APUSH 1st 9 Week Test

After the Revolutionary War, who gets more political power?

After the Revolutionary War, who gets more political power?

After the Revolutionary War, political power shifted more towards land-owning white men.

What kinds of requirements are put in place for voting?

Many states established property ownership or tax-paying requirements for voting (women, African Americans, and white men who did not own land could NOT vote)

How was post-revolutionary voting from colonial governments before the war?

political power was more concentrated in the hands of appointed governors and British officials. Voting rights were still limited to property-owning men, but colonial governments operated under British oversight and control, giving less power to local legislatures

As Americans were debating what kind of government to have after the Revolutionary War, explain the perspectives of those who wanted a stronger, more centralized government and those who deeply opposed a centralized government.

After the war, there was a debate between Federalists, who wanted a stronger central government, and Anti-Federalists, who favored a decentralized system with power resting more in the states. Federalists wanted a strong national government to manage commerce, defense, and diplomacy, while Anti-Federalists feared a strong government would lead to tyranny. Anti-Federalists wanted to protect individual and state rights and prevent a return to a monarchical system

Triangular Trade

• First leg: European goods (like textiles, rum, and manufactured items) were shipped to Africa.

• Second leg: Enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic to the Americas (the Middle Passage).

• Third leg: Raw materials like sugar, tobacco, and cotton were sent from the Americas back to Europe.

Be able to explain Thomas Paine’s Common Sense - why does he write the pamphlet? Who does he hope to persuade? What kind of rhetoric does he use and what kinds of examples does he employ? How would this help him reach his target audience?

Paine wrote Common Sense to persuade American colonists to support independence from Britain. He targeted ordinary colonists, using clear, direct rhetoric that criticized monarchy and promoted republican ideals. He employed examples of British oppression to galvanize people, framing independence as common sense for achieving freedom and self-governance.

Explain how indentured labor and headright worked. Who tended to become indentured servants? What were they hoping for when they became indentured servants? How were they treated? How long did their servitude last, and what might they expect when their servitude was over?

Indentured servants were usually poor Europeans who signed contracts to work for a set number of years (usually 4-7) in exchange for passage to America. They hoped to gain land or economic opportunities after their service but were often treated poorly. At the end of their servitude, they were theoretically granted “freedom dues,” which could include land, tools, or money, though not all received these promises.

Explain the changes the Great Awakening brought to American religious life. What kinds of qualities does the Great Awakening tend to emphasize? What are its effects on existing churches? What kind of rhetoric do its preachers employ? How do people in the Great Awakening approach evangelism?

The Great Awakening was a religious revival in the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. It emphasized personal religious experience over traditional church authority, promoting emotional preaching and a focus on individual salvation. This movement weakened established churches and encouraged a more democratic approach to religion, challenging the power of religious elites.

How did colonial government like the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Massachusetts General Court impact colonists’ view of British attempts to exert power over the colonies?

Colonial governments like the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Massachusetts General Court gave colonists a taste of self-rule. When Britain attempted to reassert control through policies like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, colonists viewed these efforts as violations of their rights and autonomy, leading to increased resistance.

How did different European empires see the New World? What did they compete over in the New World? What did this competition lead to?

European powers competed for land, resources, and trade routes in the New World. Spain sought gold and Christian converts, France focused on fur trading and alliances with Native Americans, and Britain aimed for settlement and agricultural profits. This competition often led to conflicts, such as the French and Indian War.

How did the Aztec people react to the Spanish trying to force them to convert to Christianity?

The Aztecs resisted Spanish attempts to convert them to Christianity. While some converted to avoid persecution, others maintained their traditional beliefs. The Spanish often used violent methods to enforce conversion, leading to tension and resistance from the Aztec population.

How did the British government respond to documents like the Olive Branch Petition? Was reconciliation with American colonists achieved?

The British government rejected the Olive Branch Petition, which was an attempt by American colonists to reconcile with King George III. Instead of seeking peace, Britain increased military action against the colonies, pushing many Americans toward full support of independence.

How did women support the Patriot cause during the buildup to the Revolutionary War and during the war itself?

Women supported the Patriot cause by boycotting British goods, making homespun clothing, and running farms and businesses while men were fighting. Some, like Abigail Adams, advocated for women’s rights, though significant changes in their roles were slow to come.

How do women’s roles change after the Revolutionary War? How do they stay the same? What is the concept of republican motherhood? What were its advantages and disadvantages for women?

After the war, women’s roles were expected to focus on raising patriotic children, an idea known as "Republican Motherhood." This role reinforced the idea that women should be educated to raise virtuous citizens but did not extend to political or social equality.

How does the Second Continental Congress call on the colonies to get money/troops at the beginning of the Revolutionary War? Why was this necessary?

The Second Continental Congress called on colonies to raise troops and money by requesting contributions from the states. This decentralized approach was necessary because the new nation had no power to tax or enforce conscription directly.

