The Impact of the American Revolution on American

The Impact of the American Revolution on American Society

n. Blacks demanded n. States the abolished right to“feudal” Changes to American Society freedom inlaws petitions of primogeniture & lawsuits & entail n The American Revolution led to nn Franklin, Many states Jay, lowered Hamiltonproperty founded unintended socialbut changes by qualifications abolition societies; to vote; Washington none offered universal manumitted male his suffrage slaves forcing many Americans to n. Most states separated church & n. VT, clearly PA, MA abolished slavery question thestate meaning of “equality” n. Some Southern slave –Many wanted to eliminate the owners privately freed their n“Republican Motherhood”— Motherhood idea of an American aristocracy slaves mothers should instill virtue in their –Fightingnchildren British tyranny made Took greater control over slavery seem hypocritical; family farms & businesses Abolitionist sentiment grew –Women gained increased status

n. Benjamin Banneker & Phillis Wheatley

Postponing Full Liberty n The Revolution was limited in its n. Lots of references to of rights & failed to theextension “Spirit of ‘ 76” abolish slavery, grant universal male suffrage, or apply equality to women; But… n …it introduced the ideal of freedom and equality that future n. World War I poster generations wouldpropaganda use to make these ideals a reality

New State & National Governments

Forming New Governments n When independence was declared from England in 1776, colonists considered themselves a new nation & needed a new gov’t: – Colonies became individually n. In 1776, the American Revolution has byto justsovereign started; The states colonistsgoverned did not wait gain British recognition of their written state constitutions independence before creating new –A national gov’t was needed to governments! provide basic services like sign treaties & develop a military

States Constitutions n In 1776, the new states created written constitutions which: –Clearly defined the citizens’ rights & the limits of government –Guaranteed natural rights; Eight states had bills of rights –Almost all states reduced the powers of the governor & kept most power in the hands of the people via state legislatures

n. How The United 1783 “democratic” are. States, these new state gov’ts?

Defining Republican Culture n But, creating a national gov’t that met everyone’s needs was hard: – How to balance individual liberty with maintaining order? order – How to balance property rights with equality? equality – How to create a centralized gov’t without creating a new tyrannical authority? authority

Definingn. Republican Civic virtue is. Culture now a necessity set out to create a republican form of government after independence was declared: –Gov’t with no king or aristocracy –With power held by the citizens n Even though all previous republics had failed, Americans were optimistic this would be an “uncompromising commitment to liberty & equality” n Americans

The Articles of Confederation n In 1775, three committees were formed to sever ties with England: –Thomas Jefferson headed the committee to draft a declaration of independence –John Adams headed committee to establish foreign alliances –John Dickinson headed a committee to draft a new central government

Articles of Confederation n The Articles of Confederation was adopted as America’s 1 st national gov’t in 1777 (but ratified in 1781) –The n. Articles established an Each state was treated intentionally weak central gov’t as a pseudo-nation in order to protect state power –The confederation-style gov’t gave all 13 states 1 vote in a n. Too similar to a unicameral congress monarch –There was no national president

n. The Articles were created to The Articles of Confederation n The loosely tie the states together only powers granted to the national government were to –Settle disputes between states, negotiate treaties, handle Indian affairs, oversee a military n It could not tax citizens or states; could only request contributions n Laws required 9 of the 13 states n Amending the gov’t required agreement by all 13 states

“A firm league of friendship” The colonies were loosely joined to address common problems n"each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power. . . which is not. . . expressly delegated to the United States. …"

n. What is the significance of the following quote: –“People do not chop off heads so readily when they can chop down trees. ”

n The Western Lands “West” presented a problem: –Many states had overlapping land claims in the West –Some “landless” states (MD, NJ, DE) wanted part of West & refused to ratify the Articles without this issue resolved –The US gov’t negotiated treaties with Indians to gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky

n. The USA in the States, “Critical 1783 United Period”

Western Lands n Virginia took the lead to solve the “West problem” by ceding its western claims to the national gov’t –Other states, especially NY, Withceded the newtheir gov’twestern finally ratified 1781, landsintoo Congress created the Departments of –By 1781, Congress (not the War, Foreign Affairs, & Finance states) gained control over all lands west of the Appalachians n With dispute over, Maryland was the last state to ratify the Articles

n. Don’t forget Indian lands too n. Indian Land Cessions: 1768 -1799 Western Land Claims Ceded by the States

