APUSH Unit 3 REVIEW [Period 3: 1754-1800]—Everything You NEED to Know!

Introduction to the American Revolution

Overview of the Time Period

• The discussion covers the period from 1754 to 1800, marking significant events such as the French and Indian War and ending with Thomas Jefferson's election.

Act Structure

• The content is divided into three acts:

• Act One focuses on the causes of the American Revolution.

• Act Three addresses migration and conflict.

Causes of Conflict

French and British Tensions

• A primary conflict arose between France and Britain over disputed territories in the Ohio River Valley, which was claimed by both nations.

• Indigenous groups were also involved, leading to alliances formed to defend their rights to these lands. Notably, groups like the Shawnee played a crucial role.

Global Implications of War

• The war expanded beyond North America, affecting Europe, India, and Africa; it is considered one of the first true world wars.

Colonial Response to British Policies

Spanish Involvement

• Spain ceded Florida to Britain but later allied with France during the war, complicating post-war negotiations that favored British interests.

Proclamation Line of 1763

• Following territorial gains, Britain established a Proclamation Line preventing colonists from moving westward past the Appalachians due to conflicts with Native Americans. This decision frustrated many colonists who felt entitled to land after supporting Britain in wartime efforts.

Growing Colonial Discontent

Taxation Without Representation

• As tensions rose due to new taxes imposed by Parliament for war debts (e.g., Stamp Act), colonists protested vehemently against taxation without representation in Parliament. This sentiment stemmed from their accustomed self-governance prior to increased British control.

Virtual Representation Argument

• George Grenville argued that colonists had virtual representation in Parliament; however, this perspective was largely rejected by those feeling disenfranchised by new tax laws aimed at extracting revenue from them directly.

Organized Resistance

Formation of Committees

• By 1774, most colonies had established networks for organizing protests against perceived injustices through committees that disseminated information rapidly about colonial grievances.

Stamp Act Congress

• The Stamp Act Congress convened in 1765 as a formal protest against taxation without representation; they sought recognition as British subjects while asserting their rights under British law despite growing tensions with Parliament's authority over them.( t =382 s )

Escalation Towards Revolution

Key Events Leading Up To War

• Significant incidents such as:

• The Boston Massacre (1770), where British soldiers killed five civilians.

• The Boston Tea Party (1773), where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor protesting taxation.

• Britain's punitive response through Intolerable Acts (1774), including closing Boston Harbor until damages were paid and enforcing quartering troops in colonial homes intensified hostilities further towards revolution.

Colonial Perspectives on the Intolerable Acts

The Impact of the Intolerable Acts

• The laws known as the Intolerable Acts were widely recognized and discussed among colonists, reflecting their strong opposition to British rule.

Arguments for Independence

• Kammen argued that the Declaration of Independence was seen as the only chance for colonists to preserve their freedom against British oppression.

• Thomas Paine's arguments resonated deeply with colonists, utilizing ideas already ingrained in their beliefs.

Religious Justifications

• Paine employed biblical arguments, particularly referencing the monarchy's development in the Old Testament and its perceived sinful nature according to God.

Factors Leading to American Victory

Key Factors for British Success

• Two main factors could have contributed to a British victory: loyalty from loyalists and undeniable military superiority. A loyalist was defined as someone who remained loyal to Britain during the revolution.

• Only about half of the population supported independence, indicating significant division among colonists.

Military Superiority of Britain

• Britain had spent much of the previous century building a global empire, which provided them with extensive military experience through constant warfare.

Unexpected Outcomes in Warfare

American Leadership and Strategy

• Despite initial disadvantages, Americans won due to George Washington's leadership; he managed some key victories despite early losses by poorly equipped troops.

• Washington’s surprise attack on Hessian troops demonstrated that American victories were possible even without strategic advantages initially. Additionally, he hired Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben to train Continental Army soldiers, significantly improving discipline and effectiveness.

The Role of Alliances

French Support

• The Continental Congress sent Benjamin Franklin to France in 1776 seeking support against Britain; however, France hesitated until they saw evidence of potential American success after Saratoga in 1777. This pivotal battle led France to ally with America by providing troops and supplies essential for victory over Britain.

Ideological Commitment Among Colonists

Existential Struggle for Freedom

• The ideological commitment and resilience among colonists played a crucial role; while Britain fought primarily for economic interests, patriots viewed it as an existential struggle for freedom from tyranny—this difference fueled their determination leading up to victory in 1781 at Yorktown.

Post-Revolutionary Ideals

Revolutionary Ideals Challenging Inequality

• Revolutionary ideals prompted demands for eliminating social inequalities; Jefferson’s assertion that "all men are created equal" led many African Americans to believe slavery contradicted these principles within the new republic context.

Regional Attitudes Towards Slavery

• Different regional attitudes emerged regarding slavery's compatibility with revolutionary ideals; Pennsylvania proposed gradual abolition while Southern elites resisted due to economic dependence on slavery for wealth and status.

Voting Rights Limitations

Understanding the Weaknesses of the Early U.S. Government

The Call for Addressing Inequality

• The demands to combat inequality stemmed from the revolutionary ideas that shaped the nation’s foundation.

Weaknesses of the Federal Government

• There are five key weaknesses identified in the federal government during this period:

• Weakness in Trade: The federal government lacked sufficient power to address international trade issues.

• Economic Challenges: A significant lack of central authority made it difficult for the young nation to resolve economic problems effectively.

• State Competition: States competed against each other for economic advantages, hindering free trade and creating disputes that the federal government could not resolve due to its limited powers under the Articles of Confederation.

