Unit 2
To the east of California lies the Great Basin. This is a low area between the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. The mountains on either side of this region block the rain. This makes the land mostly desert. The types of plants that grow in this area need little water. Examples include low grasses, sagebrush, and craggy piñon (PIN-yon) trees. Many small animals, such as rabbits and lizards, live in this harsh region. There was not much food and water. So, Indigenous people had to adapt to the environment and be resourceful. For example, they did not have many material possessions. This allowed them to avoid carrying too much as they migrated and looked for food.
What happened with the Treaty of Paris
Early in 1783, representatives of the United States and Great Britain met in Paris. They signed a peace treaty. It had three important parts. First, Great Britain agreed to recognize the United States as an independent nation. Second, Great Britain gave up its claims to all lands between the Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi River. It also gave up land claims from the border of Canada south to Florida. Third, the United States agreed to return all rights and property taken from Loyalists during the war. During the war, Loyalists had been treated badly by Patriots. So, many did not trust the treaty’s promise of fair treatment. As a result, more than 80,000 Loyalists left the United States. They went to settle in British Canada. The British made sure that a number of Black soldiers left with them for Canada, the Caribbean, or Britain. In contrast, some Americans tried to re-enslave Black soldiers.
What position did George Washington hold in the Constitution? What position did James Madison hold?
The delegates’ first action was to elect George Washington president of the convention. That was because no man was more admired and respected than the former commander in chief of the Continental army. When the war ended, Washington went home to Virginia. He went to resume his life as an ordinary citizen. In spite of his reluctance to return to public life, however, Washington would play a key role. He would preside over the convention and lend it his prestige.
The best prepared of the delegates was James Madison of Virginia. One delegate wrote of Madison, “In the management of every great question he evidently took the lead in the Convention.”Indeed, Madison’s influence was so great that later he would be called the “Father of the Constitution.”
What was the Boston Tea Party?
On December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty decided to unload the tea. But it was not in the way the governor had in mind. That night, about 60 men boarded the three ships. The Sons of Liberty dumped about 90,000 pounds of tea into the sea that night. They left everything else on the ship untouched. News of the Boston Tea Party excited Patriots throughout the colonies. “This is the most magnificent moment of all,” wrote John Adams in his journal the next day. “This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm . . . it must have . . . important consequences.” He was right. To protest the tax on tea, Patriots threw 342 chests of tea overboard from three British ships. Some protesters dressed in disguise as Mohawk or Narragansett people possibly to symbolize that they viewed themselves as Americans, not British subjects.
To protest the tax on tea, Patriots threw 342 chests of tea overboard from three British ships. Some protesters dressed in disguise as Mohawk or Narragansett people possibly to symbolize that they viewed themselves as Americans, not British subjects.
What is the difference between the conquistadors and coureurs de bois?
Conquistadors: a conqueror, especially one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.
Coureurs de bois: a woodsman or trader of French origin.
Explain the steps of Fransisco Pizzaro conquering the Peru.
Smallpox also helped another Spanish conquistador, named Francisco Pizarro (fran-SIS-co pi-ZAR-oh). It helped him conquer an empire in South America. In 1532, Pizarro encountered the powerful Inca Empire in present-day Peru. Smallpox had reached Peru before Pizarro. It had already killed thousands of Inca. The Inca were also involved in a civil war. This left the empire badly divided. With the division created by the Incan civil war, Pizarro entered the Inca Empire’s capital city of Cuzco. The Inca ruler at the time was Atahualpa (ah-tuh-WAHL-puh). Pizarro demanded that Atahualpa convert to Christianity and swear loyalty to Spain. Atahualpa refused. So, Pizarro took him hostage but promised to release him in exchange for gold. To save their ruler, the Incas filled the equivalent of three rooms with gold and silver treasures. Pizarro murdered Atahualpa anyway and conquered the Inca Empire. From there, the Spanish conquered most of the Indigenous people and their lands throughout South America.
What happened at the Battle of Monmouth?
