US History
Creating a Nation
Study Guide #1
Name_______________________________
1) For 150 years, the English citizens in the 13 colonies “had it made.” List 3 reasons
why that statement is true.
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
2) Name the two events that played a key role in laying the foundation for the
American Revolution.
a. _____________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________
3) The Enlightenment was a time that featured new ideas in philosophy and
________________________ thought.
4) John Locke believed that people were born with certain “_______________________
________________” that no government could take away. Among those rights were
“life, liberty, and ________________________.” He also believed that if the
government failed to protect those rights it was the duty of the __________________
to overthrow the government. His views were later used to justify the
_________________________ Revolution.
5) Who were Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield and what did they teach?
6) Because of the Great Awakening, many colonists began believing that if they could
chose how to worship God, they could also decide how to ______________________
themselves.
7) Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening influenced the American
Revolution. How?
8) List 3 causes of the American Revolution.
a. ____________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________
9) Describe the French and Indian War (Who was fighting? Who won and how?)
10) When the French and Indian War ended, what problem did that pose to the British?
How did they deal with that situation?
11) What was the Proclamation of 1763? Your notes say that “this angered the
colonists.” Why do you think that’s true?
12) Following the French and Indian War, new taxes were imposed by the British on the
colonists. Identify the following:
a. ___________________________________: a tax on imported sugar and other
goods from England
b. ___________________________________: a tax on all legal documents;
colonists responded by forming the “Sons of Liberty” and the “Daughters of
Liberty” to protest
c. ___________________________________: a tax on a number of imported
items, including tea; colonists boycotted those goods; act was repealed after
the Boston Massacre except for the tax on tea (led to the Boston Tea Party)
d. ___________________________________: a set of laws passed in response to
the Boston Tea Party; included closing the Boston Harbor and placing a
military governor over Massachusetts
13) In response to the Intolerable Acts, representatives gathered for the First
__________________________________________. This body agreed to do what two
things?
a. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
14) England responded to the First Continental Congress’s actions by sending even
more troops to America, especially the city of ________________________.
15) Describe the Battles of Lexington and Concord (Who? What? When? Where?
Why?)
16) Less than a month after the Revolutionary War began at Lexington, delegates met
again for the Second ______________________________________________________
to discuss what to do next. Some people, called “_____________________________”
wanted a war for independence. Others, called “_____________________________”
wanted to compromise with the British to prevent war. Ultimately, the Second
Continental Congress decided to do what two things?
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
17) What was England’s and King George’s response to the Second Continental
Congress?
18) Why was Thomas Paine significant in rallying support for revolution?
19) The Declaration of Independence, signed on _______________________ (date), was
drafted, or written, mainly by _______________________________________ (who?)
and signed by 56 delegates. It listed all of the wrongs committed by England and
__________________________________. Jefferson was influenced by
______________________________ (who?) in stating that “all men are created
equal” and have certain “inalienable rights” (natural rights). Over time, this
document served as a ______________________ for other nations seeking
independence.
20) Why did King George III not expect a long war?
21) What were two major advantages the colonists had?
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
22) The British made several military ________________________ during the course of
the war because they underestimated the Patriots.
23) A major turning point in the war occurred in ___________________________, NY.
With a victory there, the _________________________ were convinced to ally
themselves with the colonists.
24) After years of fighting, the war came to an end at _________________________, VA.
British General Lord ______________________________ had retreated to the
coastline to wait for British supply ships. Since Yorktown is on a peninsula, the
British troops were trapped. _____________________ ships blocked off the British
supply ships. General ____________________________ moved in on Yorktown and
trapped the British Army. Cornwallis was forced to surrender and the war
basically came to an end.
25) The American Revolution officially ended with the signing of the
__________________________________ (1783). This treaty made the US an
independent country and established the border between the US and
_______________________.
US History
Creating a Nation
Study Guide #2
Name_______________________________
1) What was the first national government or constitution called?
2) Why did the Articles of Confederation ultimately fail?
3) Name 5 of the 8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
a._______________________________________________________________
b._______________________________________________________________
c._______________________________________________________________
d._______________________________________________________________
e._______________________________________________________________
4) Daniel Shays led a rebellion against _____________________ imposed by the state of
Massachusetts. Because the national government had very little power, the state of
Massachusetts was forced to deal with the situation on its own. What did this
rebellion reveal about the Articles of Confederation?
5) What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
6) Who was chosen as the President of the Convention?
7) Who is often called the “Father of the Constitution”? Why is he called that?
8) The Great Compromise solved the issue of ___________________________ in
Congress. Large states wanted the number of representatives each state received to
be based solely on ______________________________ (Virginia Plan). Small states
wanted each state to receive an ________________________ number of
representatives (New Jersey Plan). The two sides compromised by creating
__________ houses of Congress: one house based on population, one house would
have equal representation.
9) The Three-Fifths Compromise solved the issue of whether or not to count
____________________ to determine how many representatives each state received
in the House of Representatives. ________________________ did not want to
include slaves to determine the number of representatives, while
______________________ did want to include slaves. What did the two sides agree
to do?
10) Those who favored a strong national government and favored the passage of the
new Constitution were called _____________________________.
11) Those who opposed a strong national government and opposed ratifying the new
Constitution were called _________________________________.
12) What were the Federalists Papers and who were the writers?
13) Why did some states refused to ratify, or approve, the new Constitution as it was
originally presented? What did delegates agree to do at a later date?
14) The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution are collectively called the
______________________________________.
15) There are seven so-called “Principles of the Constitution.” Identify the following:
a. _______________________________________: citizens elect representatives
to government to make laws
b. _______________________________________: the federal government and
the state governments share power
c. _______________________________________: each branch of government
has the power to limit the actions of the other two branches
d. _______________________________________: the government’s power is
divided among three branches of government; legislative, judicial, executive
e. _______________________________________: people are the main source of
the government’s authority
f. _______________________________________: the Constitution protects
citizens’ individual rights, such as freedom of speech and religion
g. _______________________________________: the government has only the
powers that the Constitution gives it
16) What was Alexander Hamilton’s controversial economic plan to deal with the
nation’s debt?
a. __________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________
17) Why did most Southerners oppose Hamilton’s plan?
18) Describe the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. (Why did it occur? What happened?
What did it show?)
19) What were President Washington’s three key points in his farewell address to the
nation?
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
20) Despite Washington’s warnings, opposing political parties did emerge in the US.
What did these first two political parties believe in?
a. Federalist Party
b. Democratic-Republican Party
21) The US Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison established the power of judicial
review, which means what?
22) What did the Mississippi Territory include?
23) What did the Treaty of Greenville allow the U.S. to claim?
24) The Northwest Ordinance did two things. What were they?
a.
b.
25) Describe the Louisiana Purchase. (who, what, when, where, how)
26) This man explored the Rocky Mountains shortly after the Lewis and Clark
Expedition. ___________________________________
27) What caused the War of 1812?
28) Identify:
a. Francis Scott Key
b. Andrew Jackson
c. Treaty of Ghent
29) List 4 results of the War of 1812.
30) What did the Adams-Onis Treaty do?
31) Describe the Monroe Doctrine.
32) The “Age of Jackson” was characterized by what?
33) Describe the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears.