a revolutionary era i

7/31/2019 A Revolutionary Era I

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A Revolutionary Era, I

Intellectual Origins and the First

Successful Colonial Revolt


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Philosophers and Revolution

John Locke: SecondTreatise on CivilGovernment, publishedin 1689 in England,

emphasized the rights ofcitizens and arguedagainst the divine rightof kings.

Emphasized rights to

life, liberty, andproperty.

Subjects had the right towithdraw their consent

from rulers.

Locke, 1632-1704


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Voltaire (Franois-Marie Arouet)

Criticized government censorship

and persecution of religiousminorities.

Letters Concerning the EnglishNation(1734) praised England for itscomparatively more tolerant

treatment of religious minorities.

A Treatise on Toleration(1763) also

emphasized toleration of religiousminorities.

He was a deist; his Henriade(1723)was interpreted as an open

indictment of Christianity


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American Enlightenment

Benjamin Franklin, ThomasJefferson, and Thomas Paine

were important intellectual

figures behind the AmericanRevolution.

They drew their inspiration

from Enlightenment figures inEurope.

Jefferson, Franklin, and Paine

all spent time in France.


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Thomas Paine 1776: Published Common Sensein defense

of American Independence from England.

Traveled with the Continental Army

Produced The Crisis(1776-83), which helpedinspire the Army.

This pamphlet was so popular that as apercentage of the population, it was read by

or read to more people than today watch the

Super Bowl, percentage-wise.

1791-92: wrote The Rights of Maninresponse to criticism of the FrenchRevolution.

Paine was an outlaw in England for his anti-

monarchist views.


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Benjamin Franklin

Tho' I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an opinion of

its propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted, and I regularly

paid my annual subscription for the support of the only Presbyterian

minister or meeting we had in Philadelphia. He us'd to visit me

sometimes as a friend, and admonish me to attend his

administrations, and I was now and then prevail'd on to do so, once

for five Sundays successively. Had he been in my opinion a good

preacher, perhaps I might have continued, notwithstanding the

occasion I had for the Sunday's leisure in my course of study; but

his discourses were chiefly either polemic arguments, or

explications of the peculiar doctrines of our sect, and were all to mevery dry, uninteresting, and unedifying, since not a single moral

principle was inculcated or enforc'd, their aim seeming to be rather

to make us Presbyterians than good citizens.


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Colonial Identities

In many colonies, especially in the

Americas, the colonists formed a separate

identity, distinct from the metropolis.

Vocabulary terms: metropolis and colony.

Pride in the colony and a resentment of

the second-rate status of ones colony in

the global scheme bred resentment on the

part of colonists.


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Revolution in British

America


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Wars, Revolts, and Uprisings in

British America

1676: Bacons Rebellion

1712: Insurrection

involving slaves and

Indians in New York

1740s: Riots over

disputed land

1747: Riot againstImpressment

1756-1763: French and

Indian War


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French and Indian War

Was part of larger, globalconflict, the Seven Years War.

The French-British rivalry was

fought in India, America,

Austria, Germany, and theCaribbean.

In the colonial North America,

conflict centered aroundFrench territorial expansion.

The Grand Drangement (1755-1764) (Great Upheaval) was

closely tied to the Seven Years

War.

Frederick the Great of Prussia,who fought the Austrians in the

European theater of the Seven

Years War.


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Effects of the Seven Years War Britains win ensured

their dominant positionin India, North America,

and global politics in

general.

Conflict, in which many

American colonists

fought, was expensive.

Taxes that antagonized

the North Americans

were imposed:

Sugar Act (1764)

Stamp Act (1765)

Townshend Act (1767) (lead,

paper, paint, glass, and tea)

Tea Act (1773)

Quartering Act (1765) forced

American colonists to provide

housing for British troops


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Stamp Act, 1765 For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper,

on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any declaration, plea,replication, rejoinder, demurrer or other pleading, or any copy thereof; in any

court of law within the British colonies and plantations in America, a stamp

duty ofthree pence. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheetor piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written, or printed, any

special bail, and appearance upon such bail in any such court, a stamp dutyoftwo shillings. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or

piece of paper, on which may be engrossed, written, or printed, any petition,

bill, answer, claim, plea, replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading, in

any court of chancery or equity within the said colonies and plantations, a

stamp duty ofone shilling and six pence. For every skin or piece of vellum or

parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be engrossed, written,or printed, any copyof any position, bill, answer, claim, plea, replication,rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading in any such court, a stamp duty of

three pence.


