Download Unit 2: American Revolution and Early Republic

Unit 2: American Revolution and Early Republic
The Big Idea:
Between 1763 and 1800, the American Colonists fought the British
for their rights and ultimately their independence. In doing so they laid the foundations for
American Democracy.
Objectives: Students will…
1.
Explain the causes and effects of the French and Indian War, including its political, economic, &
ideological impact.
Explain the reactions of American colonists to the changes in British policies caused by the end of
Salutary Neglect. Analyze the sequence of events leading to the revolution, and evaluate
whether the Revolution was primarily caused by economic or political motives.
Examine the American Revolution, including advantages and disadvantages of each side, and
the role of Native Americans, African-Americans, and women.
Identify the characteristics of the state constitutions written in 1776.
Analyze the Articles of Confederation, including their purpose, strengths and weaknesses; and
identify the domestic and foreign problems they caused, and attempts to remedy those problems.
Analyze the U.S. Constitution including the who, what, when, where, and why of the
Constitutional Convention, the compromises included in the Constitution, and the structure of the
Constitution.
Analyze the Federalists and anti-Federalists, including the leaders and ideologies of each,
Federalists #10 and #51, and their influence on the Bill of Rights.
Analyze American society and culture during the early Republic period, including the role of
women and minorities.
Contrast the viewpoints of Alexander Hamilton to those of Thomas Jefferson and explain how
they became the basis for the first political parties.
Identify key foreign policy events of the Washington administration including the Citizen Genet
incident, Jay’s Treaty, Pinckney’s Treaty, the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793, and the key
elements of advice given by Washington in his Farewell Address.
Analyze the significance of precedents set during the Washington administration including the two
term tradition, advice and consent for treaties, the creation of the cabinet, the title Mr. President,
and the farewell address.
Analyze the growing partisanship during the Adams administration, including the Alien and
Sedition Acts, the XYZ Affair, the Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions, and the Election of 1800.
Develop a strong thesis statement, analyze documents, organize facts and analysis into a
concise outline; and write a free response essay that is rich in content and analysis.
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F/9/20:
American Revolution
Handout: Fish Bowl Debate/Socratic Circle Discussion Strategy
Video: 1776
T/9/24:
Causes of the American Revolution
Reading Assignment Due: Brinkley, Ch. 4, pp. 100-124. See special notetaking format.
Fish Bowl Debate Topic: Was the American Revolution Caused primarily by Economic or Political
Factors?
Homework for Tuesday, Sept. 24:
Read & take position notes [You must do both positions] on Brinkley Ch. 4: Come to class prepared to participate
in a Fish Bowl debate on the following topic:

Economic Causes/Motives
Date -- Item (include factual details)

Political Causes/Motives
Date -- Item (include factual details)
POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC?
The class will be having a debate over whether the American Revolution was caused mainly by political or
economic motives. In preparing to debate this topic, you will need to consider the following events and the
colonists’ reaction to them—in other words these should be covered in detail in your notes over Chapter 4.
Mercantilism
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act Congress
The Proclamation of 1763
The Sugar Act
Sons of Liberty
Writs of Assistance
Gaspee Incident
Quebec Act
Olive Branch Petition
Edenton Proclamation
George III
John Hancock & Sam Adams
Salutary Neglect
The Boston Tea Party
Slavery
The Quartering Acts (Mutiny)
The French and Indian War
Concord & Lexington
Committees of Correspondence
Thomas Hutchinson
Suffolk Resolves
Common Sense
Paris Peace Treaty, 1763
Parliament
Battle of Bunker Hill
Intolerable (Coercive) Acts
The Townshend Acts
The Boston Massacre
The Navigation Acts
The Declaratory Act
nd
!st & 2 Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence
Tea Act
“Give Me Liberty” Speech
“Letters from Penn. Farmer”
Colonial Boycotts
Grenville Program
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR: The French and Indian war was fought between Britain and France. It lasted from
1754-1760, with the colonies supporting Britain and the Indians supporting France. This war spanned three
different continents and it was the main factor in the ending of "salutary neglect." This war planted the seeds of
misunderstanding between Britain and the colonies and indirectly was one of the causes of the Revolutionary War.
Britain came out victoriously with the Treaty of Paris.
Treaty of Paris (1763): Treaty that ended the French and Indian War was ended by the Treaty of Paris. This treaty
ended French reign in Canada. The treaty also called for Spain to give Florida to Britain, and for France to give all
lands east of the Mississippi River to Britain. It also was a precursor, for colonial politics would follow Britain.
Pontiac’s Rebellion, 1763: After France had to give up the territory they had near and around the Appalachian
Mountains the Indians were afraid that the British would come in and start to settle down permanently, to make sure
this didn’t happen Chief Pontiac launched an offensive at Bushy Run and Pontiac’s forces won for the time being.
Proclamation of 1763: The British issued this in 1763 in hopes of conciliating the Indians and to lessen white
expansion. It banned colonists from settling west if the Appalachian mountains. Though it was supposedly a
temporary measure, colonists were angered and the line was moved further west five years later for speculators.
writs of assistance: The royal governor of Massachusetts allowed British revenue officers to use this in 1760 in
order to capture goods imported illegally in: It was a search warrant allowing officials to enter buildings in which
smuggled goods may be. It required no cause for suspicion and homes were often ransacked. It also contributed to
the Revolution.
SUGAR ACT, 1764: George Grenville introduced this act which amended the Molasses Act that had taxed all
foreign molasses entering the U.S. at sixpence a gallon in 1764. The new act ended the previous British policy of
keeping Americans out of all revenue-raising measures. It stated that colonists exported certain items to foreign
countries only if they passed through Britain first. Parliament hoped that Americans would buy more British items
and it increased British sale of European wine.
Currency Act, 1764: extended currency Act, 1751: A Parliamentary act, which was originally applicable only in
Massachusetts in 1751, but in 1764, it was applied to all the colonies as a means of raising revenue. It increased
colonial resentment toward Britain because it disallowed the issuance of colonial money.
No taxation without representation: John Adams, in his Circular Letter, in 1768, openly criticized Parliament’s
practice of taxation without proper colonial representation. It was said that no tax that was issued in order to
produce revenue for Great Britain was constitutional because American representatives had not voted to allow the
tax.
STAMP ACT: British prime minister George Grenville’s most detested act, the Stamp Act was introduced in 1765
as a means of raising revenue in the colonies, and was passed by Parliament. It stated that all legal documents,
contracts, licenses, pamphlets, and newspapers must carry a stamp that is taxed. It was intended to raise money
for keeping up defense in colonies. It infuriated colonists because it was an internal tax that few could escape.
Opposition to the Stamp Act led to formation of the Stamp Act Congress.