By this time, Sir Henry Clinton had replaced General Howe as commander of the British forces in North America. In Clinton’s view, taking over Philadelphia had gained the British nothing. So, he ordered his army to retreat to New York City. There, the Royal Navy could keep the army supplied by sea. Now, it was Washington’s turn to chase an army across New Jersey. He caught up with the retreating British near Monmouth. This was on June 28, 1778. In the battle that followed, Washington seemed to be everywhere. He was constantly rallying his men to stand and fight. “Cheering them by his voice and example,” wrote Lafayette, “never had I beheld [seen] so superb a man.” Late that night, the British slipped across the Hudson River to safety in New York City. Meanwhile, Washington camped with his army nearby. It was pleasing, he wrote, “that after two years maneuvering . . . both armies are brought back to the very point they set out from.” Neither army knew it yet, but the war in the North was over.
What happened in Shay's Rebellion?
In 1786, Shays and his followers closed down courthouses to stop judges from seizing farms. In early 1787, 1,500 farmers marched on the national arsenal at Springfield. They went to seize the weapons stored there. The Congress had disbanded the Continental army. So, they could not stop the farmers. The Massachusetts government ended Shays’ Rebellion by sending militia troops to Springfield. To many, however, the uprising was a disturbing sign. It showed that the nation was falling apart. “No respect is paid the federal [national] authority,” James Madison wrote to a friend. “It is not possible that a government can last long under these circumstances.”
What are all the seven key themes of American History?
1. Patterns of Population
2. Uses and Abuses of Power
3. Worlds of Exchange
4. Haves and Have-Nots
5. Expressing Identity
6. Science, Technology, and the Environment
7. Spiritual Life and Moral Codes
What is mercantilism?
Mercantilism: belief in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism.
What are the three countries that colonized the Americas? Explain what happened?
Spain: Spain took vast territories from Indigenous people. This included Mexico and the southwestern portion of the future United States. Spanish conquistadors searched for gold and other treasures. During this search, they conquered the Aztecs of Mexico. They also conquered the Incas of Peru. In addition, the Spanish enslaved Africans. They did this to plant and harvest crops in the Americas. Spanish missionaries forced Indigenous people to convert to Christianity.
France: The French took control of much of present-day Canada. They also took control of Louisiana. This was the territory west of the Mississippi River. Most French colonizers were interested in trapping and trading furs. They were not interested in farming or establishing large settlements.
England: The English based their claim to North America on John Cabot’s 1497 voyage. They established their first permanent colony at Jamestown in Virginia.
The Netherlands: The Dutch founded the colony of New Netherland. The Dutch traded with the Lenape for the land. But it is not likely the Lenape understood land ownership. The English, however, drove the Dutch out. They renamed the colony New York.
What were the four acts that led to the American Revolution?
Great Britain piled up huge debts to fight the Seven Years’ War. To raise money, Parliament passed along the war costs to the colonies. They put into effect the Stamp Act in 1765. Colonists protested the Stamp Act. That is because the British Parliament passed it without colonial representation. Colonists also protested the Quartering Act. This act required them to house British troops at the colonies’ expense. Great Britain placed more taxes on the colonies through the Townshend Acts. These acts divided many colonists into opposing camps. Patriots protested a new tax on tea by throwing tea into Boston Harbor in 1773. Great Britain responded by passing the Intolerable Acts. The goal of these acts was to force the colonies to give in to British authority.
What is the amendment process?
Article V describes two ways in which changes, called amendments, can be added to the Constitution. Congress may propose an amendment. They can do this with a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress. A national convention may also introduce an amendment proposal. This convention would be called by Congress. It must be requested by at least two-thirds of the state legislatures. So, either Congress or the states can start the process of amending the Constitution. After an amendment is proposed, it must be ratified before it can become part of the Constitution. The Constitution gives two ways of ratifying an amendment. It may be approved by the legislatures in at least three-fourths of the states. Or, it may be ratified by special conventions in at least three-fourths of the states. Once an amendment has been approved, it becomes part of the Constitution.