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Protests and Revolts

No taxation without representation

Slogan at riot in Boston in 1768, inspired by James Otis

Boston became a hotbed of anti-British activity during the1760s, led by activities by the Sons of Liberty.

British Products boycotted.

Boston Tea Party (1773), was a dumping of Tea into Boston

harbor as a protest against the Tax Act.


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The First Continental Congress,

1774 Met in Philadelphia in 1774

56 representatives from 12 ofthe 13 colonies met. Georgia did not send a

delegate.

Organized an economicboycott of English products

Considered of Pennsylvania

conservative JosephGalloways plan of union,which urged creation of an

American parliament to act inconcert with the existingBritish body.


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The First Skirmish April 19, 1775: The Battle of Lexington

between 70 minutemen commandedby Captain John Parker, and 700British soldiers marching on Concord,Massachusetts.

American militia, warned of the British

approach by Paul Revere and others,assembled to halt the British.

Captain Parker: "Stand your ground;don't fire unless fired upon, but if theymean to have a war, let it begin here,"

The Americans refused to dispersewhen ordered to do so by thecommander of the British.

Gunfire was exchanged and

eight Americans were killedbefore the minutemenretreated.


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Declaration of Independence

Drawn up and adopted at

the Second Continental

Congress.

Adopted on 4 July 1776.

Written mostly by

Thomas Jefferson

Heavily influenced by

John Locke, it

emphasized:

the consent of the

governed.

Inalienable rights of Life,

Liberty, and the Pursuit of

Happiness.

The Right of the People to

alter or abolish (a

government) and to

institute a new

government


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Winning Independence

The American colonies faced a distinct

disadvantage in warfare, with a smallmilitia facing off against the most powerfulmilitary nation in the world at the time


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Early Fighting: the Battles of

Concord and Bunker Hill

After the Battle at Lexington, the British

faced stiffer resistance at Concord, Mass.

British withdrew to Boston.

Sniper fire led to losses of nearly 20% of

the British forces.

The British militarily occupied Boston after

the attacks.


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Map of the Early Fighting

Sl d


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Slavery and

Revolution

On 14 November 1775,Virginia Royal GovernorLord Dunmore offeredfreedom to any slaves or

indentured servants inVirginia willing to fightagainst the colonists.

Ideas over the Rights ofMan did not extend toslaves.

Virginia threatened toexecute anyone attemptingto take advantage of

Dunmore's offer.


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Times that Try Mens Souls

Winter of 1776-1777 found the Continental Army

poorly fed and equipped and Congress unable

to appropriate any money to help.

Winter of 1777-1778 found the situationunimproved.

The Continental Army spent the winter

encamped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Of Washingtons 11,000 soldiers, 2,500 either

deserted or were killed by the conditions.


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The Turning Point: Saratoga

British General John Burgoyne planned tobattle the Americans near Buffalo, NY. His plan called for General St. Leger to attack

from the west, General Clinton to attack fromthe south, and Burgoyne would float an army

down the Hudson River and attack from thenorth.

Burgoyne arrived at Saratoga and foundhimself alone.

St. Leger was defeated at the Battle ofOriskany and Clinton, rather than movingNorth actually went further south. Burgoyne quickly found himself surrounded

by American soldiers and, after two battles,was forced to surrender.


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Outside Assistance

Both the British and the American colonists

relied on outside assistance.

British counted on the Hessians, German

mercenaries, for some of their best-trained forces. Geopolitical rivals of the British, including the

French and the Spanish, contributed to the

cause of American independence.

French and Spanish monarchs did not anticipate thatthe success of the American Revolution would inspire

revolutionary movements in their own countries.


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Louisiana Connection:

Bernardo de Galvez

Bernardo de Galvez was the Spanishgovernor of the Louisiana territory duringthe Revolutionary War Before any declaration of war, General

Galvez sent gunpowder, rifles, bullets,blankets, medicine and other supplies toGeneral George Washington.

Galvez repelled a British and Indianattack in St. Louis, Missouri andcaptured the British fort of St. Joseph inpresent-day Niles, Michigan.

With reinforcements from Cuba, Mexico,Puerto Rico, General Galvez capturedMobile and Pensacola, the capital of the

British colony of West Florida

Louisiana Connection II:


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Louisiana Connection, II:

Marquis de Lafayette

In 1777, Lafayette purchased a ship, andwith a crew of adventurers set sail for

America to fight in the revolution against theBritish.