Stamp Act Congress, 1765: This was an assembly of delegates from nine of the original thirteen colonies in 1765
which was intended to protest the Stamp Act. They met in New York City and presented the Declaration of Rights
and Grievances, but the group’s demand for no taxation without representation was refused by the House of
Commons.
SONS OF LIBERTY: Members included Samuel Adams and Paul Revere; it was a secret society of patriots which
was organized in 1765 in the colonies. They formed a Committee of Correspondence to defend themselves against
British actions. One of the actions they took was to adopt a policy of non-importation in which merchants refused to
import goods sent from Great Britain. They also participated in terrorizing the stamp distributors through housewrecking and tar-and-feathering in order to achieve respect.
Townshend Acts: Parliament passed these revenue taxes in 1767. The Act taxed glass, paint, lead, paper, paint,
and tea. In colonial opinion, it was just like the Stamp Act in that, though it was said to be an external tax, it was still
put into effect solely to raise revenue for the British treasury. It further angered colonial resentment to Charles
Townshend.
Declaratory Act. 1766: This was a Parliamentary act which was issued in 1766 in order to confirm the British
government’s right to pass acts which were legally binding to the colonists. Because the Stamp Act was so
opposed by the colonists as well as the British business community, it was repealed, but only with the passage of
this confirmation.
Quartering Act: Passed by Congress, this was one of the Intolerable Acts in 1774. It effectively served to further
punish the colonists. Basically, it allowed for much-hated British officers to be permitted to requisition empty, private
buildings. All resistance was repressed by this blatant attempt to force troops in.
Boston Massacre, 1770: British troops, (which were resumed in the city in 1770 in order to discourage opposition
to the Townshend Acts), when hit by hecklers within the crowd, opened fire upon the innocent; five men were killed.
Eight soldiers were tried for murder; their attorney was John Adams. Many were acquitted and anti-British feelings
rose.
Crispus Attucks: He was the leader of a group of colonists who were killed in the 1770 Boston Massacre. Though
he was the first man to be shot, he was only one of five colonists. He was either African-American or Native
American and he may have been a runaway slave. In 1888 a monument of him was erected in his honor in Boston.
Gaspee Incident: A customs schooner was beached in Providence, RI, on June 9, 1772. This upset Americans
because it was one of the last of the customs racketeering ships. Stuck in the mud, it was burned down by local
inhabitants. When investigators were sent to find the initiators, they failed; the suspects would have faced trial
without jury.
Governor Thomas Hutchinson of Mass.: A colonial governor, he opposed taxes that harmed U.S. trade, but still
supported Britain’s right to impose taxes. When the Stamp Act controversy was in effect, his home was ransacked
in 1765. In 1773, he refused to allow British ships to be returned without unloading and the Boston Tea party
resulted. Next to Benedict Arnold, he was the most hated man in Revolutionary America.
committees of correspondence: They were colonial groups in 1772 which were organized to form resistance to
British tyranny. The Boston town meeting made up a 21 member committee "To state the Rights of Colonists and of
this Province in Particular." This committee became a major political force responsible for the Boston Tea Party.
Tea Act: The Parliamentary Tea Act eliminated import duties entering England, lowering the selling price to
consumers, also allowing selling directly to consumers, hurting middlemen. Colonial smuggling was very harmful to
the East India Company which had held a monopoly on tea. The act provided savings for Britain.
BOSTON TEA PARTY: A group of Boston citizens organized a protest on December 16, 1773, which was against
the British tax on tea imported to the colonies The citizens were angry and disallowed three British ships to unload
their cargo in Boston. Led by Samuel Adams and members of the Sons of Liberty, the group, disguised as Indians
boarded the ships and dumped all the tea into Boston Harbor in protest. The American government later refused to
pay for the tea and was punished through closure of the port.
COERCIVE ACTS: Passed by the British Parliament, several laws were composed in 1774 in response to colonial
rebellion. The Boston Tea Party was the last straw leading to the passage of these harsh acts as measures against
the colony of Massachusetts. The four measures passed were to serve as warnings to the rest of the colonies.
They included the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Quartering Act, and the Administration
of Justice Act. Americans united in sympathy for Massachusetts.
Boston Port Act: Parliament passed this act on April 1, 1774, as one of the Intolerable Acts; it ordered the U.S.
navy to close Boston Harbor. Unless they paid for the ruined tea, the port would be subject to permanent closure.
They imposed a deliberately short deadline to ensure that the harbor would close, which would lead to economic
difficulties.
Massachusetts Government Act: Parliament passed this act in 1774 as the second of the Townshend Acts which
revoked the Massachusetts charter and restructured the government. The Governor gained control over naming
sheriffs, who, in turn, gained control over jurymen. The number of Massachusetts town meetings were also
reduced.
Quebec Act: Parliament passed this greatly detested law which established Roman-Catholicism as the official
religion in Quebec, making Protestants angry. Also, Canada’s government was awarded an abundance of powers,
but was in turn, given no legislature. The law also extended Quebec’s 1774 land claims, further angering colonists.
FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1774: convened in Philidelphia in September, 1774, to consider the situation
resulting from the Intolerable Acts. They issued the Declaration of Rights and Grievances to George III, and called
for the Continental Association, and agreement to boycott trade with Britain. committees of Safety were in charge of
enforcing the Continental Association. Before it was adjourned, the delegates agreed to meet in May, 1775 if the
situation still hadn’t been resolved.
Suffolk Resolves: The first Continental Congress passed this in 1774 in response to the Intolerable Acts. They
called for non-importation and preparation of local soldiers in the event that the British should have restorted to
military force. The passage of these resolves marked the willingness of the colonies to defend their rights militarily.
James Otis: He was a colonial leader who was also advocate general of the Boston Vice Admiralty Court in 1756.
His opposition to the writs of assistance and Townshend Acts led him to declare that Parliament did not have the
right to violate natural rights of colonists. He thus published The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proven
Patrick Henry: He was an orator and statesman who played a key role in igniting patriotism and leading the
colonists toward the American Revolution. In 1763 he became a member of the House of Burgesses where he
introduced seven resolutions against the Stamp Act. He is famous for his comment "Give me liberty or give me
death."
John Hancock: Wealthiest man in Massachusetts. Prominent Boston Shipping Merchant who became a leader of
nd
st
the patriot cause. Chairman of the Committee of Safety, president of the 2 Continental Congress, 1 signer of
Declaration of Independence, member of Congress till 1780, twice Governor of Massachusetts.
SAM ADAMS: He was an outspoken advocate of the Sugar Act, and served on the General Court of
Massachusetts in 1765. Moreover, he was a main proponent of opposition to the Townshend Acts and a key figure
in the formation of the Sons of Liberty. Starting a movement for an uprising against the Boston Massacre, he led
several other angry colonists in the Boston Tea Party of 1773. Due to his literary agitation, Adams contributed to
the movement for revolution.
