Mr. Lahasky - APUSH Period 3 - Lecture #11 - The War and the Articles

Summary

The video discusses the American Revolutionary War and the challenges of forming a new nation. It covers the strategic advantages the colonists had, the leadership of George Washington, and the crucial alliances with European powers. Despite the odds, the Americans achieved independence, but the real challenge was building a government. The Articles of Confederation, the first attempt, reflected the founders' fears of centralized power but ultimately proved weak. The war was revolutionary in global terms, inspiring democratic movements, though it led to minimal immediate change in American society.

Takeaways

• 🗽 The American Revolutionary War was fought to overthrow British rule and establish a new nation, reflecting a desire for independence and self-governance.
• 🏰 The war was not just a rebellion against taxes but also a reaction against perceived tyrannical rule, aiming to prevent the rise of a similar despot in America.
• 🔍 The American colonists had significant advantages, such as fighting on familiar terrain and having the support of local communities, which helped balance the scales against the British.
• 👨‍✈️ George Washington's leadership was pivotal, particularly during the harsh winter at Valley Forge, where he managed to keep his troops together despite severe hardships.
• 🤝 The support from European allies, especially France, Spain, and the Dutch, was crucial for the American victory, providing much-needed military and financial assistance.
• 🔄 The victory at the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point, convincing European powers of the possibility of an American win and securing their support.
• 📜 The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially recognized American independence and granted the new nation significant territorial concessions.
• 🏛️ The Articles of Confederation established a weak federal government to prevent tyranny, reflecting the founders' fear of centralized power.
• 🌐 The new American government was designed to limit federal power, with most governance occurring at the state level, reflecting a continuation of local control.
• 🌟 The American Revolution had global implications, inspiring democratic movements in other parts of the world and marking a shift towards self-governance.

Q & A

What was the main challenge faced by the American colonists in 1776?

The main challenge faced by the American colonists in 1776 was coordinating their efforts across the colonies to sustain a rebellion against the British, and in the event of winning the war, they needed a viable system of government to hold the new nation together.

How did the definition of 'revolution' apply to the American Revolutionary War?

By the social science definition, a revolution is a fundamental change from which there is no going back. The American Revolutionary War fits this standard as it resulted in the overthrow of British rule and the establishment of a new political system, American democracy.

What were the three main reasons for the American victory in the Revolutionary War?

The Americans were victorious in the Revolutionary War for three main reasons: they enjoyed important advantages at the war's outset, they benefited from the military leadership of George Washington, and they courted necessary assistance from European allies.

What was the significance of the Battles of Lexington and Concord?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775 marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War, signifying the start of armed conflict between the American colonists and the British forces.

Why was the war effort decentralized for the American colonists?

The war effort was decentralized because the colonies covered a large land area and had no true capital city, which forced the British to campaign all over the continent, thus leveling the playing field.

How did George Washington's leadership contribute to the American victory?

George Washington's leadership was crucial, especially during the harsh winter at Valley Forge, where he managed to keep his troops together despite severe shortages of food, supplies, and the threat of disease.

What was the impact of the Battle of Saratoga on securing foreign support for the American cause?

The victory at Saratoga convinced the French, Spanish, and Dutch that the United States had a fighting chance and would make a worthy ally, leading to crucial alliances and support from these European powers.

What role did Baron von Steuben play in transforming the Continental Army?

Baron von Steuben, a former Prussian army officer, was instrumental in training and disciplining the Continental Army, turning it into a more formidable fighting force capable of taking on the British in close combat.

Why was the Treaty of Paris in 1783 significant?

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially ended the war and recognized the independence of the United States. It also granted the new nation all lands east of the Mississippi River and south of the Great Lakes.

What were the key features of the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation established a unicameral legislature with one vote per state, no executive branch, no power to tax, and no ability to draft a standing army. It was designed to limit governmental power and prevent the emergence of tyranny.