Lafayette joined the ranks as a major

general, assigned to the staff of GeorgeWashington He served with distinction,leading America forces to several victories.

On a return visit to France in 1779,Lafayette persuaded the French

government to send aid to the Americans. After the British surrender at Yorktown,

Lafayette returned to Paris.

One of the first to advocate a NationalAssembly, and worked toward the

establishment of a constitutional monarchy


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The World Turned Upside Down:Yorktown

General Cornwallis retreated to the coast ofYorktown, Virginia for the winter and theprotection of the Royal Navy.

But the French navy had defeated the British fleet atthe Battle of the Capes in September 1780.

Cornwallis arrived at Yorktown trapped betweenthe French navy and the American army.

The Americans and French laid siege to theBritish position

Cornwallis surrendered on 20 October 1781, theend of major fighting in the Revolutionary War.


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Peace of Paris, 1783

British formally recognized U.S.

Independence.


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Loyalists and the Revolution

For many Americans, the

Revolution was a civil war.

The war divided families and

communities between patriot andloyalist.

Most famously, this estranged

Benjamin Franklin from his son

William.

Benjamin Franklin left very little

of his inheritance to William out

of spite.

William Franklin


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Articles of Confederation

First Document

organizing the Nation

did not emphasize Unity

as Strongly as theConstitution.


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Shay's Rebellion

Shay's Rebellion was a revoltby farmers in debt inMassachusetts in 1786 and1787.

The rebellion was led byDaniel Shays.

A Revolutionary War soldierand politician, he hadsympathized with the debtors.

Some concluded that the Article of Confederation did not providefor a strong enough federal government.


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Constitution of the United States

17 September 1787: Constitution signed by 39 of 55 delegates. States instructed to either ratify or reject the constitution as an entire

document but not to offer provisional acceptance based upon anyconditions.

Spared the constitution an endless ratification process with oftencontradictory demands.

Articles of Confederation had required unanimous consent fromthe states for any change in the national government, the

constitution required only the consent of 9 states to be ratified.

R l i S d


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Revolution Spreads

Southwards Uprisings soon spread southward into Latin

America and across the Atlantic.

In South America, Andeans mostly

descendants of Incas but many creole Spaniardsas well revolted against the crown.

In Mexico, a disorganized uprising evolved into

an independence movement for the creole elite.

In Haiti, the first successful slave revolt took

place


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Mexican Independence

Spanish Roots of Latin American Independence

Spains Government of Resistance the Juntas, theRegency, and the Cortes

Corteswrote constitution of 1812 creating legislative,

executive, and judicial branches, freedom of thepress and sovereignty in the nation under the king.

Cortes replacement by an unelected regency wasrejected by juntas.

Ferdinands return to power in 1814 arrived withdetermination to nullify Constitution

Ferdinand overthrown in 1820 in Spain by popularrevolt, the Riego revolt


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Hidalgos Revolt

Creole resentment of peninsular monopoly

on highest government offices Miguel Hidalgo and the Grito de Dolores

Mexican National Symbol Virgin of Guadalupe

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla local priest

Faced the Inquisition for fornication and political

unorthodoxy. Hidalgo joined widespread conspiracy,

which was uncovered.

Hidalgo rang parish bells; gave crowd Gritode Dolores; led a huge, mostly indigenous

mob toward Mexico City. After hesitating on the edge of the colonial

capital, Hidalgos disorganized force wasdispersed and Hidalgo was executed in1811.


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The Independence Movement

under Morelos

Mestizo priest in poor parishes. Used a strategy of small mobile units that forced royalist

divisions to divide.

Won important early victories Gulf Coast, Vera Cruz,Oaxaca and Guerrero.

September 1813: Congress of Chilpancingoproclaimed end to Indian tribute, slavery, andcalled for land reform.

Lost battles after 1813 reduced his control overChilpancingo Congress

By 1815, Congress and its a three-personexecutive committee, was a fugitive body.

Morelos captured while escorting congress,faced Inquisition, executed in December 1815.


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Completing the Uprising:

Iturbide in 1820

General Agustn de Iturbide Royalist General until early skirmishes

with Vicente Guerrero

Well-known for defeating Hidalgos andMoreloss forces.

Created Plan of Iguala, which calledfor Catholic Church supremacy,creole and peninsular equality, and

independence from Spain undermonarchy.

Iturbide served as the first emperorafter independence secured on

S t b 27 1821

a revolutionary era i

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