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD, APRIL 19, 1775: American Captain John Parker and seventy Minutemen waited
for the British at Lexington, on April 19. A British officer ordered the Minutemen to lay down their arms, but a shot
from an unknown source was fired. The British then opened fire and charged. Afterwards, the British continued on
the Concord only to find that almost all of the weapons and supplies had been moved. While retreating to Boston,
they were fired on by Minutemen from local cities.
John Adams: He was the lawyer for the soldiers who were tried for murder in the Boston Massacre in 1770. He
successfully defended his clients in defense that they were trying to protect their own lives. He additionally
denounced the Stamp Act, analyzed the demands facing the colonistsHe was one of the first men to propose
American independence when the Revolution began. Moreover, he served on the Committee on Independence,
and also helped persuade the Second Continental Congress to adopt the Declaration of Independence. In
Congress and in diplomatic missions abroad, he served the patriot cause. Vice-President 1789-1796. A
Federalist, he had little say in Washington’s administration. President 1797-1801. While President, Adams kept
the country out of war even though his party wanted war with France. This may have cost him the election. Lost
bid for reelection due to this and the Alien & Sedition Acts.
Abigail Adams: Even though she had a scarce formal education, she was among the most influential women of
her day, particularly as a leader of fashion and social mediator. She was the wife of John Adams, and mother of
John Quincy Adams. Also, she challenged the lack of equality for women and was a strong advocate of the
Revolutionary War.
Mercy Otis Warren: Before the imperial crisis, she was known for her nonpolitical poetry, but soon began writing
political satires in the early 1770s. These satirical plays depicted the Tories as evil, and the Rebels as virtuous. In
doing so, she challenged the assumption that women were naturally dependent on men. The subordination of
women, which was taken for granted, later became the subject of debate. Wrote the first history of the Revolution.
Benjamin Franklin: From, Pennsylvania, he served on the Committee for Independence in 1776. Moreover, as a
prime minister to Britain, he along with John Adams and John Jay, signed a peace treaty between the U.S. and
England, which concerned new American borders, on November 30, 1782
TH/9/26:
Causes of the American Revolution
Reading Assignment Due: Davidson, After the Fact, Ch. 3: “Declaring Independence: The
Strategies of Documentary Analysis,” pp. 24-48 (Inner Voice Notes)
Olive Branch Petition: The Second Continental Congress issued this petition to King George III on July 5,
pleading with him to intercede with Parliament to restore peace. After he ignored it, he issued a Prohibitory act,
which declared all colonies in a state of rebellion no longer under his protection. Thus, Americans prepared for an
all out war with Britain.
Thomas Paine, Common Sense: Thomas Paine published this in January 1776, which called for immediate
independence. Although its arguments were extreme, it had much influence in favor of independence. Combined
with the Prohibitory Act, it convinced many Americans that the British had every intention to carry out a full scale
war.
George III: After the Battle of Bunker Hill, the people of Britain wanted retaliation, and King George III, on August
23, proclaimed New England in a state of rebellion. In December Parliament declared all colonies in a state of
rebellion, and made their ships liable to seizure.
Committee on Independence: After Richard Henry Lee’s resolution on June 7, 1776, the Committee on
Independence was formed. Members included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert
Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Its purpose was to draft a statement of reasons for independence which led to the
Declaration of Independence.
JULY 4, 1776 AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: Written by the Committee on Independence, he
Declaration of Independence contained a list of grievances placing the blame on George III. Additionally, it asserted
certain natural rights: "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" and the "Consent of the governed" to revolt
against tyrannical governments. The English Revolution of 1688 and Enlightenment writers inspired some of the
ideas in the Declaration of independence.
John Dickinson, "Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania": He was a lawyer in Philadelphia and a leader in the
movement against taxation on the colonies in the 1760s. Formulating a declaration of rights at the Stamp Act
Congress, he argued against the duties of the Townshend acts in this publication. He sought appeasement of the
British & voted against Independence.
SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS: The Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on May 10,
1775. They drew up the Olive Branch Petition, which begged George III to restore peace, and adopted a
Declaration of the Causes and Necessity for Taking up Arms. Congress was divided into two main factions: the
delegates that were ready to go to war and declare independence, and those that weren’t ready to go that far. The
Second Continental Congress later evolved into the revolutionary government.
Warren, Joseph; 1741-1775; educator, physician, soldier, patriot leader; in pre-1776 period, extremely active in
the cause of "Liberty and Independence" in association with Samuel and John Adams, John Hancock and others in
Boston; drafted the famous "Suffolk Resolves" sent to the Continental Congress; engaged in a multitude of public
duties; President of Mass. Provincial Congress, 1775; appointed by Continental Congress to be a Major General,
1775; fought and killed at battle of Bunker Hill, 1775.
M/9/30:
Impact of the American Revolution
Reading Assignment Due: Foner, Voices of Freedom, Vol. 1, Ch. 5, “The American Revolution,”
Documents 26-31, pp. 82-100.
Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea): Mohawk chief educated in an English school whose sister was married to Sir
William Johnson, the British diplomat who secured the Iroquois loyalty to the British. Brant was the leading Iroquois
supporter of the British during the American Revolution. His name became synonymous with terror among the
settlers in the Mohawk River Valley.
LOYALISTS, TORIES: They were Anglican clergymen, ethnic and religious minorities, government officials, and
some wealthy merchants comprised the Loyalists. About one-fifth to one-third of the population remained loyal to
Britain. They felt that war was unnecessary to preserve the rights of the colonists, and maintained a respect for the
monarchy. The majority of ethnic and religious minorities, however, were supporters of the revolution. Eighty
thousand Loyalists left, leaving their positions for others.
GEORGE WASHINGTON: George Washington created the Continental Army that had fought against the British.
He was a strong influence in persuading the states to partake in the Constitutional Convention, and he used his
prestige to help gain ratification of the Constitution. He earned a good reputation from the French and Indian War in
1763. His early military experience taught him the dangers of overconfidence and the necessity of determination
when faced with defeat. President 1789-1796. He established many of the presidential traditions, including limiting
a president's tenure to two terms. He was against political parties and strove for political balance in government by
appointing political adversaries to government positions
Lafayette: The Marquis de Lafayette’s close connections with the French court in 1778 indicated that Louis XVI
might recognize U.S. independence and declare war on Britain. After France and the United States entered into an
alliance against Great Britain, Lafayette returned to France to further the granting of financial and military aid to the
Americans.