How did the American Revolution influence the spread of democracy globally?

The success of the American Revolution inspired democratic movements in France and Latin America, suggesting that the colonists were on the leading edge of a global shift towards democratic institutions.

Outlines

00:00

🏳️‍🌈 The Struggle for Independence and the Birth of American Democracy

This paragraph sets the stage for the American Revolution, highlighting the monumental challenge faced by the American colonists in 1776 as they fought for independence from Britain. It discusses the need for coordination among the colonies and the necessity of establishing a viable system of government to maintain the new nation. The paragraph introduces the question of whether the American Revolutionary War was truly revolutionary, exploring different definitions of 'revolution' and comparing the American struggle to other significant historical changes, such as the development of agriculture and the industrial revolution.

05:02

🏰 David vs. Goliath: The American Advantages

This section delves into the reasons behind the American victory in the Revolutionary War, despite being outnumbered and out-resourced by the British. It emphasizes the home-field advantage, the strategic objectives that favored the colonists, and the importance of not losing the war rather than winning it. The narrative challenges the popular image of the war as a simple contest between an overwhelming empire and weak colonies, pointing out that the British had to achieve more to win, while the Americans only needed to keep fighting.

10:02

❄️ Winter at Valley Forge: Washington's Leadership

Paragraph 2 focuses on the harsh winter at Valley Forge and the leadership of George Washington. It describes the dire conditions faced by the Continental Army, including lack of supplies, disease, and the threat of smallpox. Despite these challenges, Washington's leadership is portrayed as a key factor in keeping the army together and maintaining morale. The paragraph also touches on the innovative medical strategy of inoculation against smallpox, which was a risky but ultimately successful attempt to control the disease.

15:03

🤺 Baron von Steuben and the Transformation of the Continental Army

This paragraph introduces Baron von Steuben, a former Prussian army officer, who played a crucial role in transforming the Continental Army into a more effective fighting force. Despite personal challenges, von Steuben's military expertise was harnessed by Washington to improve discipline and training. The paragraph also discusses the strategic victory at Trenton and its impact on colonial morale and enlistment, as well as the importance of securing European allies, particularly France, for the American cause.

20:04

🏆 Victory at Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris

Paragraph 4 covers the final major battle of the war at Yorktown, which led to the surrender of British General Cornwallis and marked the end of major hostilities. It discusses the Treaty of Paris, which officially recognized American independence and provided the new nation with significant territorial gains. The paragraph also highlights the challenges faced by the newly independent United States, including the need to establish a stable government and the complexities of managing a continental republic.

25:04

📜 The Articles of Confederation: A Weak Start for a New Nation

This section examines the Articles of Confederation, which served as the first government of the United States. It points out the intentionally weak federal government structure, reflecting the founders' desire to avoid tyranny and protect individual liberties. The paragraph discusses the lack of an executive branch, the prohibition on taxation, and the inability to maintain a standing army. It sets the stage for understanding the limitations of this early governmental structure and the need for a stronger framework to support the new nation.

🌟 The Revolutionary Impact of the American Revolution

The final paragraph reflects on the broader implications of the American Revolution, questioning whether it was revolutionary for the United States but suggesting it may have been a turning point in the history of civilization. It considers the American experiment with democracy and its influence on global movements towards democratic governance, highlighting the enduring impact of the Declaration of Independence and the ideals it represented.

Keywords

💡Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence, was a conflict that took place from 1775 to 1783 where thirteen American colonies fought against British rule to achieve independence. This war is central to the video's theme as it discusses whether the war was 'revolutionary' in the social science sense of causing a fundamental change. The war is described as having three main reasons for American victory: home field advantage, leadership, and European assistance.

💡Home Field Advantage

In the context of the video, 'home field advantage' refers to the benefits the American colonists had during the Revolutionary War because they were fighting on familiar terrain and had the support of local communities. This advantage is highlighted as a key reason for the American victory, illustrating how the geographical knowledge and local support can influence military outcomes.

