Notes

Effects for independence fueled by:
-laborers
-Artisans
-Women
-Arguments over British Subjects
-Enlightenment
Enlightenment thinkers
-Protestant evangelical religious fervor strengthened many British colonists understanding of themselves as chosen people blessed with liberty
Enlightenment philosophers inspired American political thinkers to emphasize individual talent over hereditary privilege
-John Locke, Adam Smith
-Committees of Correspondence
-formed by Sam Adams in response to British actions
-Purpose to spread the spirit of resistance and keep resistance directly into the first American Congress
British Strength:
-Professional Army(50,000 men)
-American Loyalist and Native Americans joined army
-wealthy
-Naval Power
British Weaknesses
-France waiting for opportunity to betray Britain
-London government was inept
-Operated under difficulties in America
-Scarce food and rations
-3000 miles from home
American Strengths
-Geographical familiarity with land
-outstanding leadership George Washington Ben Franklin
-Foreign aid from European allies
-Actions of Colonial militias and continental army
-Self-sustaining agriculture
-Belief in a just cause
American Weaknesses
-Badly organized
-Lacking in unity
-Economics difficulties
-Inflation
Olive Branch petition-professed American loyalty to the crown, begged the king to prevent furture hostilities
-King refused reconciliation
-German Hessians hired by the British to repress rebellions
-Paine called for a creation of a republic
-Power flows from the people themselves