Milestone Events 1700-180: Colonies Grow Up, Rising Conflict with Mother England, the American Revolution, Independence, & The Federalist Era
1730’s/1740’s
First Great Awakening
First mass social movement in America – crossed denominational lines
Democratized American religion (any individual could repent & change)
Broke down social barriers (rich/poor)
“New Lights” preachers emphasized emotion more than reason & used more antics & electrifying sermons
Jonathan Edwards
Most important American-born preacher during Great Awakening
Congregationalist
1734 Northampton, MA revival started Awakening few years later
Condemned concept of earning heaven by works – stressed dependence on God’s grace
Fiery Sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
Like most evangelical preachers during Great Awakening, used fear of divine punishment to bring audience to repentance (yet Edwards was far more than a “hellfire” preacher)
1757 – president of Princeton but died of smallpox
George Whitefield
English-born; educated at Oxford; ordained Anglican minister; cross-eyed
Visited America 7 times – traveled 4000 miles in colonies in 1740 alone
Heard by 25% of colonists in mostly huge outdoor revivals
Orator of rare gifts
Wild reactions of audiences
“Spoke from the heart and full of love”
Message: people must have personal “rebirth” directly from God (rejected by mainstream Anglicans who called him Dr. Squintum)
Franklin did experiment to prove voice could carry to tens of thousands in Philadelphia
Died most famous preacher in colonies in 1770 (buried in MA; eulogy by Phillis Wheatley
Reaction to Great Awakening
Divided older Protestant faiths (Congregationalists and Presbyterians)
Newer Protestant faiths more receptive: Baptists, Methodists
Started new colleges: Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth
“Old Lights” attacked new preachers as unscholarly and unlearned
1739
Old Stono Revolt (Sept. 9, 1739)
Site: Below Charleston, SC along Old Stono Creek (today towns of Ravenel & Hollywood)
Started when slaves swarmed a nearby store, arming themselves – marched thru plantations
Killed 30 slaves and 60 colonists – largest and deadliest slave revolt in colonial N.Am.
Up to 100 slaves – involved – group caught by SC militia
Scared white SC very much
1754
Albany Congress – commissioners from 7/13 different colonies met in NY to confer with Iroquois chiefs about joint defense against French & their allied Indians
Benjamin Franklin – delegate from PA – drew up a plan to unite the colonies under one govt. for common defense (FIRST ATTEMPT at UNITY)
The Albany Congress adopted BF’s plan, but the various colonial assemblies picked it apart
“1st Political Cartoon in America” (“Join or Die” by B. Franklin)
1754
Start of French and Indian War
Issues: France and England competing over the interior of North America – esp. the Ohio River Valley
French built string of strong forts – Ft. Duquesne (Pittsburgh)
VA sends in George Washington with 150 militia to harass the French
1754
Washington – gets lucky and with first shots, French officer is killed
Then GW builds Ft. Necessity – French surround it and lay siege for 10 hrs. – GW surrenders fort on July 4th
War expands to Europe (“Seven Years War”), West Indies, Africa, Philippines
1763
End of French and Indian War – Treaty of Paris
France loses virtually all of North America except small sugar islands in West Indies
French speakers in Quebec now British subjects
Spain gets all of Louisiana Territory
Spain trades FL to get Cuba back from Eng.
1763
Pontiac’s Rebellion – Ohio River Valley
Ottawa Chief whose goal is to drive Brits out
Killed 2000 colonists – burned backwoods of PA, MD, and VA
Germ warfare used by Brits: smallpox blankets
1763
Proclamation of 1763
King of England George III forbids settlement beyond the App. Mtns.
Goal: try to prevent another Indian uprising
Annoyed the Americans who felt it was their right to move west – ignored by men like Dan’l Boone (settled TN and KY)
1765
Quartering Act
Colonists forced to billet (lodge) Redcoat soldiers in their private homes
Deeply resented (later inspired Third Amendment)
1765
Stamp Act – tax on all paper documents designed by PM George Grenville
Actually an embossed stamp to paper (not postal stamp)
Infuriated colonists b/c of Admiralty Court (no trial by jury, burden of proof on defendant)
English used to paying much heavier stamp tax
1765
Colonists claim “No taxation without representation” – Grenville claims “virtual rep.” for colonists
Stamp Act Congress forms in NYC (9/13) – drafts statement of rights & grievances to King
King George III ignores this
Female Response
“Nonimportation” (boycott) of Brit. Goods
Homespun clothing: linsey-woolsey
Utilize chicory plant instead of British tea
“Daughters of Liberty”
Male Response
“Sons of Liberty” – famous agitator Samuel Adams of Boston (“Penman of the Rev.”) – author of “circular letters” – organized Boston’s “committees of correspondence”
Vandalism/theft
Intimidating Stamp Officials
“Tarring and Feathering”
Caused major rift between Ben Franklin and son William
1767
Back-story: Grenville fired/Stamp Act repealed
Townshend Acts – devised by new Prime Minister Charles Townshend
Indirect tax on 5 colonial products: paint, paper, glass, lead, tea
Irritated colonies again – so they restarted non-importation and protest
1770
Boston Massacre – March 5th
Small group of colonials attack a British sentry – other Redcoats came in to rescue
5 Bostonians killed (including Crispus Attucks)
Villains or Martyrs?
