Crash Course U.S. History: The American Revolution

Types of Revolutions

• Revolution Definition: A 360-degree turn, implying no change (French Revolution).
• Industrial Revolution: An example of a revolution that brought change.
• American Revolution: A mix of the two; some change but also continuity in who held power.

War for Independence

• British Strategy: Capture major cities like Boston, New York, Charleston.
• American Strategy: Maintain control of the countryside; had home-field advantage.
• Key Battles:
  • Battle of Trenton: Washington's surprise attack on Hessians.
  • Battle of Saratoga: Major defeat for the British, thanks to poor leadership.
  • Battle of Yorktown: Decisive battle in the South leading to British surrender.
• French Involvement: Their support was crucial for American victory.

Impact on Society

• Continental Army: Poor morale, lack of pay, and inadequate rations.
• Loyalists: Some colonists fought for the British; Quakers were pacifists.
• African Americans: Some slaves gained freedom fighting for the British.
• Native Americans: Many sided with the British; suffered brutal treatment by American forces.
• Women: Limited gains; some fought, but roles largely unchanged.

Revolutionary Ideas

• Declaration of Independence: "All men are created equal"; inalienable rights.
• State Constitutions: Expanded voting rights but mainly for white males.
• Religious Freedom: Separation of church and state; freedom from the Church of England.
• Economic Changes: Decline in apprenticeship/indentured servitude; rise of paid labor.
• Slavery: Remained in the South; abolition began slowly in Northern states.

Philosophical and Economic Shifts

• Liberty and Property: Ideas intertwined; property rights were central.
• Equality of Opportunity: Emergence as a founding American idea.
• Critiques of Hypocrisy: Contradictions between ideals and the reality of slavery.

Legacy

• The American Revolution initiated a process of change rather than an immediate overhaul of social order.
• Gordon Wood's View: American Revolution introduced the idea of equality among all Americans.

Conclusion

• Revolution set the foundation for future movements around the world for equality and rights.

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Production Notes

• Written by John Green and Raoul Meyer
• Produced by Stan Muller
• Graphics by Thought Bubble
• Engage with historians in the comments section of the video.