A rooted commitment to imperialism that began in europe. He serves as the founder of the federal congress project in George Washington university. This runs about one hour. Id like to get things started. A little after high noon. I am the chief historian at the u. S. Capital historical society. Welcome to everyone making it today. I feel a bit of a fraud introducing our guest speaker because i cant imagine anyone a member of who is the society that does not know ken bowling already. For untold years he has been a editor at the multimodel congress relating to the history of the First Congress to meet under the constitution. In addition to welcoming all of you, i would like to acknowledge peter, who is your next wednesday to tell us about how artists interpret history for the canvas. Hopefully we will see many of you, if not all of you next wednesday. Kenneths cannot talk to us about the vision of the west as a motivator in the American Revolution. The expanded concept of revolution through the hamiltonian revolution into the early congresses. It is an invitation to think of the west not just as a place where people could invest certificates after the war make quick money. But as a way of giving scope to the aspirations of the American Revolution. Not a turning away from, but turning towards something. In this case its turning towards a vision of the u. S. That reaches transcontinental he. Transcontinentally. I am glad you are here for this. I am happy to welcome ken bowling. [applause] chuck. thank you i am going to use the word vast many times today. First time to describe this painting. Its vast indeed. I know you probably know Washington Crossing the delaware. Its in the metropolitan in new york city. This one is even larger. Its in the house wing of the capital on the staircase. I would say its at least 30 feet long and 15 feet tall. Its westward the course of empire takes its way. Whenan see at the bottom the lights are off, you can see it much closer. That is the golden gate before the bridge was built. I will invite you to come up afterwards and take a look at this. Its very much 19thcentury. Its very much manifest destiny. The idea coined by john osullivan, editor of annexing. And americans as myself were taught about manifest destiny in 19th century. But like so many things we really talk about in the 19th century, like slavery, these issues date back to the revolution itself. Paper,i will read my because i have lots and lots of quotations. I dont want to mess them up or mislead you. The paper is entitled the idea cause of thea American Revolution. Revolutions are spurred by ideology. The American Revolution no less than those that followed in its wake. Republicanism is a well studied one. Equally, if not more important was the idea of empire and its westward course. The two separate ideologies combined to produce the utopian vision of a republican empire that would be a refuge for the downtrodden of the world, with a mission to spread liberty and the american form of government to the rest of the world as the United States fulfill its manifest destiny to spread westward across the north American Continent. It would be in empire based on liberty rather than an empire based on domination. And it would be an empire that carried with it the enlightenment. As repeated references to reason, progress, secularity, and particularly the arts and sciences, including technology, demonstrates. Concepts spurred the idea of the american empire. The first was millennialism. Historian ruth bloch concludes that the american mission, the idea of america multiplying in population and reaching to the Pacific Ocean and america as an asylum for the injured and oppressed from all parts of the globe, permeated evangelical theiotic statements from 1760s through the 1780s and became a common feature of american nationalism. Envisioned the american empire as characterized by its intellectual prowess. The arts and sciences would be improved and religion, learning, and liberty would be diffused over the continent. The United States would become a large and glorious empire, found to exceed all other empires of the world, while at the same time being the abode of the scholar, the philosopher, and all the sons of science and genius. Fun great works of greatamerica would spawn works of art and science. Continentalis sts. That the residents of 13 thinly populated colonies on the eastern seaboard chose the word continental to describe both the revolutionary congress, and the army informed, is the best indicator of the influence of continental thinking during the revolution. Both terms proceeded the declaration of independence. Neither were official. Both became commonplace because of the American People and press deemed it appropriate. Speculation that the american colonies might one day become in dependent and concerns about how the keep them within the British Empire date back to the 17th century. Thegreat debate in england french and indian war over what to do about canada in the aftermath of the removal of the french was only the culmination of a century of concern about the possibility of american independence. Consequently, many patriot followers hadeir a continental vision for britains american colonies will be for they advocated independence. Foremost among these were Benjamin Franklin, john adams, and Thomas Jefferson. The Pacific Ocean was the National Western boundary of the United States. At first of course, it was a british westward coursing empire. The resident of massachusetts predicted in 1759 that america could become a mighty empire, but i dont mean, an independent one. Widely reprinted in the