Articles, Battles & Comparisons Independence Colonial movement Grassroots elites fueled by movements

Examples: • John Dickinson’s Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania • Sons of Liberty & Committees of Correspondents Inspired by Enlightenment ideals

Superiority of rep. Indiv. talent over self-government hereditary privilege • John Locke’s Social • Adam Smith’s Wealth Contract of Nations • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

HUGE BEST SELLER, “COMMON SENSE” 1776 Protestant religious fervor • Americans as “chosen people” blessed with liberty  Local supplies  French allies (eventually)  Foreign help (Pulaski, LaFayette, etc.)  Propaganda  Strong political leaders  Strong military leaders  Know geography  Tough, self-reliant  Defensive war  CAUSE  Naval blockade power  Regular army  Recruited Indians, slaves, foreigners  Hessians (German mercenaries)  More people  Money  Reputation  Established government  Lack of recognition  Badly disorganized  No money  Articles of Confederation (tax)  Outnumbered  Disunited government  Tories/Loyalists (1/3)  All goods/army had to be shipped  Didn’t know who the enemy was (guerilla warfare)  Didn’t know geography  Mistakes  Offensive war  Had to win  Other distractions • June 1775 Bunker • Deadliest battle-1,000 redcoats and 450 colonists Hill

• Christmas 1776 Trenton • crosses Delaware: beat Hessians

• October 1777 Saratoga • Turning Point: British defeat convinces French

• Winter 1777-78 Valley • Terrible Conditions Forge

• 1781 York- • Cornwallis surrenders town  British in New York  Washington Crossing the Delaware  Trenton British British Strategy Blunders

Howe’s Cut the US military in two mistakes

Howe’s Use personal advantages flaws  Colonial troops retreat then surprise British at Saratoga

 Significance? • Convinces France that colonists can win “These are the times that try men’s souls”

--Thomas Paine Britain’s New True Strategy Revolution John Jay

Ben Franklin British recognized independence

Land up to MS River

Fishing rights (Newfoundland) To support payment of damages for loyalists’ property

Never did! Trade agreement with England

Free navigation of MS River Inspires rebellions elsewhere: • France • Haiti • Latin America, etc. The Articles of Confederation (1781-1787)  Land Ordinance of 1784 & 1785 • Proposed by Jefferson • Created “grid system” (Township System)  Reserved land for schools—significance?

of 1787 • Established criteria for statehood No power in No central $ central gov. system

No No power to regulation of enforce trade treaties

No military power Shay’s Rebellion Interstate fight over trade Weaknesses of the Articles