Social Studies

Chapter 5: The Spirit of Independence

Life after the French & Indian War:

• Britain in debt: The war was expensive, so Britain looked to the colonies to help pay.
  
  

• Proclamation of 1763: Banned colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid Native conflicts.
  
  

Taxes on Colonies:

• Stamp Act: Taxed paper goods; first direct tax on colonists.
  
  

• Tea Act: Allowed British East India Company to sell tea cheaper than smuggled tea.
  
  

• Townshend Acts: Taxes on glass, paint, lead, and tea.
  
  

• Declaratory Act: Asserted Parliament’s right to legislate for the colonies “in all cases.”
  
  

• Coercive/Intolerable Acts: Punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party; closed Boston Harbor, revoked self-government.
  
  

• “No taxation without representation”: Colonists protested being taxed without having representatives in Parliament.
  
  

Writs of Assistance: Blank search warrants used by British to stop smuggling.

Sons of Liberty: Secret society led protests and boycotts against British taxes.

Committees of Correspondence: Shared info across colonies to unify against Britain.

Boston Massacre: British soldiers fired on colonists during a protest; used as anti-British propaganda.

Boston Tea Party: Colonists, disguised as Mohawks, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

Minutemen: Colonial militia trained to respond quickly to British threats.

Continental Congress: Delegates met to respond to British actions and organize resistance.

Loyalists and Patriots:

• Loyalists: Remained loyal to Britain.
  
  

• Patriots: Wanted independence.
  
  

Second Continental Congress Accomplishments:

• Created the Continental Army.
  
  

• Appointed George Washington commander.
  
  

• Sent Olive Branch Petition.
  
  

• Managed war efforts.
  
  

Olive Branch Petition: Final attempt to avoid war; King George III rejected it.

Thomas Paine, Common Sense: Pamphlet that argued for independence and influenced colonists.

John Locke, Natural Rights: People have rights to life, liberty, and property; influenced Jefferson.

Declaration of Independence:

• Fundamental Principles: All men are created equal; natural rights.
  
  

• Consent of the Governed: Government must get power from the people.
  
  

• Impact: Inspired other revolutions; justified independence.
  
  

Chapter 6: The American Revolution

Order of Events and Significance:

• Declaration of Independence (1776): Formal break from Britain.
  
  

• Revolutionary War (1775–1783): War for independence.
  
  

• Articles of Confederation (1781): First U.S. government.
  
  

• Treaty of Paris (1783): Officially ended the war.
  
  

5 Key Battles:

• Long Island: British victory; Americans fled New York.
  
  

• Trenton & Princeton: Surprise American victories; boosted morale.
  
  

• Saratoga: Turning point; led France to support the U.S.
  
  

• Valley Forge: Winter of suffering; trained troops into a stronger army.
  
  

• Yorktown: Final battle; British General Cornwallis surrendered.
  
  

Loyalists and Patriots: Deeply divided the colonies; about 1/3 Loyalist, 1/3 Patriot, 1/3 neutral.

Hessians: German mercenaries hired by Britain; some were captured at Trenton.

Benjamin Franklin: Helped gain French support, negotiated Treaty of Paris.

British Advantages:

• Strong army/navy.
  
  

• More resources.
  
  

• Experienced leadership.
  
  

British Weaknesses:

• Far from home.
  
  

• Unfamiliar territory.
  
  

• Weak public support.
  
  

Patriot Advantages:

• Fighting on home ground.
  
  

• Strong leadership (George Washington).
  
  

• Motivation and cause.
  
  

Patriot Weaknesses:

• Poor training.
  
  

• Lack of supplies and money.
  
  

Why Did Americans Win?

• Home-field advantage.
  
  

• Foreign alliances (France).
  
  

• Leadership and motivation.
  
  

Roles in the War:

• France: Gave troops, money, and a navy.
  
  

• Spain: Fought British in the West.
  
  

• Native Americans: Mostly sided with the British.
  
  

Treaty of Paris (1783):

• Britain recognized U.S. independence.
  
  

• Set U.S. borders (to Mississippi River).
  
  

Chapter 7: A More Perfect Union

The Critical Period:

• What was it? Time under the Articles of Confederation.
  
  

• Why important? Exposed weaknesses in early U.S. government.
  
  

Articles of Confederation:

• Strengths: Managed war, Northwest Territory.
  
  

• Weaknesses: No power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.
  
  

Land Disputes:

• Land Ordinance of 1785: Divided land into plots for sale.
  
  

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Plan for admitting new states; banned slavery in the Northwest.
  
  

Problems with Other Countries:

• Britain kept forts in U.S. territory.
  
  

• Spain closed the Mississippi River to trade.
  
  

Time for Change: People demanded stronger federal government.

Shay’s Rebellion: Farmers rebelled over taxes; showed weakness of Articles.

Slavery in the New Republic: Slavery still legal; debates over its future began.

The Constitutional Convention:

• Purpose: Fix the Articles, but instead created a new Constitution.
  
  

• Leaders: George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin.
  
  

• Result: New Constitution written.
  
  

Issue of Representation:

• Virginia Plan: Rep. based on population; favored by large states.
  
  

• New Jersey Plan: Equal rep. for all states; favored by small states.
  
  

• Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature — House by population, Senate equal.
  
  

Slavery - 3/5 Compromise:

• Counted 3 out of 5 enslaved people for population/taxes.
  
  

• Helped southern states gain more representation.
  
  

• North agreed to keep the union together.
  
  

Approving the Constitution:

• Holdouts: New York, Virginia.
  
  

• Why? Feared loss of state power, no Bill of Rights.
  
  

Chapter 8: The United States Constitution

7 Principles of the Constitution:

1. Popular Sovereignty: People hold the power.
   
   

2. Republicanism: Citizens elect representatives.
   
   

3. Limited Government: Government has only the powers the Constitution gives it.
   
   

4. Federalism: Power shared between national and state governments.
   
   

5. Separation of Powers: Three branches — legislative, executive, judicial.
   
   

6. Checks and Balances: Each branch can limit the others.
   
   

7. Individual Rights: Personal liberties are protected.
   
   

What is an Amendment?

• A change or addition to the Constitution.
  
  

The Bill of Rights:

1. Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.
   
   

2. Right to bear arms.
   
   

3. No quartering soldiers.
   
   

4. No unreasonable searches.
   
   

5. Due process, no double jeopardy/self-incrimination.
   
   

6. Speedy, public trial.
   
   

7. Jury trial in civil cases.
   
   

8. No cruel or unusual punishment.
   
   

9. People have other rights not listed.
   
   

10. Powers not given to the federal government go to states/people.
    
    

Legislative Branch:

• What: Congress (House + Senate).
  
  

• Powers: Make laws, declare war, approve budget.
  
  

• Location: Capitol Building.
  
  

Executive Branch:

• What: President, Vice President, Cabinet.
  
  

• Powers: Enforce laws, lead military, foreign policy.
  
  

• Location: White House.
  
  

Judicial Branch:

• What: Supreme Court and lower courts.
  
  

• Powers: Interpret laws, judicial review.
  
  

• Location: Supreme Court Building.
  
  

Judicial Review:

• Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional (established by Marbury v. Madison).
  
  

Citizenship:

• Immigration: Moving to the U.S. permanently.
  
  

Naturalization: Process of becoming a U.S. citizen (e.g., test, oath).