The American Revolution | US History to 1865 | Study Hall
Summary
TLDRThis video script from Study Hall US History to 1865 delves into the complexities leading to the American Revolution. It discusses the diverse perspectives of the Colonists, including Indigenous peoples and enslaved individuals, and their varied responses to British rule. Key events like the Stamp Act, Boston Tea Party, and the formation of the Continental Congress are highlighted, illustrating the growing divide between the Colonies and Britain. The script also touches on the roles of women and people of color, the strategic alliances with France, and the ultimate victory at Yorktown, which shaped the new nation's early history.
Takeaways
- 🏰 Before independence, the American Colonies were diverse, with Indigenous peoples, Colonists seeking freedom, loyalists, and fence-sitters.
- 🌳 Indigenous and enslaved communities had distinct interests and were often excluded from the independence discussions.
- 🛡️ The French and Indian War, part of the Seven Years' War, had significant impacts on the Colonies and Britain's relationship.
- 📜 The Stamp Act of 1765 marked the beginning of direct taxation by Britain, leading to increased tensions.
- 🔥 The Boston Massacre in 1770 was a pivotal event that galvanized anti-British sentiment among the Colonists.
- 🍵 The Boston Tea Party in 1773 was a protest against the Tea Act and symbolized resistance to British economic policies.
- 📝 The Intolerable Acts of 1774 further strained relations and were seen as punitive measures by the Colonists.
- ⚔️ The formation of militias and the battles at Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the armed conflict.
- 🗽 The Declaration of Independence in 1776 was a formal assertion of the Colonies' intent to be free from British rule.
- 🤝 The alliance with France provided crucial support to the American cause, both militarily and diplomatically.
Q & A
What was the impact of colonization on Indigenous people in the American Colonies?
-Colonization irrevocably changed the homelands of Indigenous people, leading to their displacement and loss of control over their lands and resources.
Why did some colonists desire independence from England?
-Some colonists were tired of living under the control of the English Crown and felt that independence was necessary to secure their rights and freedoms.
What was the significance of the Stamp Act of 1765 in the lead-up to the American Revolution?
-The Stamp Act was one of the first acts by the British Parliament to directly tax the colonies, which led to increased resentment and protests, marking a step towards the American Revolution.
How did the Boston Massacre influence the sentiment towards the British among the colonists?
-The Boston Massacre served as a rallying cry for colonists eager to separate from the English monarchy, as it was seen as an act of aggression by British soldiers against the colonists.
What was the role of the Sons of Liberty in the American Revolution?
-The Sons of Liberty were instrumental in organizing protests, including the Boston Tea Party, and were key figures in the resistance movement against British rule.
Why were the Intolerable Acts passed by the British Parliament in 1774?
-The Intolerable Acts were passed as punitive measures to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and to reassert British authority over the colonies.
How did the Quebec Act of 1774 affect the relationship between the British and the American Colonies?
-The Quebec Act angered Protestant colonists in New England by allowing the practice of Catholicism in the Canadian colonies, further straining relations and uniting the colonies against British rule.
What was the significance of the Second Continental Congress in 1775?
-The Second Continental Congress marked the formation of an American government in defiance of England's authority and led to the creation of an army under George Washington, signifying a clear move towards independence.
How did the French alliance impact the American Revolution?
-The alliance with France provided the American army with much-needed resources and credibility, which was crucial in their fight against the better-equipped British forces.
What was the role of enslaved people and Indigenous communities during the American Revolution?
-Enslaved people and Indigenous communities had their own interests and were often excluded from the conversation. Some fought for the British in hopes of gaining freedom, while others supported the cause of independence.
What were the consequences of the American Revolution for Indigenous groups, enslaved people, and women?
-Despite the American Revolution leading to independence, Indigenous groups, enslaved and formally enslaved people, and women continued to face institutional prejudice and discrimination, with some policies aiding certain groups while others saw their conditions worsen.
Outlines
🏰 Colonial Diversities and the Road to Revolution
This paragraph outlines the diverse groups within the American colonies prior to independence, including Indigenous peoples, colonists seeking freedom from England, loyalists, fence-sitters, and enslaved individuals. It discusses the differing perspectives on British rule, with some colonists desiring independence and others seeking fair treatment as British subjects. The paragraph also covers the French and Indian War's impact, the Stamp Act's introduction and repeal, and the growing tension between the colonists and the British government. The Boston Massacre is highlighted as a pivotal event that galvanized anti-British sentiment, with John Adams' defense of British soldiers and the symbolic significance of Crispus Attucks' death. The paragraph concludes with the Boston Tea Party, a protest against the Tea Act that further escalated colonial resistance.