💡Leadership

Leadership, as discussed in the video, is exemplified by George Washington's ability to keep the Continental Army together during harsh conditions at Valley Forge and his strategic decisions that contributed to the American victory. The video emphasizes the importance of strong leadership in warfare and how it can inspire and unite troops in the face of adversity.

💡European Allies

The term 'European Allies' in the video refers to the support the American colonists received from countries like France, Spain, and the Netherlands during the Revolutionary War. This support was crucial for the American cause, providing much-needed military and financial assistance. The video underscores the importance of alliances in warfare and how they can tip the balance of power.

💡Articles of Confederation

The 'Articles of Confederation' were the first written constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781. The video discusses how these articles created a weak federal government, reflecting the American founders' desire to limit governmental power and prevent tyranny. This keyword is central to understanding the early political structure of the United States post-independence.

💡Treaty of Paris

The 'Treaty of Paris' in 1783 officially ended the Revolutionary War, with the video highlighting the terms of the treaty that recognized American independence and granted the new nation significant territorial claims. This treaty is a key concept as it marks the formal recognition of the United States as an independent nation.

💡Democracy

Democracy, as a keyword, is integral to the video's narrative as it explores the birth of American democracy following the Revolutionary War. The video discusses how the new government was an experiment in democracy, which had global reverberations and influenced political movements worldwide. It reflects on the democratic ideals that were central to the American Revolution.

💡Fundamental Change

The concept of 'fundamental change' is used in the video to evaluate whether the American Revolutionary War was truly revolutionary. It refers to a deep and lasting change from which there is no return, such as the shift from an agrarian to an industrial society. The video uses this concept to question if the war led to such a change in the lives of Americans.

💡Continental Congress

The 'Continental Congress' was a convention of delegates from the American colonies that became the governing body during the American Revolution. The video mentions it as a precursor to the formal government established by the Articles of Confederation, highlighting its role in the war effort and the transition to independence.

💡Saratoga

The 'Battle of Saratoga' is mentioned in the video as a turning point in the Revolutionary War, where the American forces won a significant victory that convinced foreign powers of their potential. This battle is a keyword because it illustrates a pivotal moment that influenced international support for the American cause.

💡Yorktown

The 'Siege of Yorktown' is highlighted in the video as the last major battle of the Revolutionary War, which led to the British surrender and effectively ended the conflict. This keyword is important as it marks a decisive moment that solidified the American victory and moved the struggle towards achieving independence.

Highlights

Benjamin Franklin's quote emphasizes the unity needed for the American colonies to succeed.

The American colonists faced the challenge of coordinating efforts across colonies and creating a government system post-independence.

The American Revolutionary War is questioned whether it was truly 'revolutionary' in the social science sense.

The war began in 1775 and the Americans declared independence in 1776, highlighting a long struggle for freedom.

The American victory in the Revolutionary War was due to advantages like home field, military leadership, and European assistance.

The British were seen as Goliath to the American David, but the Americans had significant strategic advantages.

George Washington's leadership was pivotal, especially during the harsh winter at Valley Forge.

Washington's decision to inoculate against smallpox was a daring and successful move to protect his troops.

Baron von Steuben's training transformed the Continental Army into a formidable force.

The Battle of Trenton was a small victory but had a significant psychological impact on the war effort.

European alliances were crucial for American independence, providing much-needed resources.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially recognized American independence and set the stage for the new nation.

The Articles of Confederation aimed to limit government power to prevent tyranny, reflecting post-war sentiments.

The first US government was intentionally weak to avoid centralization and protect state autonomy.

The absence of an executive branch and prohibition of taxation under the Articles reflected a deep distrust of centralized power.

The American Revolution may not have been revolutionary for the US internally but had a profound global impact by legitimizing democracy.

The challenges of maintaining a continental republic under the Articles of Confederation led to the realization of the need for a stronger government framework.

