From Declaration to Constitution

July 4, 1776  

Colonies declare their independence from Great Britain

October 17, 1777

General Burgoyne surrendered his army to the Americans under Arnold and Gates at Saratoga N.Y. As the greatest British defeat to this date, the victory guaranteed a French Alliance in the here-to-fore “English-Colonial Affair.”

November 1777

The Articles of Confederation establishes the first “official’ gov’t of the United States of America. The Articles stress the independence of the individual states and severely limits the powers of the central gov’t.

Winter 1777-78

Valley Forge, General’s Washington and von Steuben create the first “professional” American Army.

October 19, 1781

General Cornwallis surrenders his army to General Washington at Yorktown Virginia. Final straw that breaks the British will to continue the war. Peace negotiations begin in earnest.

1782-83

Peace of Paris, Great Britain grants the colonies their independence and all the territory from the East Coast to the Mississippi River, apart from Florida and the Gulf Coast which is given to Spain.

1785

Land Ordinance of 1785 (Township Act) established the township method of surveying and selling the lands of the Northwest Territories. A portion of each township is set aside to establish public schools.

September 1786-January 1787

Shays Rebellion demonstrated the need for a strong central gov’t. The inability/unwillingness of the states to assist one another in critical situations such as rebellions or natural disasters under the Articles of Confederation is undeniably demonstrated.

1787

Northwest Ordinance divides Northwestern territory into five smaller territories, established the format for accepting new states into the Union-60,000 settlers, a written state constitution and a representative/Republican form of gov’t. Slavery is also prohibited in the Northwest Territories.

May 25, 1787

Delegates from twelve states meet in Philadelphia to “revise the Articles of Confederation'' so as to provide unity, order and prosperity for the nation. This will become the Constitutional Convention.

May 30, 1787

The delegates decide to replace the weak “League of Friendship” of the Articles of Confederation with a strong, Federal, form of gov’t.

May-December 1787

Compromise! After many heated discussions the delegates create the United States Constitution, establishing three branches of gov’t, Legislative, Judicial and Executive. The Great Compromise established a two-house legislature: the Senate will be based on state equality with each having two senators, while the number of House seats will be based on the population of each state. The Slavery is defined and legalized in the Three-Fifths Compromise. Slave states will be allowed to count their slaves as Three-Fifths human for population numbers for the allocation of congressional representation.  This will give slave states a greater say in presidential elections through the Electoral College then the number of voters have in free states.

March-May 1788

Publication of the “Federalist Papers” to promote ratification of the United States Constitution. Written by John Jay, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the papers are instrumental in swaying much public opinion to favor the ratification.

December 1787-July 1788

Ratification! Two-thirds (nine) of the states were required for passage of the US. Constitution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify while New York became the ninth on July 26, 1788.  The Bill of Rights was not initially part of the U.S Constitution, it was not added until December 15, 1791.

April 6, 1789

George Washington is unanimously chosen to become the first President of the United States, taking the oath of office on April 30.

Results of the American Revolution

 

Major Results of the American Revolution

Immediate Results:

The United States of America wins its independence. For the first time in history a colony has revolted and broken away from the Mother Country.

George Washington, gives up control of the army, refuses to be king or dictator and returns to the life of a gentleman farmer.

All states have constitutions creating elected representative governments.

Articles of Confederation creates a weak national government and strong state governments that are loosely united into one country.

60,000+ Loyalists abandon the United States to live in the British Empire. 

Apart from Florida and the Gulf Coast, the United States gains control of the lands from the Atlantic Coast (future state of Maine to Georgia) South of the Great Lake to the East bank of the Mississippi River. All this land has overlapping, confusing and often ridiculous land claims by virtually all the 13 States.

France, Great Britain, the United States and all 13 States are left with massive war debts.

Shays Rebellion demonstrates the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Long Term Effects:  

Northwest Ordinance and Township Acts, established requirements for new states, surveying the land into townships to be sold and establishment of public schools from the sale of parcels. 
 
US Constitution & Bill of Rights created forming a strong national Federal Government.
 
Separation of Church and State established in the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution.

