Chapter 5
(134.)Declaration of Independence
#ID: The Declaration of Independence is a document that Congress approved on July 4, 1776 declaring separation from the crown. The document has two parts, 1) exploration of John Locke's philosophies of life, liberty and property (pursuit of happiness), and 2) the retraction of American loyalty from British rule because of their failure to abide to the protection "contract." John Locke's philosophies stemmed out of the Enlightenment. Significance: The document represented the sentiments of many Americans, a tangible, and revolutionary drift from Britain allegiance. It also brought to the surface the notion of "all men are created equal." Because of this formal declaration, many foreign countries supported America, and aided their fight for independence (largely France). After the Declaration, colonies began to call themselves "states," increasing the amount of independent assemblies. Many states followed their assemblies by producing self constitutions.
(139.) Privateers
I.D. A privateer was a private person or private warship authorized by a country's government by letters of marque (a government license authorizing a private vessel to attack and capture enemy vessels) to attack foreign shipping. Privateers were only entitled by their state to attack and rob enemy vessels during wartime. Privateers were part of naval warfare of some nations from the 16th to the 19th century. Privateers were of great benefit to a smaller naval power, or one facing an enemy dependent on trade: they disrupted commerce, and forced the enemy to deploy warships to protect merchant trade. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE During the American Revolution, the Americans had no naval army to even attempt to compete with the great naval powers of the British. So the American government issued privateering licenses to merchant captains during the Revolutionary War (due to the relatively small number of commissioned American naval vessels) and these licenses authorized privateers or "legal piracy" in an effort to take prizes from the British Navy and Tory (Loyalist) privateers. This privateering thing worked for America! The privateers sold their prizes for profits and sometimes even kept the captured ships and made them into American warships. As you can see, many were interested in making money and profits, especially during this time of war and thus wartime profiteering has become a "longtime American tradition".
(126.) Second Continental Congress
I.D. Second Continental Congress: The second Continental Congress was a group of delegates from the thirteen colonies that met on May 10,1775 shortly after the American Revolution began. The group managed the war effort and moved toward independence, later adopting the Declaration of Independence. Historical Significance: Second Continental was very important because it raised armies, directed strategy, appointed diplomats, and made formal treaties, therefore leading to the creation of the United States of America under the Declaration of Independence.
(135.) Patriot vs. Loyalist (Whig vs. Tories)
ID: - The Patriots (Whigs) were those in America, during the American Revolution, loyal to the cause of the colonies breaking free from Britain. - On the other hand were the Loyalists (Tories) who believed the colonies owed their allegiance to their sovereign, Britain. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Patriots fought for and eventually attained independence from Britain; Patriots included the Founding Fathers, such as Benjamin Franklin, Samuel and John Adams, and George Washington, to name a few. The Loyalists, faithful to Britain, were able to provide Britain soldiers with small (though not extremely significant) advantages. In addition, since the Patriots' cause conflicted with that of the Loyalists' and Loyalists had no direct protection from Britain, Loyalists were often harassed by Patriots.
(128.) Battle of Bunker Hill
ID: Although called the Battle of Bunker Hill, the actual battle was fought on Breed's Hill. It took place in 1775 in Boston. American forces besieged General Thomas Gage's army, but were eventually driven from their position. Significance: Both sides sustained heavy losses, but the British suffered the heavier casualties. The battle caused the British to conclude that fighting at Boston was the best place because it was hard to defend and they were forced to leave American soil temporarily. Even though the British won the battle, their heavy losses showed that the inexperienced colonial forces could stand a chance in the war. It demonstrated to the colonists that they actually stood a chance against the might of Great Britain.
(143.) Shay's Rebellion
ID: Shays' Rebellion was an armed rebellion led by Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American Revolution, against the government during 1786-1787. The rebels consisted mostly of poor farmers who couldn't pay the heavy taxes that the government imposed on them in order to pay back the debts for the American Revolution. As a result, these poor farmers became ridden with debt and were imprisoned. Their goal was to force the government to issue paper currency and lower taxes. The rebellion ultimately was crushed when General William Shepard's militia fired against them and the rebels were so shocked that their own men would fire against them and fled north. There they were disbanded by the government and imprisoned and tried, in which the majority were pardoned. Historical Significance: It was important because Shays' Rebellion demonstrated that the country was very unstable after the American Revolution, to the point where they couldn't even control their own people. Shays' rebels, or Shaysites, used the same tactics used in the American Revolution, since Shays was a veteran of the Revolution. The government did not have enough money after the war and its shaky economy forced it to tax its own people. Furthermore, the tax collectors went to drastic measures such as imprisoning the debtors or claiming their property. This resembled how divided and disorganized the country was between the 13 colonies and forced them to reconsider their situations and adjust to the new changes in order to make a better and more united America. Ultimately, it revealed the serious problems with the Articles of Confederation and led to the government's making of the Constitution to fortify the country and fix all the other problems.