Name all the 13 colonies.
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
What is the Magna Carta?
Magna Carta was issued in June 1215 and was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law. It sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself.
What are the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies?
New England Colonies: Religion and geography were key influences in these colonies. Puritans sometimes disagreed. But they hoped to establish model communities based on their religious faith. New England’s forests and coastline made logging very important to the region’s economy. Shipbuilding was also very important. So was trade.
Middle Colonies: These colonies were different in terms of geography. They also had different cultures and religious practices. Catholics, Quakers, and Anglicans all found homes in this region. So did members of other Protestant faiths.
Southern Colonies: In these colonies, climate and geography encouraged the planting of cash crops. They encouraged the development of large plantations. In time, colonists came to depend on the labor of enslaved people. They relied on it for the region’s economic success.
What was the Boston Massacre?
On March 5, 1770, a young Boston man got into an argument with a British soldier. The argument was about an outstanding debt. Another British soldier hit the young man in the head with his rifle. In response, a group of working-class civilians began to gather. They threw rocks and snowballs at armed British troops who had arrived at the scene of the argument. The crowd pressed forward. A protester threw something that knocked over a British soldier. He stood up and fired into the crowd. Other soldiers then also opened fire into the crowd. They hit several people at the front of the crowd. This included Crispus Attucks. He was a free Black and Wampanoag sailor and rope-maker. Attucks was struck by two bullets. He was the first Bostonian the British killed at the protest. But more deaths would soon follow. The furious crowd went home only after receiving a promise that the troops would be investigated and tried for murder.
What are the legislative, executive and judicial branch?
The main job of Congress is to make laws. Any member of the House or Senate has the power to submit a bill. That is a proposal for a new law. But only the House can propose new taxes. If a majority in one house votes in favor of the bill, it is sent to the other house for debate. If both houses approve the bill, it goes to the president. The president may then choose to sign or veto the law. The president can veto any proposed law. But Congress can override the president’s veto. This means they can pass the bill over the president’s objections. However, overriding this presidential power needs a two-thirds majority in both houses.
The president does not just carry out laws passed by Congress. He or she is commander in chief of the nation’s military forces. And he or she can make treaties, or formal agreements, with other nations. But the president must first get consent from the Senate. The president nominates, or recommends, ambassadors. These are official representatives to other countries. The president also nominates Supreme Court justices, or judges. Finally, the president can grant pardons to people convicted of breaking federal, or national, laws. The framers expected that the executive branch would need organizations to carry out its duties. These organizations are called departments. For example, the State Department handles relations with other nations. The Justice Department is involved in law enforcement and court actions. The heads of executive departments are members of the president’s cabinet. That is a formal group of advisers. Today, the executive branch has more than a dozen executive departments. Each executive department has smaller agencies. These agencies are more specialized. For instance, the Department of Health and Human Services includes the Food and Drug Administration. It works to make sure that foods and medicines meet safety standards. These standards have been set by Congress.
The Supreme Court is the last stop in the judicial system. Its decisions are final. They are binding on all lower courts. The Constitution does not state the size of the Supreme Court. But Congress has set the size at nine members. They are called justices. The Constitution says that all federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, serve for “good Behaviour.” This means that once they are chosen, justices usually serve on the Court for life.
Recite the entire Preamble.
We the people of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice and insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity to ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.
What are natural rights?
Natural rights: rights that are God-given and can never be taken or even given away.
Farms and Cities: The colonists developed an economy based on farming, commerce, and crafts. Farm families produced most of what they needed for themselves. In the villages and cities, many trades and crafts developed. Enslaved people were forced to work on farms and plantations. In cities, they worked in workshops.
Rights of Colonists: Landowning men in the American colonies expected to enjoy all the rights of English citizens. They especially expected the right to have a voice in their own government. Colonial assemblies defined crimes and punishments. Punishments were often harsh.
Life for African Americans: Enslaved African Americans had almost no rights or hope for liberty. After being brought to the colonies in chains, they faced a life of forced labor and toil.
