor in Boston • 5) Reps from 9 colonies organized Stamp Act Congress

Stamp Act Congress • Issued Declaration of Rights & Grievances: • 1) Drafted by John Dickinson, wealthy farmer from PA • 2) Argued that Parliament had no right to tax them; only colonists’ political reps did • 3) Sent petition to king asking for relief • 4) Sent petition to Parliament asking for a repeal of the Stamp Act

Stamp Act Congress • Stamp Act took effect in November 1765 • 1) Colonists ignored the law • 2) enacted nonimportation agreements - a refusal to import any British goods until Stamp Act repealed • Boycott had powerful effect: • 1) 1000 s of British workers lost jobs • 2) British merchants could not collect orders from colonies & therefore, no money • 3) Act repealed in 1766 • 4) Parliament enacted the Declaratory Act which reasserted Parliament’s authority to make laws for colonies

Townshend Acts • Financial problems worsened for British • Charles Townshend, new exchequer introduced new regulations & taxes • 1) Revenue Act of 1767 - new customs duties on glass, lead, paper, paint & tea • 2) Violators faced trial in vice-admiralty courts not local ones • 3) Property could be seized w/out due process • 4) declared writs of assistance legal which meant customs officers could search any location to seek out evidence of smuggling

Townshend Acts • Colonist reaction: • 1) John Dickinson wrote another series of essays called Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer denouncing the issue of taxation & urging colonies to be more unified • 2) MA assembly began to organize a resistance, led by Sam Adams, cousin to John Adams • 3) Drafted a Circular Letter” to the other colonies

Townshend Acts • Circular Letter made the following points: • 1) Taxes used to pay salaries of gov’t officials, which colonial assemblies used to do • 2) Assemblies would be weakened • British gov’t ordered the letter to be taken out of circulation & assembly refused • British gov’t dissolved the MA Assembly

Townshend Acts • 1768 - Boston merchants signed nonimportation agreements as a boycott of all British goods • Philadelphia joined this in 1769 • VA passed Virginia’s Resolves which did not acknowledge the right to tax unless came from VA representatives • House of Burgesses dissolved & VA joined boycott

Townshend Acts • As news spread, colonists joined the boycott • Daughters of Liberty began spinning homespun cloth • Wore this as a sign of patriotism

Boston Massacre • As violence increased, Britain sent more troops to colonies • Bostonians harassed the “lobsterbacks” • March 1770, colonists threw snowballs at the Redcoats & the Redcoats fired into the crowd • 1 st to die was Crispus Attucks & 5 died in the Boston Massacre

Boston Massacre • Might have started the Revolution but the almost all of the Townshend Acts were repealed • Kept one tax on tea • Temporary peace

Section 2: Revolution Begins Topic: Republican Values and the Enlightenment Philosophy of Natural Rights influence the Colonies push for Independence Topic: After years of escalating tensions and outbreaks of fighting, the colonists declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776 36

Section 2: The Revolution Begins OBJECTIVES: • Describe ways in which Massachusetts continued to defy the British after the repeal of the Townshend Acts • Summarize the first battles between Britain and the colonies 37

Massachusetts Defies Britain • Repeal of the Townshend Acts generated uneasy calm • New crisis began in spring 1772 in new policies: A. British sent ships to intercept smugglers • Gaspee Affair: 1. British interceptor, Gaspee ran aground off shore Rhode Island 2. Colonists seized the opportunity to burn the ship

Massachusetts Defies Britain • British outraged over the Gaspee affair • Sent investigators who seized suspects & returned to England • Colonists saw this as a violation of right to trial by jury of their peers • Rhode Island sought help from other colonies • March 1773 - Jefferson suggested each colony create a committee of correspondance to communicate w/ other colonies about British activities 1. unified colonies 2. shaped public opinion

Boston Tea Party • British East India Company was almost bankrupt (corruption, costly wars in India) • British PM, Lord North decided to help the company by passing the Tea Act of 1773 A. refunded 4/5 of taxes company paid to ship tea to colonies • East India Company could then sell tea for less than smuggled Dutch tea B. allowed East India Co. to sell directly to shopkeepers • bypassed American merchants who normally distributed tea

Boston Tea Party • Enraged colonists who suspected they were being squeezed out of the market • Oct 1773, East India Co. shipped chests of tea to Boston, NY, Charles Town, & Philly • Committees of Correspondance sent the alert • Colonists were ready for the arrival & in Philly & NY forced them out of the harbor • In Charles Town, seized the ship & stored tea in local warehouse