George Rogers Clark: George Rogers Clark led 175 militia and French volunteers down the Ohio River and took
several British forts along the northwestern Ohio Valley in the spring of 1778. He was a surveyor and a
frontiersmen who also led successful military operations against Indians allied to the British on the western frontier.
Benedict Arnold: He led one of the Continental Armies into Canada but was defeated. A fervent patriot, he later
turned into a traitor. With 400 men, he attacked Fort Ticonderoga in April of 1775, along with Ethan Allen, who
raised an army for the same purpose, but without command.
Ethan Allen: Leader of the Vermont “Green Mountain Boys” who helped capture Fort Ticonderoga.
John Paul Jones: United States Captain John Paul Jones attacked the British territory, which raised American
morale and prestige. He also led the famous ship, Bonhomme Richard, against Britain’s ship, the Serapis, in which
the war was brought to England’s shores, boosting American morale and credibility.
Continental Army: Composed of colonial men, the Continental Army consisted of less than 10,000 men prepared
for duty at one time. Out of the potential 250,000 men living in the colonies, the Continental Army was quite
diminutive at the dawn of the war. Led by George Washington, this army fought in various battles such as Valley
Forge.
Battle of Bunker Hil): Three British generals arrived in Boston in May, 1775 to assist General Gage. After two
failed British attacks on Breed’s Hill, the colonists ran out of ammunition, and the British succeeded. The colonists
now had two choices: to commit to a full-scale revolution, or to accept the rule of the British.
"Bonhomme Richard" and the "Serapis": John Paul Jones took command of a rebuilt French merchant ship and
renamed it the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard. On September 23, 1779, he engaged the British frigate, the Serapis, in
the North Sea. This was the most famous naval battle in the American Revolution.
Saratoga: British General John Burgoyne felt overwhelmed by a force three times larger than his own, and
surrendered on October 17, 1777. This forced the British to consider whether or not to continue the war. The U.S.
victory at the Battle of Saratoga convinced the French that the U.S. deserved diplomatic recognition.
Valley Forge: American survivors from the Battle at Brandywine Creek marched through Valley Forge in early
December, 1777. The Continental Army marched through Valley Forge while the British army rested miles away in
Philadelphia. After the arrival of Baron Friedrich von Steuben, the Continental army emerged from Valley Forge.
Hessians: They were German mercenaries who were comprised of approximately 30,000 soldiers in the British
army during the Revolutionary War. They fought among 162,000 other Britons and loyalists but were outnumbered
by the 220,000 troops of the Continental Army.
Yorktown: Washington, along with Admiral de Grasse’s French fleet, trapped British General Cornwallis on the
Yorktown peninsula. The Siege of Yorktown began in September of 1781, and ended when Cornwallis realized that
he lost three key points around Yorktown and surrendered.
Treaty of Paris, 1783: Great Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris, which brought an end to the
American Revolution, on September 3. Great Britain recognized the former 13 colonies as the free and selfgoverning United States of America.
W/10/2:
After the Revolution: U.S. under the Articles of Confederation
Reading Assignment Due: Brinkley Ch. 5, pp. 126-156 (Back to Brinkley notes)
Quock Walker case- Mass: Nathaniel Jennison was accused of assaulting Quock Walker, an African American.
Jennison defended himself on the grounds that Walker was his slave. the Superior Court rejected his defense
because it was unconstitutional in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This was the first of several cases where
slaves sued for their freedom.
Virginia Statue of Religious Freedom: Thomas Jefferson worked on the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.
It became a law in 1786, and was the model for the clause in the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of
religion. Separation of church and state became more popular
Articles of Confederation: Drafted in 1796 by John Dickinson, the Articles of Confederation established a singlechamber national Congress elected by state legislatures, in which each state held only one vote. These Articles
notably left out both and executive and judicial branch, and provided Congress no power to tax or regulate
commerce. However, the Articles established states’ rights and also provided for American independence, uniting
all the colonies during the war.
Land Ordinance of 1785: Congress enacted this law to set a uniform procedure for surveying land in 1785. It
established that the settlement of a town would be six square miles and would contain land set aside for schools,
setting a precedent for the public education system in the United States.
Northwest Ordinance, 1787: Congress passed this law to define the steps for the formation and admission of
states into the Union in 1787. It applied to the lands north of the Ohio River which had been established as the
Northwest Territory. The existence of slavery could be determined by popular sovereignty in these territories.
Proposed Jay-Gardoqui Treaty, 1785: John Jay tried to negotiate with Spain for trading rights in New Orleans in
1785, but returned with a treaty that renounced Spanish claims to southwestern lands and opened Spanish markets
to eastern merchants. In exchange, the U.S. gave up Mississippi trading rights, thus fueling the North-South
conflict.
F/10/4:
Doing the DBQ
Homework: Founding Fathers Project Due: Bring already printed copy to
class or e-mail project to Ms. Garvey before 7:45 a.m. this same day.
Handout: Doing the DBQ
T/10/8:
Constitutional Convention
Reading Assignment Due: DBQ on American Revolution & Worksheet
Discussion on Founding Fathers & Individual & Group Presentations of Project Material
Robert Morris: When the United States, under the Articles of Confederation, was unable to prevent national
bankruptcy, Congress turned to him. Hoping to panic the country into creating a regular source of national
revenue, he engineered the Newburgh conspiracy along with Alexander Hamilton.
Newburgh conspiracy: The new nation under the Articles of Confederation was in a financial crisis. Through
the Newburgh Conspiracy, which was engineered by Alexander Hamilton and Robert Morris, the army, whose
pay was overdue, threatened to force the states into surrendering more power to the national government.
Shays’ Rebellion: A group of Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shays protested after taxes were raised to
pay for Revolutionary debts in 1786. The high taxes, combined with the depression that hit after British markets
were lost, forced the farmers to revolt. The result was an increase in tension between the North and South.
Annapolis Convention, 1786: A group of delegates from five states met in Annapolis, Maryland in 1786, in an
effort to solve the problems of interstate commerce. Because there was little representation, the delegates
decided that a convention of all states should be held the year after in order to amend the Articles of
Confederation.
The Constitution: After the Revolutionary War, the problems with the Articles of Confederation became
increasingly obvious, resulting in the Philadelphia Convention, whose purpose was to rewrite the Articles.
However, instead of submitting the Articles for revision, the delegates decided to begin again, resulting in the
drafting of a new frame of government outlined in the Constitution, a document that compromised conflicting
interests, unifying all the states under a powerful federal government.
Morris, Gouverneur: New York representative to the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania delegate to the
Constitutional Convention. Author of the Preamble to the Constitution.
PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION: A congressional convention met in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of
Confederation in 1788. The delegates, which included Madison, Hamilton, and Franklin, believed that there
should be checks and balances in the government to give each branch equal amounts of power. The
convention ultimately scrapped the Articles and came up with the much more effective Constitution, in which
various compromises were made to pacify sectional differences.
