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Paul Halsall
Modern Western Civilization

Class 10A: The American Revolution

I. Introduction

II. The Discovery of America

III. The European World Economic System

• A. Central and Peripheral Areas
• B. The Slave Trade
  

IV. The English Colonies

• A. Colonial Life
• B. Colonial Government
• C. Colonial Expansion
  

V. The Road to Independence

• A. America and the Enlightenment
  American Thinkers
  Benjamin Franklin
  Thomas Jefferson.
• B. The French and Indian War 1756-1763
  France vs. GB. Only after Britain won did the colonists start to make a fuss about taxation.
• C. Colonial Discontent
  1. Trade System/Navigation Acts
  2. Extent of Regulation - Benign neglect no more
• 3. Relations with Parliament
• 4. 1768-1774
  Tea Acts
  Quebec Act
  Intolerable Acts
  

VI. Rebellious Actions

• A. 1774 First Continental Congress
• B. 1775 Skirmishes at Lexington
  

VII. Opinion Changers

• A. Thomas Paine, the writer of Common Sense, was also later to be involved in defending the French Revolution.
• B. 1775 Common Sense
  

VIII. Great Men ?

• A. Thomas Jefferson
• B. Benjamin Franklin
• C. George Washington
• D. Benedict Arnold
  

IX. Declaration of Independence 1776

• This drew heavily on liberal ideals; for instance in justifying the revolution, in its emphasis on human rights, and the rights of property.
  Self evidence?
• Unfair view of George III.
  

X. The War

• 1775 Lexington
• 1778 Alliance with France
• 1781 British Defeat at Yorktown
• 1783 Treaty of Paris
  

XI. Revolution or War of Independence?

• A War of Independence?
  Elite classes remain in charge
  Poor whites not represented
  Blacks still slaves
• B. Revolutionary Social Change
  1. Departure of Loyalists (60,000)
  2. Leveling effect of inflation
  3. Creation of New mythology
• C. A Country With a Mission
  

XII. The Governance of the New Country

• A. States
• B. Articles of Confederation 1781 - Loose Union
• C. Problems
  
  

XIII. The Making of the Constitution 1787

• A. Why?
  1. For economic reasons (Charles Beard)
  2. For Democracy
• B. Philadelphia 1787
• C. New Notion - Federalism
  cf. Confederation (Joint citizenship)
  

XIV. The Constitution

• A. Rationale
  Freedom from government [Discussion: What does government do?]
  Built in Gridlock
• B. British Models
  1. English Institutions
  -Bicameral legislature
  -Single executive
  -Common law rules
  2. John Locke
  Government as a contract.
• C. French Models
  1. Montesqueiu - Separation of Powers
  2. Rousseau - Popular Sovereignty
• D. American Experiences
  1. New England town meetings
  Colonial assemblies (unlike anything in England)
  State constitutions (e.g. Virginia)
  2. Example of Iroquois Confederation?
• E. Separation of Powers
  1. Executive Presidency (=King)
  2. Congress (=Parliament)
  3. Judiciary (=Judges)
• F. American Originality
  Formalizing of Arrangements
  
  

XV. Federalists and Anti-Federalists

• A. Federalists:
  Alexander Hamilton
  Strong government
• B. Anti-Federalists:
  Thomas Jefferson
  Limited government
  

XVI. The Bill of Rights

• The Bill of Rights was written by Federalists to defend  individuals against state power.
  
  

XVII. The Party System

• A. Early Intentions
• B. George Washington
• C. John Adams
• D. Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans (i.e. Democrats)
  

XVIII. America - The Enlightenment Project

• A. The Constitution used many Enlightenment ideas.
  Locke - "Life, Liberty and Property".
  - The idea of just opposition to despotism.
  Montesquieu - The idea of separation of powers.
  B. Creation of a New Society
  C. Civil Religion of the United States
  D. Overwhelming cultural importance given to notion of the Individual
  Who was an individual
  

XIX. America: A City on a Hill?

• America was an example of practical freedom
  The Goldene Medina
  This had a definite effect on Europe.