colonies, a 1769 newspaper article from london commented on the spreading belief that america would be the future seat of the British Empire. And london merely a provincial town, or perhaps just a historic ruin. Benjamin franklins 1751 pamphlet advocating the Agricultural Extension of europeans across north American Continent predicted that because of the rapid increase of the a greateropulation, number of englishmen would be in north america than england within a century. After reading the pamphlet, a Young John Adams imagined the transfer of the seat of empire. Once the french had been driven out of north america. In the early 19th century, he claimed there was nothing more ancient in his memory. Memory thantion the observation that the art, science is, in empire had leapt westward across the Atlantic Ocean. The mid 18th century British Empire in north america vision easily became an american empire when independence changed the equation. It was this viewpoint and not republicanism that the historian and loyalist governor of massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson saw as the spur of the American Revolution. Speculative men had figured in their minds, he said, and 63. Rican empire prior to 17 but at such a distant time when no one could have expected to live to see it. We discussed a gradual progress of the settlement through this vast continent from the atlantic to be specific. Resulting felt a sense of grandeur and selfimportance among his fellow massachusetts colonists. By the time United States declared itself independent, references to the rising glory of the american empire had deeply penetrated popular culture. Noticed inist peter, his diary in 1748 that a number of americans have expressed their opinion to him that the english north american colonies would be able to form a state by themselves entirely independent of england. British traveler claimed that when touring the middle colonies in 1760s, he sensed that the people with whom he socialized eagerly and impatiently look forward to the time when america is to give law to the rest of the world. The rising glory delivered at 2 American College commencement and 1771 were a sign of the times. Reverend William Smith claimed a year later at empire is already planted that promises to give law and happiness to every other part of america. A year later he told the american philosophical society, ever since i was capable of reflecting on the course of , it has been one of my most delightful employments. To trace the progress of the arts like that in the sun from east to west. That has dawned upon us. Anticipating the future, the politically important 7074 Suffolk County massachusetts 1774 Suffolk County massachusetts resolutions envisioned a boundless continent swarming with millions. By 1775, american empire rhetoric was not to be silenced. Februarye observed in that this vast continent would seems to be marked out by providence for the grandest empire on the globe, and whose greatness and wickedness and the folly of Great Britain is hastening forward. Blamed theamilton rigorous and unconstitutional actions of parliament on its jealousy of our dawning splendor. Henry lawrence of South Carolina predicted that a mighty empire will arise on this continent, and england cannot. Progress. Cannot hinder its progress. Widespread acknowledgment of americas advantages, it size, climate, fertile soil, and other natural resources, as well as its rapid population growth, acted to rectify thomas payne paines powerful image in common sense of a sheer absurdity of an island ruling a continent. This was especially clear after a decade during which parliament had repeatedly restricted the growth of the north american colonies. Most famously by forbidding americans to settle west of the appellations of the appalachians. Also by numerous acts regulating colonial land policy, immigration, naturalization, and manufacturing. July 4, 1776, enough americans wanted a separate american empire to publish it in a bill of impeachment against george the third. Only has to read the declaration of independence to understand how much americans resented englands attempt to stifle they are rising glory. Paine claimed in common sense that he never met a man in england or america that a separation was inevitable. It was simply only a matter of when. Expressed itnley to a South Carolina grand jury later in 1776, the almighty has made choice of the present generation to erect the american empire. And thus has suddenly arisen in the world a new empire styled, the United States of america. An empire that as soon as started into existence, attracts the attention of the and bids e universe fair but the blessing of god to be the most glorious empire after record. Ramseytorian to be david dramatically insistently 1778ssed it in his oration in charleston, South Carolina. We have laid the foundation of a new empire which promises to enlarge its self to vast dimensions, and to give happiness to the great continent. It is now our turn to figure on the face of the earth and in the annals of the world. New unitedr, thae states magazine editorialized that if you could have an adequate of the idea of an empire in embryo, your view would have to be from the hudson bay to the goal of california. The newly formed medical society observed the same here that no period in the role of time ever opened so bright and promising the prospect for the spread of liberty and science as that andh now dawns in america, about the all accomplishing hand of time and never erected. By 1782, an american diplomat believe the public mind in america has been too intoxicated with the idea of