Paul Revere’s Engraving = Propaganda
1773
Boston Tea Party
Led by Sons of Liberty and Samuel Adams
Sparked by anger over royal monopoly given to British East India Tea Co,
£18,000 worth of damage
1774
Royal Anger – Coercive Acts (“Intolerable Acts”)
Port of Boston Act – shuts down Boston – martial law – curfew
Quebec Act – Parliament allows Canadians right to settle in Ohio River Valley – allegations by Americans of “Popery”
1774
First Continental Congress – met in Phila.
12/13 colonies
55 distinguished men
Instituted a boycott called “The Association”
Agreed to meet again if needed – not ready for clean break with England yet
1775
Start of the Revolution “Shot Heard Round the World” (Emerson)
Gen. Thomas Gage leaves Boston to arrest dudes and seize cache of weapons (rumor)
Lexington and Concord, MA – 30 miles away – warned by Revere, Dawes, Prescott
Lexington – colonists run, 8 killed
Concord – turn and fight at Old North Bridge, repulse Brits, use guerilla tactics, 250 Brits killed
1775
2nd Continental Congress meets in Phila (May) – all 13 – selects GW as commander-in-chief – still tries to suck up to King
Battle of Breed’s (Bunker’s) Hill – (June 17) – Lord Wm. Howe’s regulars vs. Gen. Artemis Ward’s buckskins on top of hill
“Pyrrhic Victory” for Brits. – over 1000 casualties (Americans under 400)
Point of No Return – King George declares state of rebellion
1776
Cont. Congress appoints committee to write a “Declaration of Independence” (J. Adams, Jefferson, Franklin)
Jefferson – age 32 – primary author – had to strip out controversial slavery reference, borrowed heavily from John Locke
America’s Birthday - July 4th ???
Worldwide impact – put America on side of liberty vs. “tyranny” – inspired the world – got us foreign help later (particularly the French)
1776
Thomas Paine – Common Sense – published in Jan. as pamphlet (“Pamphleteer of the Rev.”)
Overnight bestseller – 20,000 copies
Bolstered Patriot morale greatly – GW fond of it
Later that year, publishes The Crisis – labels Tories as cowards
1777
“Turning Point of the War in the North”
“Burgoyne’s Blunder” at Saratoga NY: surrenders 6000 men to the American commander H.Gates (Arnold and Allen deserve credit)
This led to Franco-American Alliance next year
French waited to see if Americans could best British Forces in major battle
1777
GW forced to evacuate Philadelphia (capital), encamp at Valley Forge, PA for winter
Typhus, dysentery, pneumonia rampant
2000 die out of 12,000
GW sends for Baron Von Steuben to bolster men, give them discipline
"To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes ... without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled." -George Washington at Valley Forge, April 21, 1778
1780
Kings Mountain – Oct. 7 – “Turning Point of the War in South”
Mountain Men (Pats) vs. Tories – no British regulars there – Scot. Maj. Patrick Ferguson killed
“Bunker Hill in Reverse”
Patriot victory followed up the next year by victory at “the Cowpens”
1781
Battle of Yorktown – Cornwallis surrender
Washington + Lafayette + Rochambeau combines forces hem in Brits by land – French 50% of troops
French Admiral De Grasse him Brits in by sea
“The World Turned Upside Down”
1781
Articles of Confederation had been adopted by 2nd Cont. Congress back in 1777 – but final action delayed until now
America’s First Constitution – in effect 1781-1789
Designed purposefully to be WEAK form of national govt. called a CONFEDERATION
Weakness of the Articles
No executive branch
No Judicial branch
Unicameral Congress – ea. State 1 vote
2/3’s vote on important bills – unanimous vote to amend
NO POWER to regulate commerce
NO POWER to levy taxes – ask states for $
NO POWER to conscript army – ask states for troops
1783
Formal adoption of Treaty of Paris ending Am. Rev.
3 Amer. Negotiators: J. Adams, Franklin, John Jay
Generous USA borders: Great Lakes to Spanish FL, West to Miss. R.
USA promises to pay Loyalists for confiscated lands; England promises to abandon forts on US soil along Great Lakes and not incite Indians
1786
Shay’s Rebellion – led by poor farmer Daniel Shays in MA – class dispute
Issue: bank foreclosures on farms
Shays’ men seize courts in Western part MA – scare the rich’s fear of “MOBOCRACY”
Pointed out weakness of Articles – maybe need stronger central govt. for crises
1787
Constitutional Convention (“Miracle at Philadelphia”)
55 delegates – “demigods” – men of property from 12 states (RI did not send any delegates)
Elected George Washington as chairman
James Madison takes notes of proceedings, wrote Virginia Plan (formed the model for the Constitution)
Gouverneur Morris of PA wrote the final draft copy and the Preamble
Madison = "Father of the Constitution" / Morris = "Penman of the Constitution"
Oldest member = Franklin (age 81) – sleeps mostly, jokes, adds levity to proceedings
Features of U.S. Constitution and “A Bundle of Compromises”
“Great Compromise” (also CT Comp.) – solves representation with bicameral leg.
