Study Guide: Unit Two - Independence

 

Due Date

Assignment

Thurs., Sept. 3

1. Read p. 132 -148 in the text

2. Read p. 104-105 in the Docs book

3. Do questions 1 – 6

4. Fill in the first side of the Chart: Road to Revolution. Be detailed as you fill in each block.

Fri., Sept. 4

1. Read p. 148 – 153 to “The Second Continental Congress...”

2. Read “Letter VII from a Farmer” p. 108-9 in the Docs book

2. Download from my website “Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress” and skim through “The Continental Congress Creates the Association” on p. 122 – 124 in the Docs book

3. Answer questions 7 – 10

4. Finish the Chart: Road to Revolution

Tues., Sept. 8

Read excerpt from “What Led the Americans into Open Rebellion?” p. 136 – 145.  In the margin for each source write notes summarizing the reasons that the source gave for Revolution.  Be prepared to discuss in class the differences in the interpretations and which you find most persuasive.

Weds., Sept. 9

1. Read p. 153 – 160 AND p. 161 – 168. You don’t need to know the details of the military action of the war, but you should be familiar with the general flow of the fighting as moved from North to South.  Also make sure you know about the significance of the battle of Saratoga.

2. Answer questions 11 - 13

3. Read the excerpts from the Common Sense handout and answer the questions at the end. 

4. Read the excerpts from Charles Inglis’s essay, “The True Interest of America” and make a list in the margin of his arguments of why the colonies should reconcile with Great Britain 

5. Print out a copy of the Declaration of Independence and bring it in to class.  There is a link on my website.  You don’t need to print out the list of signers.

Fri., Sept 11

1. Read from p. 168 to the top of p. 182 PLUS p. 238 – the top of p. 241. 

2. Answer questions 14 - 22 

Mon., Sept. 14

DBQ due (This is a test grade)

Tues., Sept. 15

1. Read Madison’s “Vices of the Political System of the U.S.” p. 158 – 160 in the Docs book.

2. Read p. 182 – 190

3. Answer questions 23 - 26

Weds., Sept. 16

Review for your test tomorrow

Thurs., Sept. 17

Test

 

Reading Questions

 

1.

Summarize the legacy of the French and Indian War.  Give examples of how English policy changed.

 

2.

Why did the Sugar Act and the vice-admiralty courts so anger the colonists?  What was the argument over “virtual representation?”

 

3.

What actions did the colonists take against the Stamp Act?  What were the differing motivations of those in the resistance movement?

 

4.

Summarize the intellectual rationale used to argue for and against the Stamp Act.

 

5.

What were the arguments used in Parliament to argue for repeal of the Act?  What was the Declaratory Act?

 

6.

Read the “Declarations of the Stamp Act Congress” on p 104-105 in the Docs book.  Summarize both the philosophical and the pragmatic arguments that the Congress makes against the Stamp Act.

 

7.

Summarize the debate over the legality of the Townshend Duties. What was the impact of the American actions against the Townshend Act and how did the British respond to American protests?

 

8.

Read “Letter VII from a Farmer” on p. 108-109 in the Docs book.  In your own words, summarize Dickinson’s arguments.

 

9.

After you’ve read the “Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress” and skim through “The Continental Congress Creates the Association” on p. 122 – 124 in the Docs book, summarize in your own words a) the basis for the Congress’ demands  b) what the Congress asked for and c) what the Congress resolved to do.

 

10.

Which groups supported the Patriot movement and why?  Which groups opposed them and why?

11.

List and identify the events that took place between the opening of the Second Continental Congress and the writing of the Declaration of Independence  

12.

As you read through this section, make a chart of the advantages and disadvantages of both sides at the start of the war: include military, economic, and political elements

13.

How was the war financed?

14.

Why did the French enter the war and how did their presence make a difference?

15.

Summarize the provisions of the Treaty of Paris (1783)

16.

Summarize the reasons given for the American victory.

17.

What did “Republicanism” mean in the context of the revolution?  What examples are given of republicanism during the war? What were countermeasures taken against having too much power given to ordinary citizens? 