independent sovereignty and empire over the country as large as europe and its entirety. To make or to attend to any proposition for a reunion with paper with Great Britain. Comments public and private about the empire tapered off during the darkest days of the revolutionary war. But as news of the victory at yorktown and later the International Recognition of american independence, americans again took up the course more ecstatically and you for going more ecstatically and euphorically than before. They were called to finish the illustrious task of rearing and empire, which from its situation and circumstances must surpass all that have existed. In magnitude, felicity, and duration. In 1783, the society of cincinnati was founded in part to promote the future dignity of the american empire. Referred toamilton the papers of congress as the archives of the empire. Capitaladelphia as the of america. A term rarely used to describe what people considered merely a please where congress recited. A place where congress resided. Letters in the 1780s provided the perfect form for empire congress. The ones in charleston, s. C. In 17 831785 proclaimed the introduction of freedom, happiness, independence throughout the greatest continent in the world, and predicted that succeeding ages shall bow to the rising glory of america. And rome, once mistress of the world, shall fade. One man told his Hartford Connecticut audience in 1787 that every free citizen of the american empire ought to consider himself as the legislature for half of mankind. The french have always had a gift for analyzing the american character. Years in ther six United States, a french diplomat captured the pride and chauvinism of the revolutionary generation in his description of americans as inpatient to act and play a role in the world. Egotistical t accesso, imagining that all nations on to sacrifice their interests to americas theirrity, and that revolution has changed all government, measuring the importance of their country by the immensity of their territory, and anticipating future greatness. These sentiments were echoed by another french diplomat in 1789. Who was rather amazed by the american assumption of greatness. In this, they are like a child named to a great inheritance. They are reveling in anticipation, and they had a mania to play a great role in numbering themselves among the premier nations of the globe. Which they flatter themselves to surpass already in many ways. In which they imagine one day they shall succeed in every way. 1784, a cartographer estimated a habitable area of the continent at 3. 5 million square miles, it, i expect want it will certainly ours. The maiden issue of columbia magazine in september 1786 mr. The market by 1 missed the mark by 1 when it predicted in 1850 the 30th state would be admitted to the union. Actually it was california on the Pacific Ocean that became the 31st that year. In november, the magazine devoted considerable space to an explanation of Charles Thompsons great seal of the United States. Focusing on the eagle, long a familiar symbol for empire, but this eagle was special because the ball eagle flew only on the north American Continent. Politicalc and problems arose in the 1780s, americans, reflecting the impatience that french observers considered a key component of their emerging national character, began to question whether the dream of empire would actually materialize. Warneddivinity professor in 1785 that americans should not flatter ourselves too much with the idea of future prosperity and glory of these United States. Although the foundation is laid, the superstructure is not yet finished. Nor ever will it be unless we use the proper means. And whether we shall use such means remains a matter of great uncertainty. By 1787, the year the federal convention that, such questioning was widespread among political observers. A newspaper writer discoursed that when peace was established, most of us mistakingly thought that we had nothing left but to reach out to either hand and take hold of happiness. But an arduous task remained. We had an empire to build. The december issue of the columbia magazine commented on the empire of the United States, noting that the first dawnings of the american empire seem to presage its future presage its future greatness. But we have precluded ourselves from the means of calling for the strength and resources of the empire by a failure to strengthen the federal government. Before leaving congress to attend the federal conventionm James Madison expresse concern that its failure would result in the partisan would result in the partition of the empire into several rival and hostile confederacies. A newspaper writer described the convention as the united wisdom of america, now forming a government adequate to the ones over rising empire. Wants of our rising empire. Franklin called for a daily prayer as a means of breaking a political deadlock. A sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aide . Hamilton worried to Convention PresidentGeorge Washington i fear we shall let slip the golden opportunity of rescuing the american empire from this union anarchy and misery. Madison was pleased to inform jefferson after the Convention Published the constitution it drafted, thats not one member had advocated a partition of the empire into separate confederacies. The debate over ratification of the constitution from the fall of 1787 through the summer of 1788 provided a widespread form for expressing empire consciousness. Comments on its age, size, feet, greatness, and rising glory abound. Expressed conviction that under the constitution, america will