In what ways did the Aztec, Inca, and other Native Americans groups push back against the Spanish trying to force them to assimilate to Spanish cultural ideals?

Native groups like the Aztecs and Inca resisted Spanish attempts at cultural assimilation by maintaining their languages, religious practices, and traditional governance. While some indigenous leaders adapted Spanish culture to preserve autonomy, others openly rebelled, leading to conflicts.

Know how slavery worked in each of the four major colonial regions: New England, Middle Colonies, Chesapeake, and South. Which regions had a lot of slaves (and why)? Which regions didn’t have many slaves (and why)?

In New England and the Middle Colonies, slavery was less prevalent due to the smaller farms and less demand for labor-intensive crops. In the Chesapeake and the South, large-scale plantations growing tobacco, rice, and indigo relied heavily on slave labor, leading to larger enslaved populations.

The ideals of self-government and having a republic changed voting rights and representation in what ways?

After the Revolution, ideals of self-government expanded voting rights for some white men but continued to exclude women, slaves, and non-property holders. This marked a shift toward more representative government, though still limited by social and economic class.

Were all Americans supportive of the Patriot cause? What percentage of Loyalists were in the colonies? What was their general opinion of the Patriot cause?

Not all colonists supported the Patriot cause. Roughly 15-20% were Loyalists, who believed in maintaining ties with Britain. They viewed the Patriot cause as radical and disruptive, often fearing economic or political instability.

What cash crop becomes very valuable in Virginia?

Tobacco became Virginia’s most valuable cash crop, shaping its economy and society, especially with the use of enslaved labor.

What did Europe gain in the Columbian Exchange? What did the New World gain? What problems/negative effects resulted from the Columbian Exchange? What crops/tools/livestock did Native Americans get from the Columbian Exchange that significantly changed Native lifestyles?

Europe gained crops like potatoes, maize, and tomatoes from the Columbian Exchange, while the Americas received livestock, grains, and diseases from Europe. While this exchange transformed diets and economies, it also led to devastating consequences for Native populations due to diseases like smallpox.

What does Great Britain do to crack down on smuggling in the colonies in the buildup to the Revolutionary War? What does the British government do to raise money after the French and Indian War to pay off its debts? (Give specific examples)

To crack down on colonial smuggling, Britain implemented the Navigation Acts and sent naval forces to enforce trade restrictions. To raise money after the French and Indian War, Britain imposed taxes like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, leading to colonial outrage.

What is salutary neglect? Why does it come to an end? How do Americans feel about this - do they want a return to salutary neglect or not?

Salutary neglect was Britain’s unofficial policy of allowing the colonies to self-govern. It ended after the French and Indian War, when Britain needed to impose stricter control and taxation. Colonists resented this shift and wanted a return to self-rule.

What kinds of things do the Patriots (especially the Sons of Liberty) do to protest tightening British control over the colonies?

Patriots, led by groups like the Sons of Liberty, protested British control by organizing boycotts, tar-and-feathering tax collectors, and dumping British tea in the Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party.

What precipitated the French alliance with the Americans? Why do the French fight against the British? What do the French hope to gain from this? How does this alliance affect the end of the war, specifically the formal treaty that ends hostilities between Great Britain and the U.S.?

The French allied with the Americans after the Battle of Saratoga, hoping to weaken their British rivals. The French provided crucial military support, and the alliance helped secure American independence through the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

What were some of the key differences between how Native Americans in North America saw the world and how European explorers/colonists saw the world? (think about areas such as land use, gender roles, and religion)

Native Americans viewed land as communal and spiritual, while European colonists saw it as private property. Gender roles also differed, with Native women often holding significant social roles, while European societies were more patriarchal.

What were the Northwest Ordinances? Why did they come into being? How did they help the fledgling United States?

The Northwest Ordinances established rules for settling new territories and banning slavery in the Northwest Territory. They helped organize land distribution and laid the foundation for westward expansion.

Why did colonists feel that Parliament did not represent them? What slogan did they come up with to reflect this frustration?

Colonists felt that Parliament did not represent their interests, as they had no elected representatives. This led to the slogan “No taxation without representation,” expressing their frustration with British taxes imposed without their consent.

Why was Jamestown founded and who founded it? How is this different from the founding of Massachusetts Bay?

Jamestown, founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company, was established for profit, particularly in the tobacco trade. In contrast, Massachusetts Bay, founded in 1630 by Puritans, sought religious freedom and the creation of a godly community.

How did slaves resist the dehumanizing conditions of slavery? Think about economic resistance, cultural resistance, and armed resistance and be able to give examples of each.

Slaves resisted their conditions through economic actions (work slowdowns or sabotage), cultural preservation (maintaining African traditions), and armed resistance (rebellions like the Stono Rebellion of 1739). These forms of resistance helped slaves retain their dignity and autonomy in an oppressive system.