(141.) Articles of Confederation
ID: The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777. They were, in a sense, the first constitution. They created a government in which Congress was in control, helping Congress become the national power. The Articles allowed Congress to conduct wars and take responsibility over foreign relations and money, HOWEVER, it did not give Congress direct power over trade regulation, troops drafting, or levy taxes. The Articles went into effect in 1781 after settling disputes about states getting equal representation. The Articles ended up failing because Congress didn't receive enough control. Significance: The creation of the Articles was the first step into the creation of the Constitution. The failure of the Articles of Confederation actually helped the founding fathers create a better government; one that had control over the colonies WHILE giving the colonies (later, states) enough freedom. The faults in the Articles were necessary to have, so that the founding fathers could fix them and create the democracy we have today.
(145.) The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
ID: The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a law passed by Congress which created a single, complete, Northwest Territory out of the lands north of Ohio. This ordinance was passed in response to the settler's criticism of the original ordinances, which made the price of land unaffordable for the settlers (Congress's decision to sell the best land to the Ohio and Scioto Companies before selling to the settlers only served to enflame the situation). The new territory created by the Northwest Ordinance allowed the settlers to expand their settlements and satisfied their demands. The ordinance also specified that the minimum population for a territory to become a state was 60,000, guaranteed freedom of religion and the right to a trial with a jury for residents of the territories, and banned slavery. Historical Significance: The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 marked the beginning of western expansion in the United States. This would eventually allow the US to become a global superpower; before the revolution and before the Ordinance was passed, the colonists were not allowed to expand their settlements out west. The "rules" for statehood in the ordinance also set the standard for how states would be created in the future. This also gave the settlers another chance to exercise their freedom, a common theme throughout American history.
(144.) Virginia's Statute of Religious Liberty
ID: Virginia's Statute of Religious Liberty was a document drafted in 1777 by Thomas Jefferson. It called for the separation of church and state and established the principles of religious freedom. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Statute is the basis of the first amendment of the constitution, which was written and ratified a decade later.
(140.) Writs of Assistance
ID: As the English government endured defiance of trade laws in 1760 via severe smuggling in American ports, British officials authorized writs of assistance to customs officials. These writs were search warrants that allowed the customs officials to enter and search any ship or building that aroused interest. Significance: These writs were viewed as an infringement on the rights that the colonists had as Englishmen. The colonial assembly of Massachusetts, led by James Otis, actively petitioned against these writs, but was defied by Parliament, inspiring anger in the colonists. Having no say in a government that controlled their activities, the colonists felt that Parliament had gone too far to oppress the their rights, and this motivated the colonies to form a new government in the steps the Revolution.
(130.) King George III
ID: George III came to power in 1760 at the early age of 22, but he was an immature and inexperienced ruler who was determined to take a more active role in leadership as a monarch. Significance: George III was the reigning monarch during the final half of the French-Indian War and the American Revolution. It was the unjust taxes, regulations, and military control that his administration imposed on the American colonists that incensed them enough to eventually start a war for their independence. The drafters of the Declaration of Independence stated that George III's rule was filled with "injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states", before listing 27 grievances that the colonists believed were dictatorial enough to warrant a rebellion against British rule.
(136.) The Battle of Saratoga (1777)
ID: The battle of Saratoga in 1777 was one of the major turning points of the war, but most of the fighting actually occurred near the farm of loyalist John Freeman. British forces under John Burgoyne suffered heavy casualties at the hands of American General Horatio Gates and were forced to retreat to the small hamlet of Saratoga where they were surrounded by the Americans and forced to surrender. Significance: The surprising American Victory at Saratoga breathed new life in to the revolution and inspired the other colonies to fight harder. The victory also caused France to enter the war as an ally of the Americans and their military and economic assistance was one of the major factors in helping America achieve its independence. Most importantly it showed the Americans could beat a larger, better equipped British army and they were a force to be reckoned with.
(132.) Common Sense
ID: (1776) A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine which suggested that instead of being angry at the acts imposed on the colonists, they should be angry at the people who impose them. Thomas Paine believed that it was because of the constitution that the people of power and its system became corrupt. T. Paine pushed for complete independence through the usage of logical arguments. Signification: Common Sense changed the American outlook towards war. it was an eye opening pamphlet that created an even stronger resentment towards Britain. It made Britain and the people in power look corrupt and incompetent to rule the colonies.
