Colonial Life & Society
What was the main export economy of the Southern Colonies?
Tobacco and plantation crops
What was the first battle of the American Revolution?
Lexington and Concord
What did the Articles of Confederation create instead of a strong national government?
A loose alliance of independent states
Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
Philadelphia, 1787
What Enlightenment thinker inspired the idea of natural rights — life, liberty, and property?
John Locke
How did the Great Awakening change colonial society?
It encouraged religious enthusiasm and challenged traditional authority.
Which event convinced France to ally with the Americans?
The Battle of Saratoga (1777)
Under the Articles, how many branches of government existed at the national level? (Name them)
Only one- the legislative branch (Congress)
What was the Great Compromise?
It created a two-house Congress — Senate (equal) and House (population).
What principle divides power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches?
Separation of powers
What was the main difference between the economies of the New England and Southern colonies?
New England had small farms and trade; the South relied on large plantations.
How did propaganda, like Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre, influence colonial opinion?
It spread anger and anti-British sentiment, helping unite colonists against perceived oppression.
What was required to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation?
Unanimous approval by all 13 states
What issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise address?
How enslaved people would count toward representation and taxation.
What system allows each branch of government to limit the power of the others?
Checks and balances
What was the Enlightenment’s impact on colonial thought?
It inspired ideas of liberty, reason, and natural rights.
How did the Revolution impact Native American communities?
Many Native Americans were displaced or forced to choose sides, often losing land and autonomy regardless of which side they supported.
Why did many Americans begin to see the Articles as ineffective by the mid-1780s?
Because the government couldn’t enforce laws, collect taxes, or solve interstate disputes effectively.
What was the main argument between Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Federalists wanted a strong national government; Anti-Federalists wanted more state power.
What compromise created a system for choosing the president indirectly through state electors?
The Electoral College
How did social class shape life in the colonies?
Wealthy landowners and merchants held most power, while most colonists were small farmers, artisans, or laborers.
How did Loyalists’ experiences during and after the Revolution reflect the social divisions caused by the war?
Loyalists often faced persecution, confiscation of property, and exile, showing that the Revolution created deep divisions within American society.
How did Shays’ Rebellion highlight the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
It showed that the federal government lacked the power to maintain order or raise troops to stop uprisings.
How did the framers address concerns about giving too much power to the executive branch?
They created limits on presidential power, including checks and balances, separation of powers, a system of vetoes, and a fixed term of four years to prevent tyranny.
What was the main concern of Anti-Federalists that led to the addition of the Bill of Rights?
They feared the new government would become too powerful and threaten individual liberties.