Revolutionary Spirit spreads to Europe and other colonies in the America's. The French Revolution and the Spanish American colonial revolts are the first to succeed.

Increased "American Diversity" through waves of new immigrants.

Eventual elimination of slavery in the North and Northwestern States.

The two major losers of the war were first, the Native Americans who faced continued Western expansion with no real chance of stopping the loss of their land to American settlers. The second was the growing slave population who continued to face generations of lifetime servitude in the South.

Slaves in Colonial America

 

1st Slaves in the English Colonies

The following is from:
Historic Jamestowne National Historic Park,
https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/african-americans-at-jamestown.htm
2/10/2021

accessed 11/01/2021 

"The first documented arrival of Africans to the colony of Virginia was recorded by John Rolfe: "About the latter end of August, a Dutch man of Warr of the burden of a 160 tunes arrived at Point-Comfort, the Comandors name Capt Jope, his Pilott for the West Indies one Mr Marmaduke an Englishman. … He brought not any thing but 20. and odd Negroes, w[hich] the Governo[r] and Cape Merchant bought for victuall[s]." The year was 1619, and as an institution slavery did not yet exist in Virginia. Slavery as we know it today, evolved gradually, beginning with customs rather than laws. To further shed light on how this institution evolved legally, from indentured servitude to life long servitude, the following laws and/or facts are given as well as other sources on 17th century servitude among Blacks in Virginia.  

1619	Arrival of "20 and odd" Africans in late August 1619, not aboard a Dutch ship as reported by John Rolfe, but an English warship, White Lion, sailing with a letter of marque issued to the English Captain Jope by the Protestant Dutch Prince Maurice, son of William of Orange. A letter of marque legally permitted the White Lion to sail as a privateer attacking any Spanish or Portuguese ships it encountered. The 20 and odd Africans were captives removed from the Portuguese slave ship, San Juan Bautista, following an encounter the ship had with the White Lion and her consort, the Treasurer, another English ship, while attempting to deliver its African prisoners to Mexico. Rolfe's reporting the White Lion as a Dutch warship was a clever ruse to transfer blame away from the English for piracy of the slave ship to the Dutch.
1630's	Indication by surviving wills, inventories, deeds and other documents that in some instances it was considered "customary practice to hold some Negroes in a form of life service." It should be noted that by examining these documents it was also found that some blacks were able to hold on to their status of being indentured servants, thus, eventually gaining their freedom.
1639	All persons except Negroes are to be with Arms and Ammunition.
1640	John Punch, a runaway indentured Servant, first documented slave for life.
1662	Slavery was recognized in the statutory law of the colony. Legislation was passed defining the status of mulatto children. Children would be considered the same status as the mother. If the child was born to a slave, the child would be considered a slave.
1667	Baptism does not bring freedom. Until the General Assembly outlawed it, baptism could be the grounds for a black slave to obtain his/her freedom. It was considered for a period of time that it was not proper for a Christian to enslave a fellow Christian.
1670	Blacks or Indians could no longer own white indentured servants.
1680	An act was passed preventing insurrections among slaves. Blacks could not congregate in large numbers for supposed funeral or feasts. Blacks must also obtain written authorization to leave a plantation at any given time. They could not remain at another plantation longer than 4 hours.
1691	First act prohibiting intermarriage. No Negro or Mulatto may be set free by any person unless the pay for the transportation out of the colony within six months or forfeit ten pounds of sterling so that the church wardens might have the Negro transported.
1692	Negroes must give up ownership of horses, cattle or hogs. Separate courts for the trial of slaves charged with a capital crime, thus depriving them of the right of a trial by jury.
1700's	Slaves composed half of Virginia's unfree labor force.
1705	Slave laws were codified."

Results of the French and Indian/Seven Years War

 

French and Indian War/Seven Years War

The Seven Years War, all nine years of it when counting the flash point conflict in North America called the French and Indian War, was truly the first of many devastating "World Wars." Fought on every known and settled continent, the war changed the lives of tens of millions. From the French deported from Canada by the British who became the Cajuns of New Orleans, to the conquest most of the vast population of India by the British East India Company, the repercussions of this war have lasted down to our World today.

