Colonial Foundations
Some of the first colonial settlers thought they were sailing to Virginia but ended up here instead
What is Massachusetts.
The 1763 British policy that prohibited settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
What is the Proclamation of 1763
Colonists who supported independence from Britain.
Who were the Patriots
America's first national government was established under this document.
What are the Articles of Confederation
The meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation.
What is the Constitutional Convention
This document established an early form of self-government aboard the Mayflower.
What is the Mayflower Compact
Colonists used this phrase to protest British taxes imposed by Parliament.
What is "No Taxation Without Representation"
This Thomas Paine pamphlet argued that independence from Great Britain was both necessary and common sense, helping to increase support for the Patriot cause.
What is Common Sense
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress lacked the power to do this directly.
What is collect taxes
This compromise created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and Senate.
What is the Great Compromise
This economic theory held that colonies existed to benefit the mother country through trade and resources.
What is mercantilism
This document declared the colonies' independence from Great Britain in 1776.
What is the Declaration of Independence
Many Loyalists believed independence would lead to this.
What is war or loss of protections from Great Britain
This 1786-1787 uprising highlighted weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.
What is Shays' Rebellion
This compromise counted enslaved people as part of the population for representation and taxation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise
Compare the economies of New England and the Southern Colonies.
New England relied on trade, fishing, and shipbuilding, while the Southern Colonies relied on plantation agriculture and cash crops.
According to the Declaration of Independence, when may citizens alter or abolish a government
When that government fails to protect their natural rights.
Explain one reason a colonist might have chosen to remain loyal to Great Britain.
Loyalty to the Crown, economic ties to Britain, fear of war, or belief in British protection.
Why did many leaders believe the Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced
The national government was too weak to tax, regulate trade, or maintain order effectively.
Opponents of the Constitution demanded this addition to protect individual rights.
What is the Bill of Rights
Evaluate which factor had the greatest influence on the development of the English colonies: economic opportunity, religious freedom, or self-government.
Economic Opportunity: (Glory, God, Gold)/not many opportunities in England due to the labor system there.
Religious Freedom: Religious persecution, desire to practice religion freely, influenced laws/culture/education/way of life
Self Government: gained experience before declaring themselves independent, fostered democracy, encouraged independence.
How did British policies after the French and Indian War contributed to colonial support for independence.
Proclamation of 1763, taxation, British military presence, and colonial resistance.
Which side presented the stronger argument during the American Revolution, Patriots or Loyalists? Use historical evidence to support your answer.
natural rights, taxation disputes, economic concerns, military protection, or outcomes of the Revolution
Evaluate whether the Articles of Confederation were destined to fail or were simply a necessary first step in creating a national government.
fears of centralized power, strengths and weaknesses of the Articles, and lessons learned that influenced the Constitution.
During the ratification debate, Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed about the power of the new national government. Compare their arguments and explain how the debate influenced the final Constitution.
Federalists supported a stronger national government and argued that the Constitution's system of checks and balances would prevent tyranny. Anti-Federalists feared the national government would become too powerful and threaten individual liberties and states' rights. Their opposition helped lead to the addition of the Bill of Rights.