🇺🇸Honors US History Unit 3 – The American Revolution

Background and Causes

• Increasing tensions between British colonies in North America and the British government in the mid-18th century
• British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs after the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)
• Growing resentment among colonists towards British policies such as the Proclamation of 1763, which restricted westward expansion
• Controversial British taxation measures (Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Tea Act) led to colonial outcry of "no taxation without representation"
  • Stamp Act required printed materials in the colonies to bear an embossed revenue stamp
  • Sugar Act placed duties on imported goods like sugar and molasses
• Colonists argued that these taxes violated their rights as Englishmen since they had no elected representatives in Parliament
• Philosophical influences from the Age of Enlightenment (John Locke's ideas on natural rights and social contract theory) fueled revolutionary sentiment
• Economic motivations as many colonists believed British policies hindered their ability to prosper and trade freely
• Increasing sense of a distinct American identity separate from British identity

Key Players and Groups

• George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and first U.S. President
  • Demonstrated leadership skills during the French and Indian War
  • Presided over the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention
• Benjamin Franklin, prominent Founding Father known for his diplomacy and inventions
• Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence
• John Adams, influential Founding Father and second U.S. President
• Samuel Adams, key organizer of the Boston Tea Party and advocate for independence
• Patrick Henry, known for his "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech
• Loyalists (Tories), colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the Revolution
• Patriots, colonists who supported the revolutionary cause and fought for independence from Britain
• Continental Army, the main military force of the Thirteen Colonies during the Revolutionary War
• Continental Congress, the governing body that coordinated colonial resistance and declared independence
• Sons of Liberty, a secret society that protested British policies and organized resistance
• Committees of Correspondence, a network of communication between colonial advocates of independence

Major Events and Battles

• Boston Tea Party (1773), a protest against the Tea Act where Patriots dumped British tea into Boston Harbor
• Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775), the first armed conflicts of the Revolutionary War
  • "Shot heard round the world" - phrase emphasizing the global significance of these battles
• Battle of Bunker Hill (1775), a costly British victory that demonstrated colonial resolve
• Siege of Boston (1775-1776), a successful colonial campaign to force British troops out of Boston
• Battle of Saratoga (1777), a turning point in the war that convinced the French to ally with the Americans
• Valley Forge (1777-1778), the Continental Army's winter encampment marked by hardship and training under Baron von Steuben
• Siege of Yorktown (1781), the final major battle of the Revolutionary War resulting in British General Cornwallis' surrender
• Treaty of Paris (1783), the agreement that officially ended the war and recognized American independence

Revolutionary Ideas and Documents

• Enlightenment ideals (natural rights, social contract, consent of the governed) shaped revolutionary thought
• "Common Sense" (1776), a pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for independence and republicanism
• Declaration of Independence (1776), the formal statement asserting the colonies' independence from Britain
  • Emphasized the concept of "unalienable rights" (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
  • Listed grievances against King George III to justify the break from British rule
• Articles of Confederation (1777), the first governing document of the United States that created a weak central government
• The Federalist Papers (1787-1788), a series of essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the Constitution
• United States Constitution (1787), the supreme law of the United States establishing a stronger federal government with checks and balances
  • Bill of Rights (1791), the first ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing individual rights and limiting government power

International Impact and Alliances

• France, a key ally of the United States during the Revolutionary War
  • Provided crucial military support (troops, naval assistance, supplies) after the Battle of Saratoga
  • Motivated by a desire to weaken its rival Britain and seek revenge for losses in the Seven Years' War
• Spain, an ally of France that indirectly supported the American cause to challenge British power
• Netherlands, a trading partner that provided loans and diplomatic support to the United States
• American Revolution inspired other revolutionary movements (French Revolution, Latin American independence movements)
• Diplomatic efforts of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson helped secure international recognition and support
• Treaty of Alliance (1778) formalized the French-American alliance against Britain
• Involvement in the Revolutionary War contributed to France's financial crisis and political instability leading up to the French Revolution

Aftermath and Consequences

• United States gained independence and established a republican form of government
• Loyalists faced persecution, property confiscation, and exile; many fled to Canada or Britain
• Native Americans lost British protection and faced increased westward expansion by American settlers
• Slavery continued in the United States despite the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality
  • Many enslaved African Americans fought for the British in exchange for promised freedom
• Economic challenges as the United States sought to establish trade relationships and pay war debts
• Political divisions emerged between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the strength of the central government
• Constitution and Bill of Rights established a framework for American democracy and civil liberties
• Washington's Farewell Address (1796) set precedents for a peaceful transfer of power and neutrality in foreign affairs

Debates and Controversies

• Extent to which the American Revolution was a social and political revolution versus primarily a war for independence
• Contradiction between the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality and the continuation of slavery
• Treatment of Loyalists and the confiscation of their property after the war
• Debate over the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger central government
  • Federalists argued for a more powerful federal government to ensure stability and unity
  • Anti-Federalists favored strong state governments and feared centralized power
• Interpretation of the Constitution and the balance of power between federal and state governments
• Controversy over the Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) and the balance between national security and civil liberties
• Disagreements over foreign policy, particularly regarding relations with Britain and France
• Historical accuracy and mythologizing of key figures and events in the Revolutionary War

Legacy and Modern Relevance

• American Revolution as a model for other democratic and independence movements worldwide
• Principles of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution continue to shape American political discourse
• Ongoing debates over the scope of federal power versus states' rights
• Controversies surrounding the Founding Fathers' views on slavery and race
• Modern interpretations and representations of the American Revolution in popular culture (literature, film, television)
• Preservation of Revolutionary War battlefields and historic sites as symbols of American heritage
• Impact on American national identity and the idea of American exceptionalism
• Relevance of revolutionary ideals in contemporary discussions of civil rights, social justice, and political reform
• Continued influence on U.S. foreign policy and the promotion of democracy abroad
• Significance of the American Revolution in shaping the modern world order and balance of power