Boston Tea Party • When Tea arrived in Boston, approx. 150 men disguised as Indians stormed the ship & dumped 342 chests in harbor while onlookers cheered

Coercive Acts • King George III was outraged & felt that concessions had made matters worse • Passed 4 new laws in spring 1774 called Coercive Acts intended to punish MA & end colonial challenges • Called the Intolerable Acts by the Colonists 1. The most drastic was the Boston Port Act - closing the harbor until damages paid & order restored 2. All Council members, judges & sheriffs had to be appointed by king & banned town meetings 3. Trials of British soldiers & officials transferred to England to protect them 4. Particularly intoleable was the Quartering Act - lodging of British soldiers in private homes

Coercive Acts • Appointed Gen Thomas Gage as new governor of MA • Coercive Acts violated several traditional English rights 1. right to trial by jury of one’s peers 2. right to not have troops quartered in one’s private home 3. maintenance of standing army in peacetime

Quebec Act • July 1774 • Had nothing to do w/ events in colonies but stated that: • governor & council appointed by king would run Quebec • gave more territory to Quebec meaning that westward movement would mean that colonists would be living in territory w/ no elected assembly

First Continental Congress • In VA, the House of Burgesses was dissolved • Patrick Henry “Give me liberty or give me death!” • First Continental Congress met in Philly 1. 55 delegates representing 12 of the colonies 2. FL, GA, Nova Scotia, & Quebec did not attend 3. represented wide range of opinion to include moderates & radicals

First Continental Congress • Moderates believed compromise was possible • Radicals believed the time to fight was now • After the suspension of the MA Assembly, the colonists drafted the Declaration of Rights & Grievances 1. expressed loyalty to the king 2. condemned Coercive Acts 3. announced formation of nonimportation association 4. approved Continental Association - plan for every county & town to form committees to enforce boycott of British goods

Revolution Begins • Oct 1774 - MA organized MA Provincial Congress w/ John Hancock as head of Committee of Safety • Defied Gov. Gage • Full scale rebellion: 1. militias practiced drill & shooting 2. Famous minute-men - trained & ready 3. other colonies created provincial congresses & militias

Loyalists & Patriots • Loyalists or Tories were American colonists who still felt loyalty to the king • Came from all parts including gov’t officials, Anglican ministers, prominent merchants & even back country farmers • Patriots or Whigs believed British were tyrants • Included artisans, farmers, merchants, planters, lawyers & urban workers

Loyalists & Patriots • Loyalists concentrated in GA, Carolinas & NY • Patriots concentrated in New England & VA • Political differences divided families & friends • Patriots fiercely enforced the boycott • Majority of Americans caught between 2 sides

Lexington & Concord • April 1775 - British ordered Gov. Gage to arrest MA Provincial Congress • Gage tried to seize militia’s supply depot at Concord, passing thru Lexington • Paul Revere & William Dawes spread the alarm that the British were coming • Revere & Dawes made it to Lexington & Dr. Samuel Prescott made it to Concord

Lexington & Concord • British killed 8 & wounded 10 minutemen out of 70 @ Lexington • Reached Concord but most of supplies had been moved • 400 colonial militia forced a retreat & on return to Boston, lost 99 men through various attacks • May 1775, British were surrounded in Boston

Second Continental Congress • Met in Philadelphia • 1 st issue was defense • Adopted a Continental Army & appointed Gen Washington as commander in chief of new army • Built a fort at Bunker Hill & American sharpshooters almost defeated the British • Did not retreat until ran out of ammo

Battle of Bunker Hill • Significance is that it built American confidence • British suffered more than 1, 000 casualties even though the Americans had to retreat

Efforts at Peace • July 1775 - Continental Congress drafted Olive Branch Petition written by John Dickinson • Radical delegates ordered attack of British troops based in Quebec hoping to encourage French to ally w/ them • Captured Montreal but lost in Quebec & French did not assist

Efforts at Peace Fail • By time Olive Branch Petition arrived, King was convinced no hope of reconciliation due to Quebec • Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion & Sedition issued in August 1775 declaring colonists as enemies • Continental Congress began acting independently: • established Continental Navy & Marine Corps

