Colonial History Study Guide

Articles of Confederation:

Was the first constitution of the United States, that established a weak central government with the most power held by the states.

What did the Articles of Confederation establish/create?

It established a government with a weak central government and the inability to manage the economy, causing tax burden and Shay's Rebellion.

Beginning of the Revolutionary War:

It started on April 19th, 1775, and was fired at Lexington and Concord.

What happened in the beginning of the revolutionary war?

Colonial militia and British military exchanged gunfire.

Where did the beginning of the revolutionary war start?

It started at Lexington, when people would block the British from coming, then the rest at Concord.

Response to the Enlightenment:

Reactions were spread, and it was a religion vs. science situation, where there was a radical shift towards reason.

What happened with the responses to the enlightenment?

It emphasized reason and observation, and political authority, promoting individual rights and inspired revolutions for equality and human rights.

British Advantages in Revolutionary War:

The British had a superior navy, with financial stability and loyalist support within the colonies, blocking American ports.

Tragic Events in Boston:

Some tragic events were the battles of Lexington and Concord, as well as the Boston Massacre and the American Revolutionary War.

How did things escalate in the tragic event of the Boston Massacre?

Things had escalated very quickly as people began to throw snow, then ice, and rock at British soldiers by colonists, which resulted into open fire, killing 5 and wounding others.

Spread of the Enlghtenment:

The spread of The Enlightenment came from the printing press (Gutenberg) and books, that spreads all throughout Europe.

Olive Branch Petition:

A document that was sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George lll as a final attempt to avoid war and reconcile with Great Britain, which resulted into King George lll not liking that idea.

Debate over Constitutional Ratification:

A debate between Federalists who supported a strong central government, and the Anti-Federalists that feared power, and the threat to individual liberties and states' rights.

Theories of Constitutional Representation:

A constitutional representation of a debate between state vs. population-based representation, such as the Virginia and New Jersey plans, and the Great Compromise (Connecticut), as well as the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Goals of the Constitutional Convention:

The goals of the constitutional convention was to address severe weakness of the Articles of Confederation, and creating a more stronger government that is balanced and prevents tyranny.

Suffolk Resolves:

A protest created against the Intolerable Acts that were passed by the British government, which shifted momentum towards radicalism and a plan for resistance.

What did the people do during the Suffolk Resolves?

The people refused to pay taxes and began to boycott British goods.

Art. 1 of the Constitution:

It establishes the Legislative Branch and the Congress, which is responsible for making laws, as well as the House of Representatives and the Senate, which outlines the powers which limits the power of Congress, and also the powers of Congress, such as taxes and commerce.

Art. 2 of the Constitution:

It establishes the Executive Branch, that is responsible for detail powers, making treaties, and laws, as it acts as a Commander-in-Chief, and headed by the President.

Art. 3 of the Constitution:

It establishes the Judicial Branch as well as the Supreme Court and the Federal government that has judicial powers, that defines the judicial power and treason.

Art. 5 of the Constitution:

It was the process for amending the Constitution by Congress, and created not only the protection of state rights and slavery provisions, but also the national convention, which included state legislatures and state conventions.

John Locke:

Locke was a believer in human nature and that everyone is equal, as well as equally good and bad, and was preserving in life. He thought that the people should vote (Democracy - controlled by people), and that the government should serve the people, as punishments were considered as crimes being committed.

Thomas Hobbes:

Hobbes would've wanted a enlightened monarch, and believed that everyone was made equal, but overtime they gain different strengths and differences. He thought that if there was no central power, everything will collapse.

Adam Smith:

Smith had an enlightenment influence, and a free-market capitalist ideas, as he wanted to use them as tools for political debate.

Sons of Liberty:

The Sons of Liberty was a secret underground organization that formed in American colonies to protest British policies, which was taxation without representation. The Stamp Act of 1765 was also key.

Bill of Rights:

The Bill of Rights was the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that was ratified in 1791, which protected individual liberties from government overreach, which created the First Congress and ratification debates, and limits the power of the Federal government.

Plans for the Constitution:

The plans for the Constitution were called the Virginia and the New Jersey plans, that were a representation in Congress. The Virginia Plan was Bicameral (two-house) legislature and controlled the national government, and the New Jersey plan was a Unicameral (one-house), and would have elected executive and a judiciary.

Declaration of Independence:

This was a foundational document that was formally announced on July 4, 1776, and was made to claim independence from Great Britain. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" was created by the will of the people they govern.

Constitution:

The foundational document of the Federal government, and establishes structure and the powers of the 3 Branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, which separated the powers and amendments.