🚢 The Boston Tea Party and the Intolerable Acts
The second paragraph delves into the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party, detailing the British East India Company's tea destruction and the personal affront felt by Parliament members. It discusses the various forms of protest by the colonists, including boycotts and attacks on tax collectors, and the significant role women played in finding alternatives to boycotted goods. The paragraph also covers the first Continental Congress, the punitive Coercive Acts passed by Parliament, and the Quebec Act, which further united the colonies against British rule. The formation of colonial militias and the events leading to the shots fired in Lexington and Concord are mentioned, culminating in the creation of an American army under George Washington. The paragraph also touches on the complex motivations of enslaved people and people of color, who had to decide where their liberty lay, and the initial strategies of the Revolutionary War.
🏹 The Southern Strategy and the End of the Revolution
The final paragraph focuses on the British shift to a southern strategy during the Revolution, believing the colonists there were more loyal. It discusses the complex dynamics of the war in the South, where African Americans sought liberty by fighting with the British. The paragraph outlines the reasons for the failure of the southern strategy, including the radicalizing effect of British troops' presence and French assistance in trapping British forces at Yorktown. It highlights the British inability to convert military victories into political persuasion, leading to a belief that the war's cost was too high. The war's conclusion with American control of the land east of the Mississippi and negotiations that secured fishing rights in the Atlantic are covered. The paragraph concludes by noting the post-war realities for Indigenous groups, enslaved and formally enslaved people, and women, who continued to face institutional prejudice, and the abandonment of British loyalists and Indigenous allies during the peace negotiations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Colonization
💡Stamp Act
💡Boston Massacre
💡Boston Tea Party
💡Continental Congress
💡Intolerable Acts
💡Lexington and Concord
💡Declaration of Independence
💡George Washington
💡Yorktown
Highlights
The Colonies were home to a diverse population with varying perspectives on independence from England.
Indigenous people saw their homelands irrevocably changed by colonization.
Some colonists sought independence from the English Crown, viewing it as necessary.
Loyalists wanted to maintain their status as British subjects with equal treatment to those in the Mother Country.
The fence-sitters, a large group, were undecided about the conflict even after it started.
Enslaved and Indigenous peoples had distinct interests and were often excluded from the conversation.
In North Carolina, some enslaved and Indigenous communities considered fighting for the British for potential benefits.
The French and Indian War was a bloody and costly conflict with differing interpretations between the Colonists and England.
The Stamp Act of 1765 marked the beginning of British efforts to increase control and profit from the Colonies.
The repeal of the Stamp Act was followed by more legislation aimed at increasing Britain's wealth from the Colonies.
The Boston Massacre in 1770 served as a rallying cry for those seeking to separate from the English monarchy.
The Boston Tea Party in 1773 was a protest against the Tea Act and a symbol of resistance to British control.
Colonial women played a significant role in boycotts by finding alternatives to boycotted British goods.
The First Continental Congress in 1774 was the first attempt at an American government in defiance of England.
The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive laws passed by Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party.
The Quebec Act allowed Canadian Colonies to practice Catholicism, angering Protestant Colonists.
By 1775, many Colonists had formed militias to demonstrate control over their governance.
The shots fired in Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the armed conflict of the American Revolution.
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4th, 1776, was a pivotal moment in the formation of the United States.
The alliance with France provided the American army with much-needed resources and credibility.
The British failed to convert their military victories into political persuasion, which eventually led to their decision to end the war.
The surrender at Yorktown in 1781 effectively marked the end of the war, despite the official end coming two years later.
The Treaty of Paris secured significant territorial and fishing rights for the newly formed United States.
The American Revolution had mixed outcomes for Indigenous groups, enslaved people, and women, with some facing continued prejudice.
Transcripts
Long before their independence
from England had been achieved,
The Colonies were home to a wide variety of people.
Some were Indigenous people who saw their homelands
irrevocably changed by Colonization.
Some were Colonists tired of living
under the thumb of the English Crown,
and felt independence from the Mother Country
was necessary by any means.
Still others considered themselves
loyal subjects of the King,
and wanted to be treated as British subjects,
no different from those in the Mother Country.
Often overlooked are the fence-sitters,
who were undecided,
and made up a large group,
even after the conflict had started
and enslaved people and Indigenous peoples
had their own interests, vulnerabilities, and power,
and were excluded from the conversation in distinctive ways.
In North Carolina, for example,
some enslaved and Indigenous communities
considered fighting for the British
in hopes of raising their station,
believing that a stronger British rule
would bring with it racial equality.
Up and down the Eastern seaboard,
people had countless opinions
about whether or not to fight,
if they were lucky enough to have a choice,
but all would be involved as the Colonies,
and the different people they contained,
barrel towards the American Revolution.
I'm Dr. Danielle Bainbridge
and this is Study Hall, US History to 1865.