Transcripts

we must

all hang together or assuredly

we shall all hang separately

benjamin franklin oh hi

mr lahaske here and today we're tasked

with the monumental challenge

of building a nation actually i guess

technically we're not but

that was certainly the position of the

american colonists in 1776.

after a long struggle with their british

counterparts across the atlantic

the americans were quite literally

staring down the barrel

of the british army but that was really

only a fraction of their problems

in order to sustain a rebellion the

patriots would need to coordinate their

efforts

across the colonies and in the event

they were able to win the war

they would need a viable system of

government to hold the new nation

together

the birth of american democracy was no

doubt a triumph

but it was not without its hiccups

either today

we'll fight the war and take a stab at

forming a government

but first a big question

was the american revolutionary war

revolutionary

the crux of this question is the

definition of a revolution

commonly the word revolution is used to

describe an overthrow of a government or

political system

and by that definition the war for

american independence certainly fits the

bill

but in the social sciences we prefer a

narrower definition

by our standards a revolution is a

change but not just any change

a fundamental change from which there is

no going back

when human civilization first learned to

cultivate food crops and developed

agriculture

that was a revolution when manufacturing

was mechanized and industry took shape

that was a revolution does the birth of

american democracy fit this standard

let's take a look the revolutionary war

began in april of 1775

with the battles of lexington and

concord the americans declared

independence over a year later on july

4th

1776. the war lasted eight long

years but for the sake of time we'll be

summing it up with a single big idea

the americans were victorious in the

revolutionary war for three main reasons

they enjoyed important advantages at the

war's outset

they benefited from the military

leadership of george washington

and they courted necessary assistance

from european allies

now when the revolutionary war is taught

in most elementary schools and

often when it's discussed in social

circles it's pitched as a contest

between david and goliath

13 puny colonies taking on the most

powerful empire in the world

and winning in 1805 poet novelist and

historian mercy otis warren

wrote one of the first histories of the

revolutionary war

and cemented this interpretation in the

minds of the american people

she wrote the british were indeed very

far superior to the americans in every

respect necessary to military operations

except the revivified courage and

resolution

the result of sudden success after

despair

it's not hard to see why this narrative

is a popular one

after all everyone loves a good underdog

story

and in some respects warren's correct

the british had significant manpower

advantages from the beginning

britain's population in 1776 was eight

million

compare that to just two and a half

million in the colonies the british army

in 1776 included

55 000 professional soldiers while the

americans would be fighting

only with their colonial militias and a

crudely assembled continental army under

the command of george washington

the british navy was one of the most

powerful in the world in the 18th

century

and the colonial navy well there wasn't

one

indeed on first look the british seemed

to have things well at hand

but warren's narrative ignores some

important advantages that the americans

enjoyed

and those advantages would go a long way

towards leveling out the playing field

since the war was fought on american

soil the colonists benefited from a sort

of home field advantage

since they were fighting on familiar

terrain and had the support of the

communities in which they campaigned

also the colonies covered a huge land

area and had no true capital city

this allowed them to decentralize the

war effort and force the british to

campaign all over the continent

but the most important advantage enjoyed

by the americans was in terms of

strategic

objectives or in other words what each

side had to accomplish

in order to win the war since the

british were fighting to maintain

control of the colonies

it wasn't enough just to simply win

engagements on the battlefield

they would need to defeat the colonial

armies conquer rebel territory

and then occupy the territory in order

to continue to enforce british law

on the other hand the americans were

fighting just to be left alone

they didn't need to win the war they

just had to not lose it

by keeping the fight alive they could

slowly wear down the british until the

crown lost interest

or ran out of financial resources to

continue

in this way a longer war actually

favored the colonists

as long as they could keep soldiers in

the field simply put

the british would have to do far more in

order to win this war

and so on paper the contest was closer

than it may have first appeared

but of course wars aren't won on paper

and at the risk of sounding cliche the

leadership of george washington

and others in the colonial ranks were a

big reason why the patriots ultimately

were successful

in advance at the battle of trenton in

1776

washington managed to keep his troops

together during a brutal winter at

valley forge

he had begged the second continental

congress for food and supplies but

the congress had little power to raise

the necessary funds

with 20 of his men shoeless in a small

pox epidemic posing a bigger threat than

the british army

washington's leadership shone here's a

quick clip that can

tell the story a little better than i

can

but first washington must face his

greatest challenge as leader

he makes his winter camp in

a place called valley forge

[Music]