Fighting Intensifies & Spreads • Gov. Dunmore of VA assisted British troops by organizing loyalists, both white & enslaved Africans • Convinced slaves that they would be freed • Encouraged Southern planters to side w/ Patriots

Fighting Intensifies & Spreads • December 1775 • British burned Norfolk but eventually defeated • Colonists had success in North Carolina, Charles Town, even Boston • Despite this, British refused to back down 1. enacted naval blockade shutting down trade 2. Hired mercenary soldiers - Hessians

Common Sense • Public opinion was still undecided with regard to independence • Jan 1776 - Thomas Paine published Common Sense A. Attacked King George III as a tyrant B. Advocated that power comes from the people C. enormously influential & sold 100, 000 copies

Declaration of Independence • July 1775 • committee including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Sherman, Robert Livingston, & Thomas Jefferson • Jefferson actually drafted the document on independence • Issued July 4, 1774 & declared themselves as the United States of America

Section 3: The War for Independence Key Concept: Republican Values and the Enlightenment Philosophy of Natural Rights influence the Colonies push for Independence Topic: After a war lasting several years, the colonists finally won their independence from Great Britain. 61

Section 3: The War for Independence OBJECTIVES: • Describe the strategies behind the Northern Campaign • Identify the French motivation for supporting the colonies • Describe the war in the West • Summarize the scope of the war at sea • Describe strategies behind the Southern Campaign • Identify the Advantages/Disadvantages of the Colonists and the British • Identify the consequences of the American Revolution to include those for the colonists, the British, French, & Spanish 62

The Opposing Sides • Review: • What are the colonists feeling now that they declared independence? • Remember! • On the day the colonists declared independence, the British landed 32, 000 men under command of Gen. William Howe

The Opposing Sides • Colonists by contrast, Continental Army struggled to keep recruits & pay wages • 230, 000 men but only 20, 000 fought at any one time • Continental Congress - skeleton gov’t • no power to tax • issued “Continentals” - paper money not backed by gold or silver • Robert Morris - wealthy PA merchant & banker • Created Bank of North America

The Opposing Sides • British had trouble w/ Militia • Poorly trained but fought differently • Guerilla warfare • British war effort not supported by British citizens • Merchants, members of Parliament • French, Spanish, & Dutch eager to see Britian fail

The Opposing Sides • British Redcoats A. Advantages: 1. Disciplined, well-trained & well-supplied army 2. Wealth of resources 3. Strong, central government B. Disadvantages: 1. Fighting in unfamiliar & hostile territory 2. Far away from home & resources 3. Many British were opposed to war

The Opposing Sides • Colonists A. Advantages: 1. Fighting on home turf w/militia fighting 2. Good generals 3. Motivated - Why? 4. Eventual French alliance - loans, troops, navy B. Disadvantages: 1. Untrained militia 2. Small Continental army 3. Shortages in food and ammunition 4. Weak & divided central government

The Northern Campaign General Howe’s Strategy had 2 parts: 1. Military: • Massive Build-up in NY hoping to capture NYC - Why? • Separate New England from the South • Intimidate the colonists

The Northern Campaign General Howe’s Strategy had 2 parts (cont): 2. Diplomatic: • Invited Continental Congress delegates to peace conference • Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Edward Rutledge • Did not believe Howe had authority to pardon them

Opening Moves General Washington prepared to defend NYC: • Moved much of army to Long Island & Manhattan Island 1. British defeated Washington at Battle of Long Island in summer 1776 Why? 2. Washington retreated to Manhattan Island to recover & defend NYC • Fortunately, British moved slowly allowing Washington to abandon NYC & head north • NYC became British headquarters

Opening Moves Captain Hale • Spy for the colonists • Disguised as a Dutch schoolteacher but he was caught & hanged • Illustrated the bravery of the colonists • Washington retreated further to White Plains, NY

Crossing the Delaware Battle of White Plains, Oct. 1776 • Washington forced into retreat • Washington retreated further to White Plains, NY • Discovered British plans to head to Philadelphia • Thomas Paine published The American Crisis

Crossing the Delaware Winter 1776 • British decided to wait the winter in New Jersey • Washington planned a daring & unexpected winter attack - 2 victories • 12/25/1776 - Crossing of the Delaware • 24, 000 men crossed & attacked the Hessians @ Battle of Trenton • Attacked 3 British regiments @ Battle of Princeton

