Creation of the United States: War and Statesmen

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence changed forever the meaning of American Freedom.

Battle of York town

Taking land and sea forces together, more French men than Americans participated in the decisive battle of Yorktown.

What was the ideal of "homespun virtue" and how did it appeal to different groups in the colonies?

The "homespun virtue" was an attempt by colonist women to create as much homespun clothing as possible so Americans had domestic goods, rather than relying on British imports

Benedict Arnold

The following month one of the Washington's ablest commanders. Benedict Arnold, defected and almost succeeded in turning over to the British, the important fort at west point on the Hudson river.

Why did people in other countries believe that the American Revolution (or declaration of Independence) was important to them or their own countries?

The symbol of Americans breaking free from British tyranny inspired other people to seek independence and self-government. A major point of interest for people who model off of the American Declaration of Independence is the idea that authority lies within the people. People of all classes enjoyed the idea of possessing rights and the ability to have power over their own lives. The American Revolution provided and "asylum for mankind" in that the principles of universal freedom were taking root.

Why did the colonists reach the conclusion that membership in the empire threatened their freedoms, rather than guaranteed them?

The British army became more prevalent in the colonies, even in smaller rural towns, and these actions destroyed the legitimacy of their power. The British had controlled the press, imports, and religion, and used their army to suppress opposition. Throughout the eighteenth century, the idea of the right to resist oppressive authority had been so ingrained that now the colonists had turned on Britain. The enlightenment had spread philosophical ideas by John Locke about natural rights and consent of the governed.

Why does Seabury believe the continental congress and local committees are undermining Americans liberties?

Seabury was a minister for the Church of England and came to the defense of England during the Revolution. He believed that the Continental Congress were self-interested and by not working with England to seek resolution were not working on behalf of all the colonies. He especially disliked policies which prevented trade with Great Britain during the early tensions as he believed it furthered tensions and hurt the vast majority of colonists.

How important was the stamp Act crisis in bringing about the American revolution?

The act was widely opposed by the colonial population resulting in organized protests that allowed the revolution movement to gain tactical experience and set a pattern of resistance that led to the American independence. During the Stamp Act crisis Americans argued that there was a difference between taxing them for revenue and taxing them for the regulation of trade.

How does the language of the resolutions suggest that feelings toward Great Britain have hardened in the colonies.

The language of these resolutions showed anger and resistance to Great Britain. These resolutions were created because of the Act of Parliament. One thousand colonists gathered together by the shrine of liberty. At this gathering, the Act of Parliament was read and burned. After the burning, the resolutions were read.

How did news ideas of liberty contribute to tensions between the social classes in the American colonies?

The wealthy elite believed in keeping their land and money; they needed slaves or indentured servants to do so. When lower and middle classes challenged the British authority, they were, in a way, challenging the legitimacy of the aristocracy, who had made their fortunes with help from the Crown. While the middle class suffered under the intolerable acts and protested profusely, slaves still did not see freedom in their future.

Hessians

To restore morale and regain the initiative, he launched successful surprise attacks on Hessian soldiers at the Trenton, New Jersey, on December 26, 1776, and on British force at Princeton on January 3, 1777.

Treaty of Paris

Two years later, in September 1783, American and British negotiation concluded the Treaty of Paris.

How did the actions of the British authorities help to unite the American colonists during the 1760s and 1770s?

After the French and Indian War, Britain issued the Proclamation Line which prevented colonists from expanding onto land they had just fought a war for. It seemed that Britain had gained more land, but was using it as a bargaining chip and giving the colonists nothing. During the 1760s and 1770s, Britain placed many taxes in attempt to raise revenue to pay for the French and Indian War. They had done so without the consent of the colonists. The Sugar Act hurt merchants and increased the economic recession from after the war. When the Stamp Act was established, colonists were angrier because this act affected every person. People were outraged that they were being taxed to raise revenue and did not have any say in Parliament.

Battle of Saratoga

American forces blocked Burgoyne's ways, surrounded his army, and on October 17, 1777, forced him to surrender at the battle of Saratoga.

Discuss the ramifications of using slaves in the British and Continental armies. Why did the British authorize the use of slaves? Why did the Americans? How did the slaves benefit?

At first, slaves weren't allowed in either army, but the British used freedom as a bargaining tool to gain more soldiers, and Washington quickly followed. Slaves were able to gain a certain level of freedom by serving in the place of their owner or owner's son. Many slaves were granted full freedom after fighting in the war. However, some escaped slaves would fight alongside the British, as if it were a tool for revenge on the colonists for the unfair conditions of slavery.

How does Seabury differ from advocates of independence in his understanding of freedom?

Boucher tends to take a more libertarian view of freedom than many who were in favor of independence--meaning that he feels that personal, individual freedom is more important in general than the freedom of a nation.

How do the resolutions qualify or limit Americans' sense of loyalty to the British government?

In 1774, the British government created restrictive laws against the colonies. They created these laws in response to the Boston Tea Party. The colonists called these rules, the Intolerable Acts. As a result of these laws, the Boston port was closed. The port would not be opened until all the tea that was lost was paid for. Town meetings were disrupted and governors were given the power to select their own council. Soldiers were also allowed to live in the homes of the colonists. These laws angered the colonists and made them resent England even more. Loyalty was not created at all, resistance grew stronger. If the British wanted to create loyalty they shouldn't have created these laws in anger and instead try to create a law to make things more fair.

Why does Paine begin his argument for independence with an attack on the principle of monarchy and hereditary succession?

Independence from Britain necessitates independence from Great Britain's rule and governing principles, of which monarchy and hereditary succession are two examples. In order for Americans to want to break free of Britain, they had to believe that Britain's rules and philosophies were unjust; otherwise, there would be no reason to become autonomous.

Summarize the difference of opinion between British officials and colonial leaders over the issues of taxation and representation.

Britain believed that in order to keep the empire together, they needed to be a supreme power that ruled over all other powers. Different parts of the empire held different standings within Parliament, but all were subordinate to the Crown. Colonial leaders opposed this idea because they believed they should have the same rights and freedoms as any British subject. Colonists believed that by being British subjects, they held certain British freedoms, like the right to representation in Parliament.

Patrick Henry proclaimed that he was not a Virginian, but rather American. What unified the colonists and what divided them at the time of the revolution.

Colonists were united on the idea of consent to taxation, but remained loyal to Parliament. Most were opposed to the idea of Parliament being a supreme power, and that they were somehow inferior to British subjects living in Britain, not the colonies. However, the colonies were still divided on whether or not they wanted to truly separate from England. Virginia and Massachusetts had suffered the brunt of the British laws and were ready to leave. In the middle colonies, the diverse and dispersed population couldn't come to a consensus. Some colonists feared a war between the Northern and Southern colonies.

What passages illustrate Pain's effort to write in language ordinary readers can understand?

best example of this would be in the opening lines of the piece, since this is when Paine knew that he would need to capture the attention of the readers using words they could understand and relate to. Paine's "Common Sense," wrote in 1776, which was an exchange for American independence. He not only made the thought for independence more effectively than anyone else but he wrote in a different style than earlier writers. It was simple, it was direct, and it was directed to a mass audience, not simply to the scholarly elite. The very title of his booklet said something: "Common Sense." Anybody can explain this; you don't need a high-class education, you don't need to have Latin phrases, you don't need to know all the law books It would be the passage in Common Sense that contracts with the evidence that Great Britain has only spent attention to the colonies out of their own selfish interest that best demonstrates this point since this was something that all "common" people could experience.