Study Guide: Unit Two - Independence

 

Reading Questions

 

1.

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

 

2.

What was the argument over “virtual representation?”

 

3.

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

 

4.

Summarize the debate over the legality of the Townshend Duties

 

5.

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

 

6.

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

 

7.

Make a chart of the advantages and disadvantages of both sides at the start of the war: include military, economic, and political elements

 

8.

How was the War of Independence a civil war?

 

9.

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

 

10.

How was the war financed?

11.

Summarize the reasons given for the American victory.

12.

What were the economic effects of the war?

13.

What kinds of social change did the American Revolution cause?  Include slavery, women, class structure, and religious groups.

 

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 Gaspee incident

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.

Revenue Act (1767)

31.

Suffolk Resolves

46.

Newburgh Conspiracy

16.

Writs of Assistance

 

 

 

 

 

Assignments

I will be checking or picking up your homework assignments every day, so be sure to have it out and ready at the beginning of class.

 

Due Date

Assignment

Tues. Sept. 2

1. Read p. 127-145

2. Do questions 1 – 4

3. Fill in Chart: Road to Revolution through the Townshend Acts

4. Read Stamp Act Congress: Declaration of Rights and Grievances.  Make summarizing notes in the margin about what the Congress was asking for.  Be prepared to discuss how you could use this document in a question about the extent to which the demand for “no taxation without representation” was the motivating factor in the American Revolution?

Weds., Sept. 3

1. Read p. 145 -152

2. Do question 5

3. Finish the Chart: Road to Revolution

4. Do one of the following:

      a. Read the Declaration and Resolves from the First Continental Congress and take notes in the margin to summarize a) the basis for the Congress’ demands  b) what the Congress asked for and c) what the Congress had decided to do    OR

      b. Read the documents handout and be prepared to discuss the questions at the end. 

Thurs., Sept. 4

 

1. Read excerpt from Changing Interpretations of American History.

2. You will be assigned several sources to lead the discussion in class.  Summarize your sources in the margin.  Be prepared to discuss in class the various reasons why we went to war.

Mon., Sept. 8

1. Read p. 160-165

2. Answer question 6

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

Tues., Sept. 9

1. Read the Declaration of Independence

2. Read the arguments against Independence from George III, Thomas Hutchinson, and John Lind

3. Make a chart of the arguments in favor of independence that we have encountered up through the Declaration and the arguments against independence.  You don’t need to write down every single grievance from the Declaration; just put in the major categories of grievances.

Weds., Sept 10

1. Read p. 165-173

2. Questions 7 - 10

3. Read Joseph Plumb Martin’s Memoir and be prepared to discuss your impressions in class

Thurs., Sept. 11

1. Read p. 173 - 187

2. Questions 11 - 13

3. Fill in War Chart

Mon., Sept. 15

Answer the  DBQ. Get a parent to sign your answer that you haven’t spent more than one hour on this.  You are on your honor.

Tues., Sept. 16

Review for the test

Weds., Sept. 17

Test

 

 

 

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 and blacks in this period