Crossing the Delaware

Philadelphia Falls March 1776 • Gen. John Burgoyne developed plan - isolate New England by meeting in Albany, NY • 3 pronged attack: 1) From Montreal, south into NY 2) From Montreal, up St. Lawrence R. to Lake Ontario, east into NY 3) Gen Howe to lead forces north from NYC up Hudson R. to Albany, east into New England

Philadelphia Falls March 1776 • Plan failed b/c British failed to coordinate • Howe decided to focus on Phialdelphia instead • Defeated Washington - Battle of Brandywine Creek • Military success & political failure • Captured Philadelphia but failed to capture Continental Army

Philadelphia Falls Valley Forge - Winter 1777 • Washington wintered w/ 2, 500 men • no food & inadequate clothing & supplies • BUT! • Secured needed training from 2 European military officers: • Marquis de Lafayette - France • Baron Friedrich von Steuben - Prussia

Harsh Winter @ Valley Forge

France Enters the War! Gen. Burgoyne failed in his 3 pronged attack w/ out help from Gen. Howe • Had some victory w/ help from Iroquois • Why would Iroquois help the British? • Ambushed by militia & driven back by American troops under Gen. Benedict Arnold • Surrendered at Saratoga, NY - Oct. 1777

Saratoga Gen. Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga to Gen. Horatio Gates

France Enters the War! Saratoga is considered a Turning Point: 1) Improved American morale 2) Convinced French to enter war & commit troops to American cause Both France & Spain had been secretly sending $ & supplies to Americans but troops were what was most needed

France Enters the War! February 6, 1778 U. S. & France signed two treaties: 1) France recognized American independence 2) alliance between France & United States June 1778 - Britain & France at war 1779 - Spain entered war as ally of France, not the U. S.

War in the West Not all fighting in the east: 1) 1778 - Patriot George Rogers used OH R. to take 175 troops & capture several key towns, defeating British by 1779

Indian Presence in the War 1) July 1778, British had allied w/ Iroquois under leadership of Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) & attacked western PA but year later, defeated in western NY by American troops 2) Similar occurrence w/ Indians in VA & NC: • Cherokee united w/ Shawnee, Delaware, & Mohawk but failed to defeat American militia in VA & NC

War at Sea America did not have much of a navy so the battle at sea was limited: 1. Attacked British merchant ships not the British fleet 2. Congress issued letters of marque - permission to private ship owners to attack merchant ships • Hurt British trade & economy 3. Most famous naval victory involved John Paul Jones & the Bonhomme Richard versus the British Serapis & Countess of Scarborough

The Southern Campaign 1) Gen. Howe replaced by Sir Henry Clinton after Saratoga 2) Clinton focused on southern states: • South rich in tobacco & rice • Most Loyalists concentrated in South

The Southern Campaign Fall of Savannah & Charles Town 1) December 1778 - British captured Savannah 2) May 1780 - Americans surrendered to British at Charles Town - greatest defeat of the war • Br. Gen. Howe left Gen. Cornwallis in command & returned to NY • Am. Gen. Gates defended SC backcountry but failed to destroy British supply base

The Southern Campaign The Battle of Kings Mountain is considered a Turning Point: 1) British had been successful at Battle of Camden & started to control Carolina backcountry 2) 2 British cavalry officers, Tarleton & Ferguson with Loyalist support were especially brutal 3) Fatal mistake in attempt to subdue people in Appalachian Mts. • “overmountain men” destroyed British

The Southern Campaign Gen. Nathaniel Greene - new American commander established new strategy: 1) Engaged British in battle while 2) Militia destroyed supplies through “hit & run” raids • Francis Marion - known as “Swamp Fox” was most famous of these militia units

The Southern Campaign Gen. Nathaniel Greene - new American commander established new strategy: 1) Engaged British in battle while 2) Militia destroyed supplies through “hit & run” raids • Francis Marion - known as “Swamp Fox” was most famous of these militia units • Successful b/c British only controlled Savannah, GA; Charles Town, SC; & Wilmington, NC

The War is Won Gen Cornwallis invaded VA to prevent new troops & supplies from coming south • growing concern about French • Battle of Yorktown 1. Allied w/ Benedict Arnold who had by now betrayed the Americans & sold military information to British 2. Very little resistance until encounter w/ Gen. Anthony Wayne 3. Cornwallis retreated to Yorktown