(133.) Republicanism (by definition)
ID: A system of government in which the majority of the power rests on a citizens with the right to vote and is exercised either directly by them or by representatives chosen by them. This differs from democracy in the sense that not everyone is entitled to vote, and thus not everyone has a say in things. Historical Significance: This system was used in early Rome and Greece also used a form of republicanism. It paved the way for democracy today and the U.S.A uses a blend of republicanism and democracy.
(142.) Land Ordinance of 1785
ID: In order to survey and sell the Western lands that the settlers gradually started to move in to, Congress divided the territory above the Ohio River into rectangular townships. Each township was divided into thirty-six sections, four of them belonging to the United States. The money made from selling a section was used to build public schools. This organization of land was called the Land Ordinance of 1785. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Land Ordinance of 1785 set a precedent for future organizations of land. Instead of being based on landowners' vague claims, the rectangular townships were exact boundaries. This style of organization became the norm as more land was claimed and more cities were built. The money gained by selling sections of land was used to maintain public schools as education for all became more and more widespread in America.
(137.)Battle of Yorktown
ID: The Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was an assured victory over the British army. The combined forces of George Washington of America and Count Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau of France trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown. The two forces perfectly captured Cornwallis between land and sea. After showing signs of resistance, he capitulated on October 17, 1781. Historical Significance: The Battle of Yorktown proved to be the last major battle of the American Revolution. The surrender of Cornwallis's army eventually led to the British government discussing a conclusion to this conflict.
(131.) The Hessians
ID: The Hessians were German mercenary soldiers hired by the British to fight in their army during the Revolutionary war in 1776. Many of these 17,000 men came from the German state of Hesse-Cassel, thus the name Hessians. The first battle they fought at was the Battle at Long Island, and they fought at every battle after. Historical Significance: The act of the British using Hessian troops festered the Americans and pushed more loyalists to be in favor of the revolution. The use of foreign troops by the British was seen as an insult. It seemed like the British treated the rebellion as if it's not that important. After the Revolutionary War, majority of the Hessians returned back to homeland and the rest that stayed in the United States either died because of illness or settled in among the newly formed United States.
(129.) Olive Branch Petition
ID: The Olive Branch Petition was a petition proposed by the Second Continental Congress in 1776, after the Lexington and Concord conflict. This petition merely was an offer to the British a solution to peace, both the colonists and the British to advocate peace. The British refusal of this proposal led directly to the independent United States and the Revolutionary War. Historical Significance: The Olive Branch Petition was considered the last remaining thread between the British and the Americans. Even at this crucial moment, there were some people, like John Adam, who believed war was inevitable; there were also those who were willing to sue for peace. At the same time the petition was sent to the British Government, John Adams accidentally had one of his letter about "war" confiscated and sent to Parliament. When Parliament received this letter along with the Olive Branch Petition, Parliament declared that the petition was unstable, referencing John Adam's letter. The colonists treated this as total rejection from the British Empire; therefore, leading to the declaration of independence and the American Revolution.
(138.) Treaty of Paris (1783)
ID: The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 and it formally ended the war between the United States and England and recognized the United States as an independent nation. Land from the southern boundary of Canada to the northern boundary of Florida and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi became open for the U.S. The diplomatic men, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay all paved the way for an American diplomatic victory over England. Historical Significance: The Treaty made the British recognize U.S. independence and it ended the boundaries that would allow for the expansion of western land by Americans. Although the U.S. gained new borders and had the British troops all ejected out of their land; the U.S. still agreed to pay all existing debts owed to England. Britain also convinced the U.S. to not persecute the existing loyalists still in America and to allow those who left to return.
(127.) "General" George Washington
ID: When Congress created the Continental Army in 1775, they elected George Washington as Major General and Commander-in-Chief. The army really had no leadership at the time, and Washington was the only one with military experience available. He was able to lead the army effectively enough to win the war. Washington resigned his command of the army after the war was over in 1783. Historical Significance: Washington assumed command of an "army" that really wasn't an army. He had to build the Continental Army from nothing. Despite his efforts, the army was poorly supplied, badly trained, and unpaid. In the brutal winter of 1777, Washington and the Continental Army made winter quarters at Valley Forge. Washington led his army through the tough conditions and lack of supplies. Though he made many mistakes during the war, Washington was determined to win and refused to give up.