The French and Indian War was technically part
of the larger Seven Years' war
between France and Great Britain.
Referred to as the First World War by Winston Churchill,
it was severely bloody and extremely costly.
It was also interpreted really differently
by the Colonists and many people in England.
In the Colonies, The aftermath included
a series of laws passed by the British Parliament
meant to increase political authority
over the Colonies and render them more profitable,
and while those acts seemed
like reasonable legislation to some,
to others, it was a step on the path to tyranny.
One of the first of these was the Stamp Act
passed in March of 1765.
Previously, each Colony's individual government
had controlled the tax rates in that Colony.
Now it felt like the Crown
was reaching directly into people's pockets,
especially since stamps were required
on a wide range of things, newspapers,
legal documents, even playing cards.
The Stamp Act was eventually repealed,
but more legislation was passed with the same goal,
to increase wealth for Britain.
In the years that followed tension ebbed and flowed,
and many Colonists remained uninterested
in conflict with the Mother Country.
Other Colonists began to think about and protest something
that had not seemed very important earlier,
Colonists lack of representation in Parliament.
So, the distance between the King
and Parliament's view of proper Colonial governance,
and many Colonists view was growing.
In March of 1770, things came to a head in Boston.
Imagine a town in which soldiers
and locals had lived together during a long winter,
with tension growing over politics,
probably some resentment over
competition for part-time work,
and a mutual conviction that the other guys were arrogant.
The Colonists became violent, taunting the soldiers,
and throwing whatever they could find at them.
Soldiers fired into a crowd.
Crispus Attucks, a sailor
of African and Indigenous American descent
was among the first killed,
and has henceforth been known
as the first American to die for the Revolution.
This event served as a rallying cry for Colonists
eager to separate from the English monarchy.
Henry Pelham, an American born engraver from Boston,
created a depiction of the massacre
in which the British soldiers
appeared to be the aggressors,
which helped create sympathy for the anti-British cause.
The engraving was copied and distributed
by Paul Revere of The Midnight Ride fame.
Another Colonist whose name you'll recognize,
John Adams, defended the British soldiers who were brought
to trial for their role in the massacre.
Adams was also part of the resistance movement
but he believed that the Colonist
must claim the high ground, strategically
and sincerely by respecting the rule of law.
For a long time, Great Britain tried to exert more control
and extract more money from the Colonies.
Sometimes it looked like they might succeed
and the chance of conflict receded,
but those moments did not last.
Not all the Colonists were protesting for the same reasons.
Some were angry at their lack
of economic opportunity at home,
and others were more focused on relations with England,
and the protests grew.
In December, 1773, perhaps the most famous protest
in all American history occurred.
Colonists were protesting the Tea Act,
which might actually have
lowered the price of tea for many Colonists,
but had disadvantaged Colonial merchants,
and once again, disrupted Colonists sense of local control.
The Sons of Liberty and other Colonists,
thinly disguised as Mohawks,
crept aboard several ships docked in the Boston Harbor,
and dumped over 92,000 pounds of tea overboard.
The group of rebels made a point of not harming any crew
or damaging the ships themselves.
They were rebels, not vandals,
and they wanted that fact known.
This event later became known as the Boston Tea Party.
We should note that the tea
in the harbor that night belonged
to the British East India Company.
Many shareholders of that company
were members of Parliament,
and took this as a personal attack.
Meanwhile, Colonists were protesting
in other ways as well.
During the days following the Stamp Act,
many Colonists boycotted by refusing to buy stamps.
Some even went as far as to attack the home
of the Boston tax collector, Andrew Oliver.
During all of these boycotts,
Colonial women's roles took on a new significance.
Whatever British goods were being boycotted
at any given time, women had to figure out a workaround.
For example, they came up with homespun
or homemade cloth to clothe their families.
In fact, the majority of British textiles
were boycotted at one point or another,
and women were responsible
for finding ways to replace those products.
For men and women alike, motivations at protests were mixed
with an endless list of dissatisfaction,
however many protest leaders sought
to distance themselves from the mob.
They merely wanted to be treated as Englishmen,
not to be independent from England.
Still, in 1774, the first meeting
of the Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.
This was the first attempt at an American government
in defiance of England's authority.
To punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party,
Parliament passed the 1774 Coercive Acts.
In America, Colonists grouped them with the Quebec Act,
and they became known as the Intolerable Acts.
This was a set of four laws all related to the Tea Party.
First up was the Boston Port Act,
which was designed to blockade Boston's harbor,
and close the port to most traffic.
Next, the Massachusetts Government Act
allowed parliament to replace
all of the elected officials in Massachusetts
using the excuse that the ousted officials
were succumbing to pressure for mobs.
