The American Revolution
What was the significance of the Seven
Years War/French and Indian War? How did
it change things for Britain and France?
Britain had gained control of land East of the
Mississippi in North America, while France was
forced to give up Canada and its holdings in
India. This meant the Britain had gained more
control of North America, while France lost
almost all of its territory.
What did John Locke believe about government? What
did Jean-Jacques Rousseau believe about government?
What was the difference between their two beliefs?
John Locke thought that governments were
created to protect life, liberty, property, and that
people had the right to rebel when a monarch
violated these natural rights. Jean-Jacques
Rousseau thought that the will of the people was
sacred and that the legitimacy of monarchs rested
on the will of people. Locke was focused on the
individual will of people, and Rousseau was
focused on people acting collectively.
How did European leaders react to Enlightenment
ideas that threatened their power?
Though willing to embrace reform proposal
when they served royal interests, Europe's
monarchs moved quickly to suppress or ban
radical ideas that promoted republicanism or
directly attacked religion.
What role did women play during the
Enlightenment?
Women during the Enlightenment purchased
and discussed books, pamphlets, articles, and
newspapers, expanding the reach of the ideas
of the Enlightenment and discussing ideas in
public places, expanding the influence of the
Enlightenment to illiterate people. Additionally,
some women contributed to the
Enlightenment as writers and commentators,
and women of the time began to raise and
debate the issue of women's rights.
What did Benjamin Franklin
symbolize to Europeans?
To Europeans, Benjamin Franklin symbolized
the vast potential of America. He proved to be
an important political figure, an American
intellectual, and an inventor who seemed to
confirm the Enlightenment's overall objective
of human potential.
Explain the conflict between monarchs trying to
increase their authority and common people
fighting for their traditional customs.
In the 18th century, monarchs wanted to
increase their authority and to centralize their
power by reforming tax collection, judicial
practice, and public administration. Even
though monarchs viewed these changes as
reforms, common people mainly viewed them
as violations of sacred customs and
responded with bread riots, tax protests, and
attacks on royal officials.
What do you think the text means when it says that the
“British colonies enjoyed substantial political autonomy”
when compared to other American colonies? How do you
think that might have led to the American Revolution?
British colonies were more free to govern themselves
when compared to the Spanish or Portuguese colonies
in the Americas. It would seem that this helped spark
the American Revolution because if the colonies knew
that they could govern themselves and were already
engaged in government, it would not be as big a step to
form their own government in disregard to the people in
Europe governing them. This was definitely not the only
factor that led to the American Revolution, but it may
have helped give the British colony the edge and selfconfidence, that other American colonies lacked, to
push for independence.
What actions did Britain take to anger the
American colonists? There are several.
O Proclamation of 1763
O Stamp Act 1765
O Quartering Act of 1765
O Townsend Act of 1767
O Boston Massacre - 1770
What factors led to the defeat of the British
army by the colonists?
George Washington's charisma and boldness, even in the face of numerous
military defeats, helped lead the Americans to victory. Washington's
understanding that victory required the Americans to fight a defensive war
enabled him to avoid direct and fruitless combat with the larger and more
powerful British armies.
A second major factor that helped the Americans win the war was Great
Britain's considerable distance from the colonies. The 3000-mile Atlantic
Ocean that stretched between the British isles and the American continent
prevented Britain from effectively managing, supplying and communicating
with its armies.
Additionally, the colonists knew the local terrain and territory far better than
the foreign British armies did.
The most important factor to colonial victory was the assistance of the
French. Prior to 1778, the French provided unofficial aid by selling weapons
cheaply to the colonies. However, after the colonial victory at the Battle of
Saratoga, New York, in 1777, the French agreed to an official alliance.
What was the significance of the Battle of
Saratoga?
The Battle of Saratoga is known as the turning
point in the American Revolution. The
American victory convinced the French to join
the war along side the American colonists.
What was the process for creating the
United States Constitution?
They started out by creating the Articles of
Confederation, but the did not work. The
Constitutional Convention met and remade the
Constitution. By taking ideas from the Articles
of Confederation, and improving on them, the
created the Constitution we have today. Three
branches of government, separation of
powers, checks and balances, etc. The first ten
amendments are our Bill of Rights.
What were some of the major issues that
were debated during the Constitutional
Convention?
O Representation
O Electoral procedures
O Executive powers
O Slavery
O Relationship between the federal
government and the states