in freezing temperatures the rebels

build 900 huts

in just 40 days each houses a dozen men

he has an army of 14 000 men

and no houses and the continental

congress has

failed to provide him with resources

and by willpower by courage by

leadership

by cajoling he has to hold the army

together in the middle of a terrible

winter

joseph plum martin veteran of the battle

of new york

is at valley forge it's a desolate place

for now on a truly forlorn condition

no clothing no provisions

and as disheartened as can be

our prospect is indeed dreary

right soldier this is gonna hurt a bit

all right

surgeon albigens waldow watches

washington's army head toward crisis

the army which has been surprisingly

healthy

now begins to grow sickly from the

fatigues they have suffered from this

campaign

we don't keep this clean we're going to

be right back

a fifth of the soldiers have no shoes

with little clean water dysentery

spreads through the camp within weeks

two thousand men are sick and they run

out of meat

down to their last 25 barrels of flour

the men survive on fire cake

a mixture of flour and water

the rebel army is a melting pot

as many as 60 percent of recruits are

convicts

freed slaves and immigrants

[Music]

but washington's leadership inspires

unruly men to stay in line

what he had was a confidence that if you

want freedom

this is what's going to take it's going

to take sacrifice it's going to take

blood it's going to take cold winters at

valley forge

it's going to take losses general

washington he was a great general

to be able to uplift his army during

valley forge during that winter

and still be able to fight i wish i

would have been there i wish i could

have fought for him because i damn sure

but washington's army soon faces an

enemy far more lethal than the british

smallpox

the revolution breaks out during the

worst smallpox epidemic in u.s history

the deadly airborne virus spreads

through the british prison ships

isolated from the disease for

generations the american colonists have

little resistance to it

and there's no cure

victims break out in blisters and sores

the virus spreads through the blood

invading healthy cells which it kills

producing more of the virus in the

process

four in ten victims die

smallpox arrives at valley forge

it spreads through the cramped huts like

wildfire

[Music]

washington survived smallpox as a child

now he decides to take a gamble

with one of the most daring experiments

in u.s military history

surgeons have learned about inoculation

from african slaves

they harvest pus from a smallpox victim

[Music]

and smear the live virus into cuts on

the skin of a healthy patient

the inoculation spreads the infection

but at a slower rate

a week after exposure the victim's white

blood cells create antibodies

these attack and kill the virus that

causes smallpox

before the disease can spread

but it's a dangerous race against time

to survive the patient's immune system

has to work faster than the virus

it will run out of control

[Music]

one in 50 of those inoculated will die

[Music]

but washington's gamble pays off

new cases of smallpox fall from several

thousand to just a few dozen

[Music]

but to win the war against the british

washington turns to an

unlikely hero to transform his ragtag

militia

into a formidable fighting machine

[Music]