“3/5’s Compromise” – solves issue of how to count slaves for census/apportionment
20-year extension on importation of African slaves (thru 1808)
Federalism – strong central govt. with defined powers; all other powers left up to states (10th A)
President – four-year term, can reelect
“Checks and balances” system and “Separation of Powers” (Leg./Exec./Jud. Branches)
Ratification Debate
“Federalists” versus “Anti-Federalists”
Need 9 out of 13 states to ratify
1st state – DE; 8th state – SC; 9th state NH
Last two holdouts: NC (12) and RI (13)
Importance of propaganda: Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison, & Jay designed to “sell” the Constitution and allay people’s fears
To win over Anti-Feds, Feds promise new govt will add a “Bill of Rights”
Famous Anti-Feds: Thomas Jefferson & Patrick Henry
Went into effect on June 21, 1788 when NH ratified document
1788: first electoral college - unanimously elected Washington (won all 69 electoral votes); Adams becomes V.P.
1789
Washington takes office --- balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in NYC
French Revolution begins inspired by American ideas of liberty – Bastille stormed, French pass Declaration of the Rights of Man, “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality,” Lafayette supports
GW’s Innovations as First President
Cabinet meeting
First cabinet: Jeff (State), Ham (Treasury), Henry Knox (War) and Edmond Randolph (Justice)
Simple title “Mr. President”
GW grave and dignified, yet humble
1791
Bill of Rights added
Amendments 1-10 (need to know them)
Authored by Madison (“Father of the Constitution”)
Bedrock of American liberties
First Amendment = “Five Freedoms”
1792
GW reelected to second term (unanimous electoral votes - all 132); takes oath at Congress Hall in Philadelphia
Adams reelected as VP
Intra-cabinet splits: Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Hamilton writes economic plan to start National Bank, assume all state debts into one national debt, make money with tariffs and excises - Jefferson opposes – GW favors
Loose construction vs. Strict Construction – Bank Battle – Hamilton wins
First Two Political Parties
FEDERALISTS (F) vs. “REPUBLICANS” (“D-R”, “Jeffersonian Republicans”)
Founder: Hamilton (F) vs. Jefferson (DR)
Types of People Attracted: Social Elites/Professionals (F) vs. Farmers/Small Shopkeepers (DR)
Foreign Policy: Pro-British (F) vs. Pro-French (DR)
Economic Policy: Controlled National Debt=Good Thing (F) vs. National Debt=Bad Thing (DR)
View of Central Govt: Pro-Federal Govt. should be stronger (F) vs. Pro-State Govts. should be stronger (DR)
1793
French Revolution expanding in Europe
GW issues Neutrality Proclamation stating US will not take a side in Euro. Disputes
France is miffed – thinks US ungrateful for help back in the day
GW knows we are too young, broke, and weak for another war
1794
Whiskey Rebellion – PA
Poor farmers use whiskey like money – refuse to pay Ham’s excise tax
Ham urges GW to pounce – 13,000 troops sent it – farmers flee
2 ringleaders arrested, GW pardons
SYMBOLISM: New Federal Constitution + Fed. Govt. = strong
1794
Jay’s Treaty – GW sends John Jay to London
Main issue: stop seizing American ships, evacuate forts on US land
Jay returns with no word on seizures and same old promise on forts – Jeff’s D-Rs accuse Jay of selling out
Treaty is UNPOPULAR
1795
Pinckney’s Treaty – POPULAR
Issue: US access to Miss. River and Port of New Orleans, disputed land N. of Span. FL
Spain gives USA everything it wants
1796
GW’s Farewell Address
Warns US about permanent alliances with foreign govts and dangerous effects of political parties
GW decides to retire after serving 2 terms as president – set a PRECEDENT
1796 Election: Federalist John Adams wins over D-R Jefferson (who becomes VP): 71 - 68 EV
1797
US angry over French seizing of ships
Adams sends Jay, Gerry, Pinckney to meet with Talleyrand in Paris
XYZ Affair: three Frenchmen – X,Y,Z – offer to set up meeting for $240,000
“Millions for defense, not 1 cent for tribute”
US ambassadors outraged, return home
Americans want war with France – Quasi-War Begins next year in West Indies
1798
Alien and Sedition Acts – signed by Adams
Make it a crime to criticize the President or current Congress
Target: Jeff’s D-Rs – 10 supporters jailed
Jefferson outraged – also Madison (switch)
Jefferson authors KY Resolution, Madison authors VA Resolution – states can refuse federal laws – beginning of states’ rights
1800
“Quasi War” heats up: 1798-1800
New French leader, Napoleon, decides to ease up with America
Adams decides to make peace – unpopular – suffers politically
Convention of 1800 – ends old F-A Alliance of 1778