James Madison, "Father of the Constitution": Madison drafted the Virginia Plan of national government that
became the basis for its bicameral structure in 1788. He also assisted in the writing of the "Federalist Papers"
in order to persuade delegates who were fearful of centralized power.
GREAT COMPROMISE: Also called the Connecticut compromise, this compromise was introduced by the
Connecticut delegation in 1788, and contained both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. It provided for a
presidency, a senate with states represented with two senators each, and a House of Representatives with
representation according to population. The plan resolved the dilemma of using only one of the two self serving
documents in the Constitution.
Antifederalists: Antifederalists were opponents of the Constitution who thought that it failed to balance power
between the national and state governments. Believing that a balance was impossible to reach, the opponents
thought that the new government would ultimately ruin the states.
Federalists: The supporters of the Constitution, including Hamilton, Jay, and Madison, who called themselves
the Federalists. These men became important in the ratification process of the Constitution; they persuaded
many of its opponents to ratify it through their speeches, the Federalist Papers, and other propaganda.
George Mason: Mason was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention and helped draft the Constitution.
Troubled by its power and its failure to limit slavery or contain a bill of rights, he would not sign it. Some states
refused to ratify the Constitution until 1791, when a bill of rights was added to the Constitution. Known as
father of Bill of Rights.
The Federalist Papers: The Federalist papers were written by Jay, Hamilton, and Madison in 1788, during the
Philadelphia Convention as a response to Antifederalist objections to the Constitution. The eighty-five
newspaper essays offered a glimpse of the framers’ intentions in designing the Constitution, and shaped the
American philosophy of the government. They explained that the Constitution would protect the minority’s rights
but would not make them too powerful.
The Federalist, number 10: Madison, in the Federalist number ten, rejected the Antifederalist argument that
establishing a republic in United States would lead to a struggle for power. He also argued that the Constitution
would prevent the formation of national factions and parties.
Electoral College: In order to protect the interests of the elite, land owning class, the framers of the
Constitution added the electoral college as a safeguard against the majority opinion. As a result, electors could
elect a presidential candidate without considering the popular vote and elections could be won without a
majority in the popular vote
TH/10/10:
The Federalist Era
Reading Assignment Due: Brinkley Ch. 6, pp. 158-179.
Handout: Unit 2 Review
Alexander Hamilton: Sec. of the Treasury during Washington’s administration. A leading Federalist (party
founder), he supported industry and strong central government. He created the National Bank and managed to
pay off the U.S.’s early debts through tariffs and the excise tax on whiskey. Killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.
Thomas Jefferson: Primary author of the Declaration of Independence, He would serve as minister to France
st
during the Artilcles of Confedration. Sec. of State during Washington’s 1 administration. A leading
Democratic-Republican (party founder), he opposed Hamilton’s ideas. Washington tended to side with
Hamilton, so Jefferson resigned. Vice-President 1797-1801 to Federalist President Adams. President 18001808. He was a Democratic-Republican (originally an Anti- Federalist), so he believed in strict interpretation of
the Constitution, but violated this belief to purchase Louisiana Territory.
Henry Knox: A Revolutionary War hero, Henry Knox had served as Secretary of War under the Articles of
Confederation, and stayed on in that capacity as part of Washington’s cabinet.
Edmund Randolph: General Washington's aide-de-camp at the outbreak of the Revolution, and served both
as a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress and as Governor of Virginia from 1786-1788. He submitted
the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention. From 1789-1794 he served as U.S. Attorney General, and
then succeeded Jefferson as Sec. of State.
Excise taxes: Taxes placed on manufactured products. The excise tax on whiskey helped raise revenue for
Hamilton’s program.
Benjamin Banneker: Free born African-American mathematician and astronomer who was one of the
architects of Washington, D.C.
Whiskey Rebellion: In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and
several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the
offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the
new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the
inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay’s Rebellion.
Washington’s Farewell Address: He warned against the dangers of political parties, sectionalism, and
foreign alliances.
Citizen Genêt: Edmond Charles Genêt. A French diplomat who came to the U.S. 1793 to ask the American
government to send money and troops to aid the revolutionaries in the French Revolution. President
Washington asked France to recall Genêt after Genêt began recruiting men and arming ships in U.S. ports.
Neutrality Proclamation: Washington’s declaration that the U.S. would not take sides after the French
Revolution touched off a war between France and a coalition consisting primarily of England, Austria and
Prussia. Washington's Proclamation was technically a violation of the Franco-American Treaty of 1778.
T/10/15:
The First Political Parties
Reading Assignment Due: Foner, Voices of Freedom, Vol. 1, Chs. 6-8, Only Documents 33,
35-38,45-47, pp104-106,109-118, 136-149.
Election of 1796: Results = President Adams, Vice-president Jefferson. The first true election (when
Washington ran, there was never any question that he would be elected). Adams was a Federalist, but
Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican. Only time Pres. & V. Pres. were of different parties. First election
where political parties played a role.
Alien and Sedition Acts: These consist of four laws passed by the Federalist Congress and signed by
President Adams in 1798: the Naturalization Act, which increased the waiting period for an immigrant to
become a citizen from 5 to 14 years; the Alien Act, which empowered the president to arrest and deport
dangerous aliens; the Alien Enemy Act, which allowed for the arrest and deportation of citizens of countries at
was with the US; and the Sedition Act, which made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal
government or its officials. The Sedition Act was an attempt to stifle Democratic-Republican opposition,
although only 25 people were ever arrested, and only 10 convicted, under the law.
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: Written anonymously by Jefferson and Madison in response to the
Alien and Sedition Acts, they declared that states could nullify federal laws that the states considered
unconstitutional. Would become the basis for the states’ rights view that led to the Civil War.
Election of 1800: Tie vote between Jefferson and Burr. The two Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson
and Aaron Burr defeated Federalist John Adams, but tied with each other. The final decision went the House of
Representatives, where there was another tie. After a long series of ties in the House, Jefferson (on the
encouragement of Hamilton) was finally chosen as president. Burr became vice-president. This led to the 12th
Amendment, which requires the president and vice-president of the same party to run on the same ticket. This
election is a turning point in history because it was the first peaceful transfer of power from one political party to
another.
Loyal Opposition: Important democractic concept that it is not disloyal, sedition, or treason to criticize the
government. It is in fact the duty of citizens to question their government.
12th Amendment: Brought about by the Jefferson/Burr tie, stated that presidential and vice-presidential
nominees would run on the same party ticket. Before that time, all of the candidates ran against each other,
with the winner becoming president and second-place becoming vice-president.
