Chapter 5 Homework
Directions: While reading chapter 4 from American History: A Survey by Alan Brinkley complete both the
Revolutionary War Chart and Articles of Confederation Chart below. Each category should have a detailed
description and include the key terms from below as evidence. All of the key terms must be used.
Key Terms
Second Continental Congress
Tyranny
Common Sense and John Locke
Continental Congress
Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence
Sovereignty
Loyalists/Tories
Articles of Confederation
George Washington
British surrender at Saratoga
Iroquois Confederacy
“militia diplomats”
French intervention in the war
Treaty of Paris
Female “camp followers”
Judith Sargent Murray
Republicanism
Small freeholders
State constitutions
Virginia’s Statute of Religious Liberty
Land Ordinance of 1784 & 1785
Northwest Ordinance
Treaty with Spain of 1786
Public domain
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Shay’s Rebellion
Chart
Revolutionary War
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both the British and Americans during the Revolutionary War.
British
Strengths
Americans
On July 4, 1776 the Continental
Congress approved the Declaration of
Independence (penned by Thomas
Jefferson with help from Ben Franklin
and John Adams) providing formal
justification for ending trade with
Britain, calling on colonies to form their
own governments, and the opening of
communication with foreign countries.
It noted that governments were formed
to protect the rights of the people and
that the king and Parliament had
violated this contract. It’s claim that
America was a sovereign nation led to
an increase in foreign aid for the rebels
from France. It also encouraged
American Patriots to fight on and reject
notions of peace. However, there were
deep divisions within American society.
Weaknesses
Articles of Confederation
Strengths
The Articles were successful at resolving controversies
involving western lands – forcing landed states to give up
their claims to the territory – and allowing Congress to make
policy for the area.
 The Ordinance of 1784 divided the territory into 10
districts, each petitioning Congress for statehood when
their population equaled that of the smallest existing
state.
 The Ordinance of 1785 established a system for
surveying and selling western lands. Areas were divided
into rectangular townships, with 36 identical sections, –
each township having four sections set aside for the US;
money raised from one of the other sections would
support a public school. The 1785 Ordinance established
an equal system for dividing up land for human use
known as the grid. It became a model for western
expansionists and the establishment of towns and cities.
Weaknesses