Results of the French and Indian War/Seven Years War (aside from the one million+ dead):

1. France is forced to make humiliating concessions to the British-
Forced to give up all Claims to Canada, all lands East of the Mississippi and all trade claims to India. To the Spanish, France gave New Orleans and all land claims West of the Mississippi. The bitterness of these loses and hatred for the British will lead the French to search for ways to gain revenge, through war if possible.

2. Spain, in return for New Orleans, gave Florida to Great Britain.

3. Most European and Caribbean borders are returned to prewar claims.

4. The British become the undisputed number one World Power and largest empire.  The Royal Navy will remain the premier naval power for the next two centuries.

5. With the removal of the French threat, British-American colonials look forward to moving West to settle the former French territories. 

6. All combatant nations are saddled with massive war debts that needed to be paid for through higher taxes.
 
7. One formally unknown British Colonial officer earns valuable experience and a thrill for the sound of battle. His first defeat will be forgotten after his brave actions in the Battle of Braddock's Defeat. His newfound fame and military training will serve George Washington well in the next war.

The first Worldwide war is over, the stage is now set for the "Road to Revolution!"

Revolution - Rebellion, Who Will Win?

 

Bacon's Rebellion 1675-76, Early Success Leads Death and Failure

Virginia Colony in 1675, was in turmoil. Native American troubles on the frontier, dissatisfied farmers, restless indentured servants, freed Blacks and slaves, a worried Gentry Class and a seemingly dysfunctional Colonial Royal Governor led to the first armed revolt in Colonial North America. 

The main protagonists were 70-year-old Royal Governor Sir William Berkeley and his cousin by marriage, 28-year-old land grant owner Nathaniel Bacon Jr.  Governor Berkeley, wanting to avoid another bloody war like the Anglo-Powhatan Wars (1610-1646), tried to appease friendly tribes and at the same time establish a defensive zone around the colony to protect against "bad Indians." Trade with the natives was strictly regulated and taxes raised to support the enhanced military protection.

Bacon, on the other hand wanted to attack the "Indians" with his own militia of unhappy frontier farmers and settlers. He did so after his foreman was killed in a raid. Unfortunately for all concerned he attacked an innocent, friendly tribe.  The situation continued to worsen. An angry Berkeley called on Bacon to give up his command and submit to his orders. An equally enraged Bacon gathered his forces of frontier farmers, indentured servants freed ex-slaves and even slaves and marched on the capital, Jamestown. Berkeley fled, after saving colonial documents, Bacon burned the capital, which lost him much needed support.

Soon after abandoning the ruined capital, Bacon suddenly died of "Bloody Flux and Lousey Disease" (Dysentery and Body Lice). The rebellion collapsed, 23 of its leaders were hanged, Governor Berkeley was recalled to England to explain the fiasco to the king and in 1699 the capital was moved from rebuilt Jamestown to Williamsburg. The first American revolt was a dismal failure for all concerned.


Glorious Revolution 1688, Success at No Cost

When the beloved British King Charles II died in 1685, without a legitimate child, his loathed brother, James II came to the throne. James was married to a Catholic, acted like a Catholic and introduced laws like the "Declarations of Indulgence," that eliminated punishments for "nonconformist" religious groups. The birth of James' son, Charles, who would be raised as a Catholic, threatened the supremacy of the Church of England and the vast majority of British Protestants. 

 

In response to James' rulership and faith choices, religious and government leaders invited William Duke of Orange (James' nephew and son-in-law) and his wife Mary to replace James as ruler of the British Empire. They accepted and landed in 1688, to the adoration of the crowds. James with little political support called on the army to keep him in power, the army joined William and Mary instead.  James fled to France, William became King William III, and Parliament passed a law preventing Catholics from taking the throne. Without a drop of blood being spilt, the Glorious Revolution replaced an unpopular king and changed British history forever. More direct British government involvement in American colonial political and military affairs was on the horizon.