XYZ Affair: 1798 - A commission had been sent to France in 1797 to discuss the disputes that had arisen out
of the U.S.'s refusal to honor the Franco-American Treaty of 1778. President Adams had also criticized the
French Revolution, so France began to break off relations with the U.S. Adams sent delegates to meet with
French foreign minister Talleyrand in the hopes of working things out. Talleyrand’s three agents told the
American delegates that they could meet with Talleyrand only in exchange for a very large bribe. The
Americans did not pay the bribe, and in 1798 Adams made the incident public, substituting the letters "X, Y and
Z" for the names of the three French agents in his report to Congress.
Jay’s Treaty: 1794 - It was signed in the hopes of settling the growing conflicts between the U.S. and Britain.
It dealt with the Northwest posts and trade on the Mississippi River. It was unpopular with most Americans
because it did not punish Britain for the attacks on neutral American ships. It was particularly unpopular with
France, because the U.S. also accepted the British restrictions on the rights of neutrals. John Jay was burned
in effigy in many port cities to protest this treaty.
Pickney’s Treaty: 1795 - Treaty between the U.S. and Spain which gave the U.S. the right to transport goods
on the Mississippi river and to store goods in the Spanish port of New Orleans.
TH/10/17:
UNIT 2 TEST with DBQ Essay
Time Line of the American Revolution
1763
1764
1765
1766
Proclamation of 1763. Closing of the frontier west of the Appalachian Mountains to settlement.
Sugar Act. Parliament, desiring revenue from its North American colonies, passed the first law specifically
aimed at raising colonial money for the Crown. The act increased duties on non-British goods shipped to
the colonies.
Currency Act. This act prohibited American colonies from issuing their own currency, angering many
American colonists.
Quartering Act. The British further angered American colonists with the Quartering Act, which required the
colonies to provide barracks and supplies to British troops.
Stamp Act. Parliament's first direct tax on the American colonies, this act, like those passed in 1764, was
enacted to raise money for Britain. It taxed newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, broadsides, legal
documents, dice, and playing cards. Issued by Britain, the stamps were affixed to documents or packages
to show that the tax had been paid.
Stamp Act Congress passed a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances," which claimed that American
colonists were equal to all other British citizens, protested taxation without representation, and stated that,
without colonial representation in Parliament, Parliament could not tax colonists. In addition, the colonists
increased their nonimportation efforts.
Repeal of the Stamp Act. Although some in Parliament thought the army should be used to enforce the
Stamp Act (1765), others commended the colonists for resisting a tax passed by a legislative body in which
they were not represented. The act was repealed, and the colonies abandoned their ban on imported
British goods.
1767
1769
1770
1772
1773
1774
1775
Declaratory Act. The repeal of the Stamp Act did not mean that Great Britain was surrendering any control
over its colonies. The Declaratory Act, passed by Parliament on the same day the Stamp Act was repealed,
stated that Parliament could make laws binding the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever."
Resistance to the Quartering Act in New York. New York served as headquarters for British troops in
America, so the Quartering Act (1765) had a great impact on New York City. When the New York Assembly
refused to assist in quartering troops, a skirmish occurred in which one colonist was wounded. Parliament
suspended the Assembly's powers but never carried out the suspension, since the Assembly soon agreed
to contribute money toward the quartering of troops.
Townshend Acts. To help pay the expenses involved in governing the American colonies, Parliament
passed the Townshend Acts, which initiated taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.
"Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies." Originally
published in a newspaper, this widely reproduced pamphlet by John Dickinson declared that Parliament
could not tax the colonies, called the Townshend Acts unconstitutional, and denounced the suspension of
the New York Assembly as a threat to colonial liberties.
Virginia's Resolutions. The Virginia House of Burgesses passed resolutions condemning Britain's actions
against Massachusetts, and stating that only Virginia's governor and legislature could tax its citizens. The
members also drafted a formal letter to the King, completing it just before the legislature was dissolved by
Virginia's royal governor.
Townshend Acts Cut Back. Because of the reduced profits resulting from the colonial boycott of imported
British goods, Parliament withdrew all of the Townshend Act (1767) taxes except for the tax on tea. In
response to Parliament's relaxation of its taxation laws, the colonies relaxed their boycott of British
imported goods (1767).
Boston Massacre. The arrival of troops in Boston provoked conflict between citizens and soldiers. On
March 5, a group of soldiers surrounded by an unfriendly crowd opened fire, killing three Americans and
fatally wounding two more. A violent uprising was avoided only with the withdrawal of the troops to islands
in the harbor. The soldiers were tried for murder, but convicted only of lesser crimes; noted patriot John
Adams was their principal lawyer.
Attack on the "Gaspee." After several boatloads of men attacked a grounded British customs schooner
near Providence, Rhode Island, the royal governor offered a reward for the discovery of the men, planning
to send them to England for trial. The removal of the "Gaspee" trial to England outraged American
colonists.
Committees of Correspondence. Samuel Adams called for a Boston town meeting to create committees
of correspondence to communicate Boston's position to the other colonies. Similar committees were soon
created throughout the colonies.
Tea Act. By reducing the tax on imported British tea, this act gave British merchants an unfair advantage in
selling their tea in America. American colonists condemned the act, and many planned to boycott tea.
Boston Tea Party. When British tea ships arrived in Boston harbor, many citizens wanted the tea sent
back to England without the payment of any taxes. The royal governor insisted on payment of all taxes. On
December 16, a group of men disguised as Indians boarded the ships and dumped all the tea in the harbor.
Coercive Acts. In response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed several acts to punish
Massachusetts. The Boston Port Bill banned the loading or unloading of any ships in Boston harbor. The
Administration of Justice Act offered protection to royal officials in Massachusetts, allowing them to transfer
to England all court cases against them involving riot suppression or revenue collection. The
Massachusetts Government Act put the election of most government officials under the control of the
Crown, essentially eliminating the Massachusetts charter of government.
The First Continental Congress. Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent a total of fifty-six delegates to the
First Continental Congress. Only Georgia was not represented. One accomplishment of the Congress was
the Association of 1774, which urged all colonists to avoid using British goods, and to form committees to
enforce this ban.
Lexington and Concord. British troops planned to destroy American ammunition at Concord. When the
Boston Committee of Safety learned of this plan, it sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to alert the
countryside and gather the Minute Men. On April 19, Minute Men and British troops met at Lexington,
where a shot from a stray British gun lead to more British firing. The Americans only fired a few shots;
several Americans were killed. The British marched on to Concord and destroyed some ammunition, but
soon found the countryside swarming with militia. At the end of the day, many were dead on both sides.