18.

How did women use Revolutionary arguments?

19.

List the challenges that the Confederation government and how the structure of the Articles of Confederation exacerbated those problems.  Make a chart of the strengths (accomplishments) and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. 

20.

What basic policies of the Land Ordinance and Northwest Ordinance served as guidelines for further expansion westward?  What long-range consequences do you foresee from the NW Ordinance?

21.

What was the financial crisis that led to Shays’s Rebellion and what effect did it have?

22.

How did the Revolution impact the institution of slavery?

23.

As you read through Madison’s “Vices” on p. 158 – 160 in the Docs book, add to your chart that you made for Question 19.  Some of these may be duplicates of what you already have so you can simply amend your entries.  Using what you already know about the Constitution, what aspects of the Constitution address the problems Madison sees? 

24.

Make a chart summarizing the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the final Constitution in terms of representation, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

25.

Outline the other compromises and decisions made at the Convention concerning the courts, suffrage, slavery, and power of the federal government.

26.

Identify the major arguments of the supporters and opponents of the Constitution.

 

Identifications

 

By the end of the unit, you should be familiar with all these people and terms.

 

1.

George Grenville

17.

Restraining Act (1767)

32.

Continental Association

2.

Currency Act (1764)

18.

John Dickinson and Letters from a Farmer

33.

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

3.

Sugar Act (1764)

19.

Massachusetts Circular Letter

34.

Second Continental Congress

4.

Nonimportation Associations

20.

“Boston Massacre” (1770)

35.

Olive Branch Petition

5.

Stamp Act (1765)

21.

The Gaspée incident (1772)

36.

Thomas Paine

6.

Quartering Act (1765)

22.

Sam Adams and Sons of Liberty

37.

Richard Henry Lee

7.

Vice-Admiralty Courts

23.

Committees of Correspondence

38.

Robert Morris

8.

Patrick Henry

24.

Lord North

39.

Valley Forge

9.

James Otis

25.

Tea Act (1773)

40.

Marquis de LaFayette

10.

Stamp Act Congress

26.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

41.

Baron von Steuben

11.

Thomas Hutchinson

27.

Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts 1774

42.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

12.

Sons of Liberty

28.

Quebec Act (1774)

43.

Lord North

13.

Declaratory Act (1766)

29.

First Continental Congress

44.

John Locke

14.

Townshend Act (1767)

30.

Galloway Plan

45.

Important battles from the War

15.

Radical Whig Ideology

31.

Suffolk Resolves

46.

Newburgh Conspiracy

16.

Writs of Assistance

 

 

 

 

 

Questions and Themes for Unit Two: Independence

 

By the end of this unit, through reading, homework, and class discussion we will have covered these questions and topics.  Keep this list at the back of your mind as you study and read throughout the unit.  Be prepared to discuss these questions in class.  This list will also be a good review sheet when you study for the AP exam.

 

o        Different arguments from the American and British perspectives for what caused the war

o        The role of the French and Indian War in leading to the Revolution

o        The interrelationships regarding cause and effect for British laws and American reactions

o        The intellectual arguments put forth by such men as Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson to justify revolution

o        Historians’ different interpretations of the Revolution 

o        Extent to which the Revolution was a radical or a conservative change

o        The development of a sense of unity among the colonists

o        The advantages and disadvantages each side brought to the war

o        Analysis of why the Americans won the Revolution

o        Economic and social changes brought forth by the Revolution

o        How could the war have been avoided? What mistakes did the British make in their treatment of the colonies?

o        Geographic and social differences in support for the Revolution

o        The strategy and tactics used to fight the war

o        The roles of women in this period

o        The effect of the Revolution on slavery, Native Americans, and religion

o        The accomplishments and weaknesses of the Confederation government

o        The events that led to the Constitutional Convention

o        The extent to which the Constitution addressed the problems of the Articles of Confederation

o        The major compromises made at the Constitutional Convention

o        The arguments for and against ratification of the Constitution

o        How did the Federalists obtain ratification