Religion: Religion was very important to European colonists and enslaved African Americans. The Great Awakening brought back religious feeling among Protestant Christians. It helped spread the idea that all people are spiritually equal.
Education: Most colonial children received little education, except in New England. Boys were usually given more education than girls. Colonies passed laws blocking enslaved people from getting an education.
Family and Leisure: Most White colonial families were large. African American families were often broken up by enslavers. Colonial life was often hard. But colonists also found time to enjoy sports and games. Enslaved people had almost no time for leisure.
What happened in the Victory of Trenton?
Late on December 25, 1776, Washington’s army crossed the ice-choked Delaware River in small boats. To make sure that only Patriot soldiers crossed, Washington gave his men the password “Victory or death.” As the American troops made their way toward Trenton, a driving snow chilled them to the bone. Ice and rocks cut through their worn-out shoes. One officer reported to Washington that the troops’ guns were too wet to fire. “Use the bayonets,” the general replied. “The town must be taken.” When the Americans reached Trenton, they found the Hessians sleeping off their Christmas feasts. Caught completely by surprise, the mercenaries surrendered. Washington took 868 prisoners without losing even a single man. A week later, the Americans captured another 300 British troops at Princeton, New Jersey. These defeats convinced Howe that it would take more than capturing New York City and issuing pardons to win the war. News of Washington’s victories brought new life to Patriots. “A few days ago they had given up their cause for lost,” wrote an unhappy Loyalist. “Their late successes have turned the scale and they are all liberty mad again.” The game was not yet up.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Under the Constitution, three-quarters of the states must ratify an amendment. Then it can become law. The states rejected the first two amendments. One had to do with the size of congressional districts. The other had to do with congressional pay raises. Both were not considered necessary. By 1791, the required number of states (nine) had approved the other ten amendments. Together, these ten amendments make the Bill of Rights. When Madison first proposed the Bill of Rights, some people disagreed with them. They did not believe his amendments would protect against abuses of government power. For more than 200 years, the Bill of Rights has been interpreted and applied. These “paper barriers” have proven to become very important. They have helped people get the rights that the government was supposed to protect and uphold.
What was the French-Indian War?
Washington’s whistling bullets were the first shots in a conflict known as the French and Indian War. This war was part of the Seven Years’ War. It was a long global struggle between France and Great Britain. The struggle was over territorial claims and power. Indigenous tribes, particularly the Lenape and Shawnee, fought with France. They fought to prevent British settlers from violently taking their land. Because of this, colonists called the conflict the French and Indian War. At the beginning of the war, the colonies met at Albany. That is where Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union. Franklin was inspired to create the plan by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. This was a political alliance of Iroquoian-speaking groups. Nearly 20 years earlier, Franklin had heard a speech by the Onondaga leader Canassatego. In it, Canassatego urged the colonies to unite. However, his plan did not win much support. That is because the colonies did not think it was necessary to work together. Many relied on British protection. In fact, Great Britain successfully defended its colonial interests during this conflict. In 1755, Great Britain sent 1,400 British soldiers to Virginia to help Great Britain’s war effort. The soldiers were led by General Edward Braddock. Washington joined the army as a volunteer. He hoped to make a good impression on General Braddock. He aided the soldiers against the French and their Indigenous allies in the Ohio Valley. However, Braddock’s march into the Ohio Valley was a disaster. French sharpshooters and their allies surprised the troops. Two-thirds of the British soldiers were killed in the attack. This included General Braddock. The turning point of the French and Indian War came in 1759. That was when British troops captured Canada. Later, in 1763, Great Britain and France signed a peace treaty, or agreement. The treaty finally ended the Seven Years’ War. In this treaty, France ceded, or gave, its claim of land in Canada to Great Britain. Indigenous groups who had long lived on this land, including France’s allies, did not have a say in the treaty.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Three - Fifths Compromise: three out of every five slaves was counted when determining a state's total population for legislative representation and taxation.