The War is Won Battle of Yorktown (continued) • French were on their way under Adm. de Grasse • Moved into Chesapeake Bay • Gen. Washington & Gen. Rochambeau raced South • Surrounded Cornwallis who could not get supplies or escape by sea • Surrendered on October 19, 1781

Treaty of Paris Lord North, PM of Great Britain knew war was over after Yorktown defeat • Peace Negotiations conducted by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, & & John Adams • Britain recognized United States of America as new nation • Mississippi R - western border • Florida returned to Spain • French colonies in Africa & Caribbean (seized in 1763) returned to France • British troops left NYC - November 1783

Section 4: The War Changes American Society Key Concept: Republican Values and the Enlightenment Philosophy of Natural Rights influence the Colonies push for Independence Topic: The American Revolution Changed American Society in Variety of Ways 94

Section 4: The War Changes American Society OBJECTIVES: • Describe features of political system of the United States set up after the Revolutionary War • Explain the position of women and African Americans in the new political system 95

New Political Ideas • Review: • What were the main ideas of Enlightenment Thinkers?

New Political Ideas • By breaking ties w/ Great Britain & the king, the United States established a republic 1. form of government 2. power resides w/ body of citizens entitled to vote 3. Elected representatives are responsible to citizens 4. Government must operate according to laws or constitution

New Political Ideas • In ideal republic: 1. all citizens are = under the law 2. wealth & social class do not determine equality 3. government derives power from the people 4. Contradictions existed with traditional ideas: • slavery • women • wealthy people seen as superior

New State Constitutions • Before revolution, many states had practiced written constitutions 1. limited government’s power 2. written constitution made it more than a whim • Convinced framers to establish a constitutional republic

New State Constitutions • Framers also concerned about the relationship between republic & democracy • Adams for ex. , argued that “checks & balances” necessary to prevent any group from becoming too strong & the trampling of rights of the minority

Separation of Powers • True democracy = tyranny of the majority or “mobacracy” • Ex. - poor could vote to take away property from rich which would violate private property rights • Led to argument for separation of powers with regard to executive, legislative, & judicial branches

Bicameral Legislature • Adams also argued that legislative branch be two house 1. Senate - represent people of property 2. Assembly - protect rights of common people 3. Influenced both VA State constitution (1776) and that of MA (1780)

States’ Bill of Rights • Many states also added a list of rights as an addendum to state constitutions • Ex. Virginia’s Declaration of Rights written by George Mason 1. freedom of speech 2. freedom of religion 3. right to bear arms 4. right to trial by jury 5. no search & seizure w/out warrant 6. no seizure of property w/out due process

Expansion of Voting Rights • Experience of fighting side by side w/ people of different social class produced a desire for equality • Risked death for same ideas together • No longer as deferential to the upper classes • Upper classes not as contemptuous of lower classes

Expansion of Voting Rights • New State Constitutions led lower classes to be able to vote • Any white male who paid taxes could vote regardless of property ownership • Elective office still required a certain standard of property ownership but less than before • Many veterans of war granted land for service • 10 years after war, only 1/3 of office holders were actually wealthy

Freedom of Religion • Change in relationship between church & state • Many of the leaders in Revolution opposed ecclesiastical tyranny as much as monarchical tyranny • Did not want the government helping the church to force people to worship in a certain way

Freedom of Religion • Push to end state funding of church began in VA 1. Baptists led movement 2. Abolished taxes collected to support Anglican church 3. Gov. Thomas Jefferson in 1786 pushed legislature to pass Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom 4. VA no longe had official church & no taxes collected

Freedom of Religion • This idea spread slowly • MA did not abolish collection of tax entirely • But allowed Quakers & Baptists to assign their tax money to their church & not the Congregational Churches

War and American Society • Notions of equality mostly applied to white men • Women & African Americans both participated in the revolutionary effort • Some changes did occur

Women at War • Women contributed both at home & on the battlefront 1. Ran family farm 2. traveled w/ army to cook, wash, & nurse the wounded 3. Served as spies & couriers 4. Mary Ludwig Hays (Molly Pitcher) carried water to Patriot gunners during Battle of Monmouth 5. Margaret Corbin accompanied her husband to battle & when he was killed, took his place at the cannon

Women at War • Consequences: 1. Easier to obtain divorce 2. greater access to education 3. Judith Sargent Murray wrote “On the Equality of the Sexes” • argued women as intelligent as men • argued lack of education prevented women from achieving their due in life 4. After revolution, more schools founded for girls & more women could read