1778

george washington's patriot army

survives a hard winter

and an outbreak of smallpox at valley

forge

now washington introduces a new recruit

will change the course of the war

baron von steuben is an ex-prussian army

officer

an elite soldier whose career is said to

have been ruined by his homosexuality

but washington makes him one of the most

powerful men in his command

washington was a genius in taking people

in who didn't seem like they could

achieve great things

but under him they rose to the challenge

they rose to the occasion

and that's what great leaders do bon

steuben's task

reinvent the demoralized patriot army so

they can take on the british

in a close fight capitalizing on the

morale he was able to drum up in the

valley

washington attempted a daring advance on

trenton new jersey

in december 1776. he famously crossed

the icy delaware river on christmas

night before capturing a garrison of

british mercenaries

at trenton the following day now in a

strategic sense

trenton was but a small victory but its

effects were enormous

tales of washington's heroism inspired a

renewed resolve across the colonies

and enlistments jumped dramatically in

the coming months

many historians have pointed out that

washington was not a brilliant tactician

on the battlefield

but few have found just cause to

question his leadership

but military leadership would not itself

be enough

to fully tip the scales for the american

cause

independence was the goal but ironically

it could not be realized alone the

colonists needed help

fortunately britain had european rivals

who were eager to see the british empire

weaken

and an independent united states would

do just that

in 1776 the continental congress sent

ben franklin john adams and others

to europe in order to secure alliances

that could provide the ships

soldiers and money that were desperately

needed by the continental army

but while european countries may have

been quietly cheering for an american

victory

they were hesitant to commit their own

countrymen to a foreign war

in support of a nation that was so

unproven

but the american diplomats caught a

break in 1777 when

the continental army won a huge battle

at saratoga new york

the battle of saratoga was the first

time the americans had captured an

entire british army in detail

and when the news of the battle reached

europe it proved a major factor in

convincing the french

spanish and dutch that the united states

had a fighting chance

and would make for a worthy ally

thanks in part to the victory at

saratoga ben franklin successfully

negotiated the treaty of alliance with

france

which committed soldiers and ships to

the american cause

spain committed money and supplies to

the colonial effort and

john adams secured a much-needed loan

from the dutch

the americans finally had the resources

needed

to tip the scales in their favor the

last major battle of the war came at

yorktown in 1781

the siege operation there forced the

surrender of british general charles

cornwallis

a peace treaty was still two years away

but yorktown marked the end of major

hostilities

and the american victory there made

apparent the inevitability

of independence so let's talk about the

terms of victory

the war for american independence

officially concluded with the treaty of

paris

1783. remember not to confuse this with

the 1763 version

that ended the french and indian war the

treaty of paris was negotiated largely

by ben franklin

and was quite favorable for the

americans first

england formally recognized the

independence

of the united states second the new

nation received all lands

east of the mississippi river and south

of the great lakes

the proclamation line of 1763 was of

course eliminated which was

great for westbound settlers but

unwelcome news to the native americans

who stood in their path

finally the british agreed to withdraw

all troops stationed in the west

with quote all convenient speed

though the withdrawal would be anything

but speedy

but more on that later all in all

the americans had done it with the help

of france and spain they had

upset the balance of power in the

western world and achieve their long

sought after freedom

but the real challenge was only just

beginning

the position in which the americans

found themselves in 1783

is perhaps best articulated in this clip

from lin-manuel miranda's

world-famous musical hamilton

they say the price of my wars not a

price that they're willing to pay

insane you cheat with the french

now i'm fighting with france and with

spain

i'm so blue

i thought that we made an arrangement

when you went away

you were mine to stop you

well even despite our estrangement

i've got a small query for you

what comes next you've been freed

do you know how hard it is to lead

you're on your own awesome

wow do you have a clue what happens

now ocean's rise

empires fall it's much harder when it's

only your call all alone

across the sea when your

people say they hate you don't come

crawling

back to me

[Music]

[Music]

you're on your own

[Music]