The Second Continental Congress. The Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on May
10. John Hancock was elected president of Congress.
George Washington is named commander-in-chief. On June 10, John Adams proposed that Congress
consider the forces in Boston a Continental army, and suggested the need for a general. He recommended
George Washington for the position. Congress began to raise men from other colonies to join the army in
1776
1777
1778
New England, and named a committee to draft military rules. On June 15, Washington was nominated to
lead the army; he accepted the next day. To pay for the army, Congress issued bills of credit, and the
twelve colonies represented in the Congress promised to share in repaying the bills.
Bunker Hill. On June 12, British General Gage put martial law in effect, and stated that any person helping
the Americans would be considered a traitor and rebel. When Americans began to fortify a hill against
British forces, British ships in the harbor discovered the activity and opened fire. British troops -- 2,400 in
number -- arrived shortly after. Although the Americans -- 1,000 in number -- resisted several attacks,
eventually they lost the fortification.
Olive Branch Petition. Congress issued a petition declaring its loyalty to the king, George III, and stating
its hope that he would help arrange a reconciliation and prevent further hostilities against the colonies. Four
months later, King George III rejected the petition and declared the colonies in rebellion.
"Common Sense." Thomas Paine moved many to the cause of independence with his pamphlet titled
"Common Sense." In a direct, simple style, he cried out against King George III and the monarchical form
of government.
The British Evacuate Boston. American General Henry Knox arrived in Boston with cannons he had
moved with great difficulty from Fort Ticonderoga, New York. Americans began to entrench themselves
around Boston, planning to attack the British. British General William Howe planned an attack, but
eventually retreated from Boston.
Congress Authorizes the Colonies to Write Constitutions. In May, the Second Continental Congress
adopted a resolution authorizing the colonies to adopt new constitutions; the former colonial governments
had dissolved with the outbreak of war.
Congress Declares Independence. When North Carolina and Virginia empowered their delegates to vote
for American independence, Virginian Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution stating that the colonies "are,
and of right ought to be, free and independent States." A committee was appointed to draft a declaration of
independence, and Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write it. On July 2, Congress voted in favor of
independence, and on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was approved. Copies were sent
throughout the colonies to be read publicly.
Battle of Long Island. After leaving Boston, British General Howe planned to use New York as a base.
The British captured Staten Island and began a military build-up on Long Island in preparation for an
advance on Brooklyn. Washington succeeded in saving his army by secretly retreating onto Manhattan
Island. Washington eventually retreated from Manhattan, fearing the prospect of being trapped on the
island, and the British occupied New York City.
The Battle of White Plains. British and American forces met at White Plains, New York, where the British
captured an important fortification. Washington once again retreated, still attempting to save his army from
the full force of the British army.
Retreat through New Jersey. Washington and his army retreated across New Jersey, crossing the
Delaware River into Pennsylvania. Congress, fearing a British attack on Philadelphia, fled to Baltimore.
Battle of Trenton. On December 26, Washington launched a surprise attack against a British fortification
at Trenton, New Jersey, that was staffed by Hessian soldiers. After one hour of confused fighting, the
Hessians surrendered. Only five American soldiers were killed.
Battle of Princeton. British General Howe reacted to the Battle of Trenton by sending a large force of men
to New Jersey. At Princeton, Washington once again launched a surprise attack, and succeeded in
defeating the British. His efforts cleared most of New Jersey of enemy forces, and greatly boosted
American morale.
The British Attack Philadelphia. British and Americans met at Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania. The
Americans retreated, and the British soon occupied Philadelphia, forcing Congress once again to flee the
city. After retreating further during the Battle of Germantown, Washington settled his army for the winter in
Valley Forge -- a winter of extreme cold and great hunger.
Saratoga. On October 7, British and American troops engaged in New York. Fatigued from battle and short
of supplies, British General John Burgoyne's troops were repulsed by American forces under General
Horatio Gates. On October 8, Burgoyne retreated to Saratoga; by October 13th, he asked for terms of
surrender. The "Convention of Saratoga" called for Burgoyne's army to be sent back to England, and for
each soldier to pledge not to serve again in the war against the colonies.
Articles of Confederation. When Richard Henry Lee made a motion for independence (1776), he also
proposed a formal plan of union among the states. After a discussion lasting more than a year, the Articles
of Confederation were adopted by Congress, although the states did not ratify the Articles until 1781.
France and America Become Allies. France and America formed an alliance, negotiated by Benjamin
Franklin, stating that each would consider the other a "most favored nation" for trade and friendship; France
would be obligated to fight for American independence; and America would be obligated to stand by France
if war should occur between France and Great Britain. Within four months, France and Great Britain were
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1785
1786
1787
at war.
John Paul Jones Wins Victories. Although Esek Hopkins was never very successful with the American
navy, Captain John Paul Jones won several victories against the British with his ship, the "Ranger."
The British Attack in North and South. Fighting continued in both the northern and southern states. In
the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania, Loyalists and Indians led by Mohawk Joseph Brant attacked
American settlers. The Loyalists soon were defeated, and Americans went on to destroy many Native
American villages whose residents were fighting on the side of the British.
Spain Joins the War. Spain asked Britain for Gibraltar as a reward for joining the war on the British side.
When Britain refused, Spain joined with France in its war against Britain, although refusing to recognize
American independence.
The British Take Charleston, South Carolina. After a brief fight, the British took Charleston, capturing
5,400 men and four American ships in the harbor. It was the worst American defeat of the war.
The Treason of Benedict Arnold. American General Benedict Arnold, frustrated and ambitious, began
dealing with British General Sir Henry Clinton. After he was promised the command at West Point by
General Washington, Arnold told Clinton that he would give the strategic American fortification to the
British. But when British Major John André, acting as messenger, was captured, Arnold fled to a British
ship, revealing his involvement in the treasonous plan. André was executed as a spy, and Arnold was
made a brigadier general in the British army.
The Articles of Confederation Are Ratified. With the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, under
discussion since 1777, Congress assumed a new title, "The United States in Congress Assembled."
The Battle of Yorktown. French and American forces joined at Yorktown, on land and at sea, and
attacked British fortifications. Key British points were soon held by the Americans and French, and British
General Cornwallis soon surrendered, giving up almost 8,000 men. With this defeat, Britain lost hope of
winning the war in America.
Peace Negotiations Begin in Paris. British, French, and American commissioners met in Paris to discuss
peace. The United States sent Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. By November, the
commissioners had drafted a peace treaty. Its terms called for Great Britain to recognize American
independence and provide for the evacuation of all British troops. Great Britain also gave up its territory
between the Mississippi River and the Allegheny Mountains, doubling the size of the new nation.
The Loyalists and British Evacuate New York. New York City was the last Loyalist refuge in America.