• Foreign Relations Issues: Despite losing, Britain maintained military presence in territories, which highlighted federal impotence as they couldn't raise an army to enforce peace terms.

• Shays' Rebellion: This uprising by farmers in Massachusetts underscored governmental weaknesses, revealing fears of further rebellions due to unpaid debts and soldiers’ compensation issues.

Consequences of Shays' Rebellion

• Shays' Rebellion illustrated a critical weakness in governance; it raised alarms about potential widespread unrest if no action was taken against such uprisings. The inability to pay soldiers or form a militia led many to conclude that a new constitution was necessary.

Legislative Developments

• One positive outcome during this tumultuous time was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which established regulations for unoccupied territories acquired through treaties and set guidelines for future states joining the Union while prohibiting slavery in those areas.

The Constitutional Convention and Its Outcomes

Formation of a New Constitution

• In 1787, delegates convened with an initial goal to revise the Articles but quickly shifted focus towards drafting an entirely new constitution. This marked a pivotal moment in American governance history.

Structure of Government Established by Constitution

• The new Constitution introduced a system characterized by separation of powers among three branches:

• Legislative Branch: Responsible for law-making (Congress).

• Executive Branch: Tasked with enforcing laws (President).

Federalism Defined

• Federalism emerged as a governing system where power is shared between national and state governments, delineating specific powers exclusive to each level (e.g., declaring war vs conducting elections).

Debates on Representation

• Significant debates arose regarding representation within Congress:

• Virginia Plan proposed representation based on population size favoring larger states.

• Resulted in "The Great Compromise," establishing a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in one house and equal representation in another (Senate).

Three-Fifths Compromise

The Formation of Political Parties in Early America

The Compromise of the Constitution

• The Constitution created during the convention was not universally liked, indicating it was a series of necessary compromises.

Presidential Term Limits and Washington's Legacy

• Initially, there were no term limits for presidents; however, George Washington voluntarily stepped down after two terms, setting a precedent that lasted until Franklin Roosevelt's election to a third term in 1940.

• The 22nd Amendment later formally limited presidential terms to two. Washington’s farewell address warned against political parties and entangling foreign alliances.

Establishment of the Judiciary System

• The Judiciary Act of 1789 established a three-tiered federal court system consisting of 13 district courts, three circuit courts, and the Supreme Court with six justices. This structure has largely remained intact since its inception.

Emergence of Political Parties

• Political parties emerged despite initial resistance from the framers of the Constitution due to differing opinions on governance among factions within the new republic. These factions evolved into two main parties: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

• Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, supported strong federal government measures while Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, favored state power.

Key Policies and Conflicts

• Hamilton proposed establishing a National Bank to enhance U.S. creditworthiness and stimulate economic growth despite constitutional ambiguities regarding such an institution. This proposal faced significant opposition from Democratic-Republicans who viewed it as overreach by the federal government.

Whiskey Rebellion as a Test for Federal Authority

• The Whiskey Rebellion (1791) exemplified tensions between farmers and federal authority when Congress imposed a whiskey tax to raise revenue under Hamilton's guidance; this rebellion tested the government's ability to maintain order compared to previous Articles of Confederation governance.

Foreign Policy Influences on Party Development

• External events like the French Revolution influenced party lines; Federalists feared American involvement would jeopardize trade interests leading President Washington to issue a neutrality proclamation protecting U.S. commerce from foreign conflicts.

Legislative Actions Reflecting Party Divisions

The Impact of Migration on Native American Relations

Resolutions Against Alien Acts

• Virginia and Kentucky passed resolutions declaring the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable.

The Dream of Westward Expansion

• The westward migration was seen as a dream for many Americans eager to settle in new lands, despite facing opposition from Spanish, British forces, and Native American groups.

Conflicts Arising from Migration

• The influx of migrants into Western territories led to conflicts as Americans sought to claim land inhabited by Native Americans, asserting ownership against European powers.

Displacement of Native Americans

• As settlers moved in without legal land claims, Native Americans were displaced into smaller territories, forming alliances to resist white settlement. Britain’s failure to withdraw troops as per the Treaty of Paris exacerbated tensions.

Military Response to Conflict

• In response to increasing conflicts, George Washington dispatched about 2,000 American soldiers to Ohio in 1794. They fought in the Battle of Fallen Timbers against a coalition of Native Americans.

Treaties That Shaped Westward Expansion

Victory and Its Aftermath

• U.S. troops won decisively at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, leading to the Treaty of Greenville which opened Ohio for settlement without resistance.

Treaties with Britain and Spain

• In the same year as the Treaty of Greenville, Jay's Treaty was signed with Britain for troop withdrawal from western borders. Two years later, Pinckney's Treaty recognized boundaries between U.S. and Spanish territory while opening New Orleans and Mississippi River for trade.

The Spread of Slavery Amidst Westward Movement

Economic Motivations for Migration

• Southern planters sought new farmland in the West due to nutrient depletion from cash crops like tobacco and cotton that were in high demand in Europe.

Introduction of Slavery into New Territories

• Planters brought slavery with them during their westward expansion, creating new conflicts within the nation regarding its spread into new territories.

Northern Opposition to Slavery

• While Southerners supported slavery's expansion due to economic dependence on it, Northerners opposed it on moral grounds or viewed unpaid labor as a threat to wage labor systems prevalent in their region.

The Unresolved Debate Over Slavery

Diverging Perspectives on Slavery

• The debate over slavery remained unresolved; some advocated against it on moral grounds (e.g., Quakers), while others opposed it economically fearing competition with free laborers.

Foreshadowing Future Conflict