beneath the quirkiness of jonathan

groff's performance

there's actually incredible insight here

as the king points

out it's one thing to talk about freedom

and democracy and

it may be easy to rally soldiers under

the banner of freedom and democracy

but creating and implementing a

government that sufficiently protects

freedom and democracy that's a whole

nother animal

this was the new challenge and one that

was not so easily completed

this is our second big idea the first

government of the united states

the articles of confederation reflected

american notions of liberty

by limiting governmental powers and

avoiding the colonists

monarchical past okay so

technically the first government of the

united states was the continental

congress

which oversaw the war effort from 1776

to 1781

but the congress was never meant to be a

permanent solution

its members recognized that the

parameters for the permanent government

needed to be explicitly laid out and

agreed upon by the 13 member states

in 1777 while the war was still in its

early stages

those parameters were outlined in the

articles of confederation

the articles formed the first rule book

that defined american democracy

and the powers of the us government one

key observation about the articles of

confederation

they established an american government

that was almost cripplingly

weak but this was actually intentional

for many americans the revolutionary war

was not simply a rebellion against taxes

it was an overthrow of a tyrannical

government

one that was ruled by a despot with

unchecked power

runaway government power and the

infringement of liberty that accompanies

it

was the number one concern of our

country's founders

as a result they placed strict limits on

the government's powers

in the hopes of preventing the emergence

of an american tyrant

the essence of the articles was to tie

the 13 independent states together

very loosely most americans identified

more with their home

state than with the national government

so this was a logical expectation

americans didn't yet consider themselves

americans

they were georgians south carolinians

virginians

new yorkers and so on soldiers across

the colonies had coordinated their

efforts during the revolutionary war

but they were fighting for the freedom

of their home states

newspapers didn't print the united

states they said

these united states a subtle difference

but

an important many americans expected

their state to do most of the governing

and the articles reflected that at the

federal level

the articles established a unicameral or

one house legislature

in which each state contributed one vote

in order to pass a law nine out of the

13 states needed to vote for it

and in order to amend the articles a

unanimous vote was needed

these extremely high thresholds made it

very difficult for the national

government to get things done

which is the way the founders wanted it

it forced most of the governing to be

done at the state level

under the articles of confederation

there was to be no executive branch

and no chief executive this stems from

the colonists desire to avoid

anything that reminded them of monarchy

the idea of putting a single person atop

the federal government

felt a little like crowning a king a

slippery slope to tyranny and

one that the founders wanted no part of

the articles also held that the federal

government would be forbidden from

taxing the people

again no real surprise here if we

consider what the founders had been

through

the revolution was triggered by a slew

of british taxes so

in their effort to distance themselves

from their former overlords

they nixed the prospect of taxation

altogether

finally the government under the

articles of confederation

could not draft soldiers into a standing

army

this of course stems from the colonial

troubles with the british redcoats

the founders saw a large standing army

as an instrument of tyranny

and for most of this country's history

americans have been wary of a large

military

this trend has really only reversed in

the last half century or so

by establishing these strict limits on

the federal government

the founders hoped to protect the

freedoms that had underpinned the

revolutionary war

thomas paine once remarked that

government is best which governs least

and certainly the government under the

articles was governing least

unfortunately the articles proved to be

imperfect

and next time we'll take a look at the

successes and failures of the articles

of confederation

for now though let's revisit the big

question was the revolutionary war

revolutionary on one hand when americans

achieved independence

they experienced few fundamental changes

in their day-to-day lives

if anything american society probably

felt like it did in 1753

on the eve of the french and indian war

furthermore

the new american government outlined by

the articles of confederation

left much of the governing to be done at

local levels

which also represented a continuity from

the era of salutary neglect

on the other hand american democracy was

a truly grand

experiment one that had never before

been attempted on such a scale

the democratic reverberations that

struck france and latin america

in the decades following the war with

great britain suggests that

the american colonists were on the

leading edge of a global movement

aside from a few holdouts the great

monarchies of the old world

have largely given way to democratic

institutions

and all that started with the american

declaration of independence

so perhaps in a bit of irony the

american revolution may not have been

all that revolutionary for the united

states

and its people but by defeating the

british and legitimizing democracy in

the eyes of the world

american independence may well have been

a turning point in the history of

civilization

next time we'll take a look at the

successes and the shortcomings

of the articles of confederation we'll

see that the challenges of maintaining a

continental republic

are such that sometimes you just need to

start from scratch

see you then

you