Starting in April, nearly 30,000 Loyalists, knowing that the British soon would leave New York, packed their
belongings and sailed to Canada and England, followed shortly by the British army. In November, when the
British sailed away, Washington entered the city and formally bade farewell to his officers. Soon after, he
resigned his commission.
Basic Land Ordinance. Congress arranged for surveys to divide the western territories into townships,
with one lot in each town set aside as a site for a public school.
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. The Virginia House of Burgesses passed a statute, written
by Thomas Jefferson in 1779 and sponsored by James Madison, declaring that no person should be
discriminated against because of religious belief, or compelled to join or support any church. This statute
helped shape the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Attempts to Revise the Articles of Confederation. In Congress, Charles Pinckney proposed a revision of
the Articles of Confederation. A committee debated the question, and recommended several changes,
including granting Congress power over foreign and domestic commerce, and enabling Congress to collect
money owed by the states. Under the Articles, unanimous approval from all thirteen states would be
necessary to pass the suggested changes. Doubting that all the states would ever agree, Congress never
acted.
Annapolis Convention. Nine states agreed to send delegates to Annapolis to discuss commerce, but only
five state delegations arrived on time. Because of the poor attendance, the delegates decided to invite the
states to another convention. Alexander Hamilton drafted an address to the states, inviting them to a
convention to be held in Philadelphia in 1787, to discuss not only commerce, but all matters necessary to
improve the federal government. After debate, on February 21, 1787, Congress endorsed the plan to revise
the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitutional Convention. Every state but Rhode Island sent delegates to the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia. The gathering included some of the most respected and talented men in
America. George Washington was named president.
Northwest Ordinance. While the Constitutional Convention debated a new government, Congress
decided upon a plan for governing all western territories north of the Ohio River. The Northwest Ordinance
provided for a plan of government, the creation of states, the acceptance of each new state as an equal of
the original states, freedom of religion, right to a trial by jury, public support of education, and the
prohibition of slavery. Arthur St. Clair was named first governor of the territory.
1788
Congress Receives the Constitution. Although some congressmen were displeased at the Convention
for doing far more than revising the Articles of Confederation, on September 28 Congress agreed to pass
the Constitution on to the states, so each could debate it in separate ratifying conventions. Nine states had
to agree to the new Constitution for it to go into effect.
"The Federalist." Supporters of the Constitution -- Federalists -- and opponents of the Constitution -Antifederalists -- fought fiercely in the press. Seventy-seven essays, written anonymously by "Publius,"
appeared in New York newspapers, explaining and defending the new Constitution. These essays,
published in book form with eight additional essays, were titled The Federalist. Written by Alexander
Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, The Federalist was the most organized, coherent effort to defend
the Constitution.
The Constitution Is Ratified by Nine States. On June 21, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify
the new Constitution, making its adoption official. Preceding New Hampshire were Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina. Virginia
and New York ratified shortly after New Hampshire, followed by North Carolina in November 1789. Rhode
Island was last to ratify, not joining the Union until May 1790.
Congress Steps Aside for a New Government. On July 2, Congress announced that the Constitution
had been adopted. By September, a committee had prepared for the change in government, naming New
York City as the temporary official capital, and setting dates for elections and for the meeting of the first
Congress under the new Constitution. Congress completed its business on October 10. Its last action was
the granting of ten square miles of land to Congress for a federal town.
Essay Questions—American Revolution
1.
In what ways did the French and Indian War (1754-63) alter the political, economic and ideological
relations between Britain and its American colonies? (04)
2.
Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on both slavery and the status of women in the period from
1775-1800. (04)
3.
Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of Confederation were effective in solving the problems that
confronted the new nation. (03)
4.
Despite the view of some historians that the conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen North American
colonies was economic in origin, in fact the American Revolution had its roots in politics and other areas of
American life. Assess the validity of this statement. (86)
5.
This history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and ursurpation, all having
in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. Evaluate this accusation made
against George III in the Declaration of Independence. (88)
6.
Analyze the extent to which the American Revolution represented a radical alteration in American political
ideas and institutions. Confine your answer to the period 1775 to 1800. (97)
7.
Analyze the degree to which the Articles of Confederation provided an effective form of government with
respect to any TWO of the following: (96)
Foreign Relations
Western Lands
Economic Conditions
8.
The Bill of Rights did not come from a desire to protect the liberties won in the American Revolution, but
rather from a fear of the powers of the new federal government. Assess the validity of the statement. (91)
9.
Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors prompting Americans to rebel in 1776: (92)
Parliamentary Taxation
Restriction of Civil Liberties
British Military Measures
Legacy of Colonial Religious & Political Ideas
10.
What evidence is there for the assertion that the basic principles of the Constitution were firmly grounded in
the political and religious experience of America’s colonial and revolutionary periods? (84)
11.
In the two decades before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, a profound shift occurred in the
way many Americans thought and felt about the British government and their colonial governments.
Assess the validity of this statement in view of the political and constitutional debate of these decades. (89)
12.
To what extent did the American Revolution fundamentally change American society? In your answer, be
sure to address the political, social, and economic effects of the Revolution in the period from 1775 to
1800. (05)
13.
Discuss the changing ideals of American womanhood between the American Revolution (1770’s) and the
outbreak of the Civil War. What factors fostered the emergence of “republican motherhood” and the “cult of
domesticity”? Assess the extent to which these ideals influenced the lives of women during this period. In
your answer be sure to consider issues of race and class. (06)
14.
“The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an economic and ideological victory for the traditional
American political elite.” Assess the validity of that statement for the period 1781 to 1789. (06)
15.
Analyze the reasons for the Anti-Federalist opposition to ratifying the Constitution. (08)
16.
Analyze the ways in which British imperial policies between 1763 and 1776 intensified colonials’ resistance
to British rule and their commitment to republican values. [09]
17.
Analyze how the ideas and experiences of the revolutionary era influenced the principles embodied in the
Articles of Confederation. [09]
18.
Analyze the political, diplomatic, and military reasons for the United States victory in the Revolutionary War.
Confine your answer to the period 1775–1783. [10]
19.
To what extent did political parties contribute to the development of national unity in the United States
between 1790 and 1840? [11]
20.
Analyze the ways in which the political, economic, and diplomatic crises of the 1780s shaped the provisions
of the United States Constitution. [11]
21.
Analyze the effect of the French and Indian War and its aftermath on the relationship between Great Britain
and the British colonies. Confine your response to the period from 1754 to 1776. (12)
22.
Analyze the ways in which the ideas of the Enlightenment contributed to the origins of constitutional
Government in the United States. (12)
23.
Explain the issues that created the greatest controversies during the ratification of the United States
Constitution (1787–1788) and analyze how those issues continued to divide the nation during the two
decades following ratification (1789–1809). (13)