As a side note, the term "Revolution" is usually used when the revolt succeeds while "Rebellion" normally denotes that those in revolt lost to the established government. The Glorious Revolution, American Revolution, French Revolution and Russian Revolution all were won by those in revolt. Bacon's Rebellion, Shays Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion and Confederacy Rebellion were all lost to the government of the time.

13 English Colonies of 1750 Major Products

Colony Name, Founding Date, Important Founder(s), Major Products

New England Colonies:  

Massachusetts 1620, William Bradford, John Winthrop-Fishing, Shipbuilding, Shipping, Naval Stores, Lumber, Food Crops, Rum, Livestock, Whaling.

New Hampshire 1623, John Mason, Ferdinando Gorges-Naval Stores-Timber, Fishing, Furs, Shipping, Whaling.

Connecticut 1636, Thomas Hooker-Shipping, Food Crops, Livestock, Whaling.

Rhode Island 1636, Roger Williams-Fishing, Shipbuilding, Iron Foundries, Food Crops, Rum-Snuff, Livestock, Rum, Whaling.

Middle Colonies:

New York 1625, Dutch Settlers,/Patroons James Duke of York-Fishing, Shipbuilding, Shipping, Food Crops, Rum-Beer-Glass, Livestock.

Delaware 1638, Swedish Settlers, Quakers-Shipping, Food Crops.

New Jersey 1664, John Berkeley, George Carteret-Shipping, Food Crops, Copper.

Pennsylvania 1681, William Penn-Shipbuilding, Food Crops, Paper, Iron, Rum.

Southern Colonies:

Virginia 1607, John Smith-Tobacco, Food Crops, Iron, Livestock.

Maryland 1632, Cecil Calvert-Tobacco, Food Crops, Snuff.

North Carolina 1663, Group of Eight Aristocrat Proprietors--Naval Stores, Tobacco, Furs.

South Carolina 1663, Group of Eight Aristocrat Proprietors-Rice, Indigo, Silk.

Georgia 1732, James Oglethorpe-Indigo, Rice, Naval Stores, Lumber.

All colonies had "Subsistence Farmers" who were able to produce enough food to live on with little or no excess to sell.

Dutch and Swedes, the Non English North American Colonies

 

New Netherlands, 1625-1674, (present New York and New Jersey) and New Sweden, 1638-1655, (Present Delaware) were two short lived North American colonial establishments.  New Sweden was taken first by the Dutch in 1655, while the Dutch colony was taken by force by the English in 1674.

New Netherlands was established for trade and territory power projection by the Dutch West Indies Company with the creation of Fort Nassau, a "Facrorij" (trading post). Established mostly on the Hudson River Valley, the major towns of New Netherlands were New Amsterdam (New York), Beverwijck (Albany), Schenectady and New Amstel (New Castle, Delaware). Their most powerful and unpopular leader was Governor Peter Stuyvesant.

Established for fur trade with the Native Americans, Nova Sweediae (New Sweden) was founded in 1638, by the Swedish South Company with the building of Fort Christina on the Delaware River. Under the leadership of Peter Minuet, the Swedish colony made friendly trade relations with the Susquehannock and Delaware tribes.

The tribes allowed further Swedish settlements at Fort Nya and Fort Nya Gothenborg. As trade communities, few actual settlers came to the colony. With a small European population of less than 600 the colony was easily overrun by the Dutch of New Netherlands during the 2nd Northern War (1655-60). From that point on New Sweden was now part of the New Netherlands Colony.

By 1670, the colonial population of New Netherlands was over 9000 Europeans or European descendants. As the English did not want an unfriendly power to have a colony dividing the English controlled territories of New England and Virginia/Maryland plans were laid to take the territory.

The diverse group of people of New Netherlands had little enthusiasm for fighting the English when the English fleet of James, Duke of York, threatened New Amsterdam in 1664. The city and colony of New Netherlands basically surrendered without a shot fired. With the end of the 2nd Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) the Dutch formally gave up any claim to New Netherlands-now known as New York colony

While both New Netherlands and New Sweden were non-English colonies for only a short period of time, their national traits had much longer effects upon the formation of the "Colonial Spirit" of the thirteen colonies that would form the basis of the United States.