The Land Ordinance of 1785 n The U. S. gov’t was eager to sell off Western lands to settlers to gain revenue (since the gov’t did not have the power to tax) –The Land Ordinance of 1785 established an orderly process for laying out western townships –Section 16 of the each township was dedicated to public schools

The Northwest Ordinance n The Northwest Ordinance (1787) gave structure to the NW territory: –Created new territories, ruled by a governor, & whose citizens were protected by a bill of rights –Residents could create a legislative assembly when the population reached 5, 000 –Residents could apply for statehood with 60, 000 people –Slavery outlawed in NW lands

n. Because thepoured 1785 & 1787 n. Prospectors into Kentucky Theof. United States, 1783 & ordinances, the Northwest territories Tennessee n. Bywere 1790, well the organized region was&plagued orderlyby land claims & counterclaims that generated lawsuits for years n. The USA in 1787 n. Territories south of the Ohio River received less attention from Congress

Conclusions n The Articles of Confederation accomplished exactly what its framers intended: –By creating a weak central gov’t, the power of the states was preserved & no tyrants emerged –The weaknesses of the central gov’t failed to meet the long-term needs of the new USA

Examining the Articles of Confederation

The Weaknesses of the Articles n The Articles of Confederation served as the framework for the U. S. gov’t from 1781 until 1789: –Early in the “Confederation Period, ” the weakness of the national gov’t was seen as good because it eliminated tyranny –Later, these same weaknesses kept the gov’t from solving serious national problems

Economic Problems n During the American Revolution, colonial boycotts hurt trade n Everyone expected the economy to improve after independence, but the Confederation Congress had a difficult time: –Paying off debt & collecting taxes –Halting inflation –Generating a favorable balance of trade (foreign & domestic)

Debt, could Taxes, & Inflation The gov’t request, but not require, states to send money to Congress n The U. S. was burdened with $40 million in war debt in 1783: –The Confederate Congress could not ease the national debt because it had no power to tax –Congress printed $200 million in new currency to pay off debt but this led to massive inflation –Creditors demanded repayment of debts at market value

Trade Problems under the Articles Connecticut levied heavier duties on n. Massachusetts Congress was unable create a goods than onto. British goods favorable balance of trade: This especially hurt – To raise revenue, states created hurt the North Southern planters tariffs on goods from other states –The lack of hard currency made trade difficult –Desire for cheap British goods hurt infant American industries –England prohibited its Caribbean colonies from trading with USA

U. S. Trade with Britain, 1783 -1789 Debt

Economic Washington kept generals Problems from overthrowing the new government: "Gentlemen, you will n The economic stagnation of the permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have eraalmost led to uprisings: not Confederation only grown gray but blind in the service of my country. " –The lack of tax revenue & failure Shays’ Rebellion proved to be the of the gov’t to pay soldiers convincing event that led to the sparked a military coup in 1783 Constitutional Convention of 1787 called the Newburgh Conspiracy –Property foreclosures led to desperation & uprising farmers in 1787 called Shays’ Rebellion

Shay’s Rebellion in Western Massachusetts n Poor farmers in western MA were angered over high taxes & prospect of debtors jail n Daniel Shays led an uprising & closed debt courts & threatened a federal arsenal

Economic Problems n “Nationalists” called for a stronger central gov’t & a constitutional amendment to allow create a 5% import tax & a national bank Led by Alexander Hamilton, n 12 states agreed, but a. Morris group of James Madison, & Robert Rhode Island “Localists” refused & killed the amendment n The failure to reform the Articles “ANationalists national debt iftonot excessive, the will led consider be a national blessing”—Hamilton Articles hopelessly defective

Policy Problems Congress. Foreign & the army were too weak to resist n The Articles proved inadequate to interstate. Treaty & foreign affairs: John handle Jay’s Jay-Gardoqui was met with regional resistance & was rejected in Congress –When Americans did not repay legitimate war debts, Britain kept troops in the Ohio Valley –Spain refused to recognize the southern U. S. border & closed access to the Mississippi River –Algerian pirates attacked & enslaved American merchants –States argued over rights

The USA in the Confederate Era

“Have We Fought for This? ” “Have we fought for this? Was it with these expectations that we launched into a sea of trouble? ” —George Washington, 1785