The Act for the Impartial Administration of Justice,
say that five times fast,
allowed British officials charged with capital crimes
to be tried in other Colonies,
or better yet, in England,
and the fourth of the Intolerable Acts,
the Quartering Act, allowed British officers
to commandeer unoccupied buildings
and use them for housing.
The fact that the Colonists called these intolerable
speaks volumes about their feelings
toward the laws being imposed on them,
but the Parliament didn't stop there.
The Quebec Act allowed Canadian Colonies acquired
after the war with France to practice Catholicism,
angering the Protestant Colonists in New England.
The seemingly punitive measures and taxes being levied
against Britain's North American Colonies,
was in fact what united the Colonies against them.
By early 1775, many Colonists had begun to form militias
in an effort to demonstrate some control
over their governance.
In April of that year, British soldiers mobilized,
and marched into Lexington and Concord Massachusetts,
intending to seize weapons,
and quash any chance of rebellion.
Instead, shots were fired,
though historians still debate by which side
and despite some Colonist hopes for a peaceful resolution,
in June, 1775 the Second Continental Congress
created an army with George Washington as its head.
There was no going back now.
Lines were being drawn on all sides.
Enslaved people and people of color
also faced the question of where their liberty lay.
Some would decide that the cause
of independence was theirs, too,
but others risked their lives to fight with the British,
often in response to British offers a freedom
to those who join their lines.
Many people, enslaved and free,
recognized the contradiction
between Colonial demands for liberty
and Colonial reliance on racial slavery.
The British sometimes exploited that contradiction,
but they had no intention
of destroying slavery completely in the Colonies,
because Parliament, like many Colonists,
wanted to preserve the revenue the institution created.
The Union of the 13 Colonies wasn't an easy one either.
When the second Continental Congress convened,
it was the height of summer in Philadelphia.
The attendees struggled to agree,
but by July 4th, 1776 all of them
had adopted the Declaration of Independence,
but that pretty parchment document
took some time to write out,
and it wasn't actually signed until August 2nd.
With the signing of the Declaration,
many Colonists believed they were officially
their own country, separate from British rule.
To respond, Great Britain adopted
and abandoned multiple strategies through The Revolution,
which will only touch on here.
First The British tried to isolate New England.
They believed that that
was where the rebel leaders were coming from,
despite the Declaration of Independence
clearly showing support for the war
throughout the newly founded states.
The French, still the nemesis of Britain
following the French and Indian War,
saw that they shared a common enemy.
American soldiers brokered an alliance with France
providing the American army with much needed resources
against the far better-equipped British army.
The alliance also added credibility
to the brand new United States,
partnering with the European power drew attention
to the American's cause.
The British responded to the failure
of their first strategy by adopting a southern strategy,
believing that colonists in the South
were more loyal to the Crown,
and that their desire to preserve slavery
would prevent them from rebelling.
The Revolution in the South did look
in many ways like a Civil War,
and African Americans pursued their liberty in many ways,
including by fighting with the British.
However, this strategy also failed
for a variety of reasons,
including the unintentionally radicalizing effect
of marching the British army through American territory
and the help of the French
in trapping British forces at Yorktown.
Throughout the war, there was one constant.
The British could not convert their military victories
into political persuasion,
and the Colonists could,
and eventually the British politicians
and public came to believe that the price
of continuing the war in America was too high.
By 1781, the war was leaning in the Americans favor
and the British sought to protect their valuable Colonies
in the Caribbean instead of the North American mainland.
This brought with it the final phase of the war.
The French Navy had gained control of the Chesapeake Bay,
and General Washington rushed his troops south,
in order to trap British General Cornwallis,
and over 7,000 of his troops.
While the war wouldn't officially end
for another two years,
it was effectively over
following this famous surrender at Yorktown.
The war was concluded with negotiations
that played out well for the Americans.
They would control everything east
of the Mississippi River and south of Canada.
John Jay, John Adams,
and Benjamin Franklin were key to these successes,
thanks to their negotiations in Paris.
They were even able to secure fishing rights
for the Americans in the Atlantic,
which to this day, is more than half
of the world's fishing grounds.
The British negotiated on behalf of their loyalists,
but completely abandoned their Indigenous allies,
who were not even present at the negotiations.
Most of their enslaved and formally enslaved allies
were abandoned as well,
but the British evacuated some to Canada,
where there are still towns to this day
that can trace their lineage to British loyalists.
While the American Revolution is often credited
with granting freedom to a new nation,
it's critical to note that Indigenous groups,
enslaved and formally enslaved people,
and women, continued to face various forms
of institutional prejudice after the war ended,
and while some groups were aided
by policies passed in early America,
others simply saw their discrimination codified.
But, we'll get to that next time.
Thanks for watching Study Hall US History to 1865,
which is part of the Study Hall Project,
a partnership between ASU and Crash Course.
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See you next time.
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