THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION:
(1763-1775)
Period 3 (1754-1800)
Key Concept 3.2
After declaring independence, American political leaders created new
constitutions and declarations of rights that articulated the role of the state and federal
governments while protecting individual liberties and limiting both centralized power and
excessive popular influence.
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and Constitution (1783-89)
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AMERICAN REVOLUTION (1775-1783)
Am (Dis) Advantages
difficulty raising funds, troops, supplies
from individual states
20% favored the Crown
Home field advantage; experiences
of Fr/Ind War
Poorly trained troops
Allied French and Oneidas
GWash
Brit (Dis)Advantages
Winning reputation; Army and Navy superiority
Underestimated Am resolve
Had necessary finances
Far from home; supply-line issues
Hired German Hessians
Did not adapt to Am battle strategies
Support of most Am Inds
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and Constitution (1783-89)
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CONCLUSION OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Treaty of Paris Delegates Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John Adams
Ratified by the A-C Congress, January 14, 1783
Terms
Britain recognizes American Independence
Unlimited US access to fishing rights of
Newfoundland
Boundaries:
BRIT creditors and merchants may collect
owed debts by Ams
Loyalists owed compensation
for confiscated property
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and Constitution (1783-89)
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GrBrit recognized Am sovereignty,
but did not respect it
States drafted state constitutions:
limited govt power; guaranteed rights
AM REV EFFECTS
Destruction of Iroquois Nation;
opened Am western expansion
Am Rev influenced other parts of the world
(French)
Enlightenment ideas moved some to oppose slavery;
question role of women in society/politics
States ratify Articles of Confederation: our first Constitution (rules for a central govt)
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and Constitution (1783-89)
4
PROBLEMS BEFORE WE BEGAN SELF-RULE
Underdeveloped manufacturing
mercantilism flooded Am with British goods.
Neglected infrastructure
Inadequate roads for commerce
Inflation
No uniform currency, arbitrary values of
notes issued by private banks and states
Interstate trade barriers
States not working together to promote commerce
State debt
States raised taxes to cover Am Rev debt
Lack of respect from our “friends”
British Troops remained in Ohio Valley
British and French not respecting sovereignty and
trade rights.
post war economic depression
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and Constitution (1783-89)
5
OUR FIRST ATTEMPT AT SELF-RULE
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and
Constitution (1783-89)
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ARTICLES OF CONFEDEATION
MAJOR FEATURES
Federalism Power divided between two sets of government: one national
and several regional (state) governments
One Branch: a unicameral Congress
Congress no power to tax
One vote per state
national laws have to be approved by the states
No national currency
No executive authority
No authority for Congress to regulate foreign or interstate trade
No national military to keep order within the states, protect our
borders or Am trade ships
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and Constitution (1783-89)
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PROBLEMS BEFORE WE BEGAN SELF-RULE
BUT…a couple of Accomplishments
Manages a successful (yet inefficient) end to Am
Rev: Treaty of Paris
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Northwest of 1787
Western lands organized, surveyed into parcels to
be sold to buyers for settlement of towns
Monies raised to promote public education
Rules to govern western territories
Process to create into states
Limiting the expansion of slavery in the Ohio Valley
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and Constitution (1783-89)
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turning point
Shay’s Rebellion (1786)
Mass raises taxes to pay off war debt.
Economic recession; many farmers
unable to pay taxes – keep their farms.
Farmers take up arms – raid court houses.
Mass. Militia sides with Shay; merchants
pay for vol soldiers
Annapolis Convention (1786)
States recognized need to fix A-C:
Agree to send delegates to
Philadelphia.
CHPTR 9: The Confederation and
Constitution (1783-89)
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