American Heritage Final

1. What is Mercantilism?
   Mercantilism is an economic theory that emphasizes the accumulation of wealth, particularly gold and silver, by maintaining a favorable balance of trade. The government controls the economy to increase national power and wealth.
   
   

2. How did Mercantilism affect relations between the American colonies and the British?
   Under mercantilism, the British restricted colonial trade to benefit the mother country. The colonies could only trade with Britain and were required to send raw materials, leading many colonists to feel exploited and unfairly treated, eventually contributing to revolutionary sentiment.
   
   

3. Who was the seven-year war between?
   The Seven Years' War (1756-1763) was primarily fought between Great Britain and France, with various European powers involved, including Spain, Austria, and Prussia. The war also had a significant colonial component, with Britain and France battling in North America, known as the French and Indian War.
   
   

4. Why is it considered a major cause of the American Revolution?
   The war left Britain with significant debt, leading to increased taxation on the American colonies. The British government also sought more control over colonial affairs, which angered the colonists and fostered resentment.
   
   

5. What is "salutary neglect"?
   Salutary neglect refers to the British policy of loosely enforcing regulations and laws in the American colonies, allowing them to self-govern and flourish economically without much interference.
   
   

6. How long (roughly) did the period of “Salutary neglect” last for? (this is a wide range of dates)
   Salutary neglect lasted from the early 1700s until the 1760s when Britain began to tighten control over the colonies, particularly after the Seven Years' War.
   
   

7. What did the period of salutary neglect foster in the colonies?
   It fostered a sense of self-governance in the colonies, as they had managed their own affairs with little interference from Britain.
   
   

8. What are some important events in the 1770s that affected American heritage?
   
   

   • The Stamp Act (1765) and Townshend Acts (1767) were key moments when Britain imposed taxes on the colonies.

   • The Boston Massacre (1770) fueled anti-British sentiment.

   • The Tea Act and subsequent Boston Tea Party (1773).

9. Important events in the 1770s leading up to the Revolution?
   
   

   • The Intolerable Acts (1774) in response to the Boston Tea Party.

   • The First Continental Congress (1774).

   • The battles of Lexington and Concord (1775), marking the start of open conflict.

10. When did the First Continental Congress assemble and what was its purpose?
    
    

    • It met in 1774 to address colonial grievances and protest the Intolerable Acts.

11. When did the Second Continental Congress assemble and what was its purpose?
    
    

    • It met in 1775 and took on the role of governing during the war, eventually declaring independence from Britain in 1776.

12. Thomas Paine: who was he? Where was he from? Why did he become famous?
    
    

    • Paine was an English-born political writer who became famous for his pamphlet, Common Sense, which argued for independence and inspired many colonists to support the revolutionary cause.

13. What is a Loyalist? What is a Patriot?
    
    

    • A Loyalist was an American colonist who remained loyal to Britain.

    • A Patriot was a colonist who supported independence from Britain.

14. Purpose of Common Sense?
    
    

    • The purpose was to convince colonists to reject monarchy and call for independence from Britain.

15. Why was "Common Sense" so successful?
    
    

    • It was clear, accessible, and emotionally charged. Paine used simple language to argue that independence was both necessary and inevitable, and it directly attacked the legitimacy of monarchy.

16. True or false: Paine’s purpose in writing Common Sense was to attack monarchy itself.
    
    

    • True. Paine criticized monarchy as an outdated, tyrannical form of government.

17. Lesson of Paine’s fable about the "Ass and the Lion"?
    
    

    • The fable illustrated how the colonies had been under Britain’s oppressive control, likening it to the lion forcing the donkey to submit. It symbolized the need for the colonies to assert their own independence.

18. What did Jefferson mean by "The tree of liberty must be refreshed, now and then, with the blood of patriots and tyrants"?
    
    

    • Jefferson was advocating for the idea that rebellion is sometimes necessary to protect freedom, showing support for the revolutionary cause.

19. Why were Abigail Adams and some of the "nationalists" critical of Shays' Rebellion?
    
    

    • They feared it showed weakness in the Articles of Confederation and worried it would inspire chaos or anarchy, potentially undermining the new republic.

20. What are "Natural Rights"?

Natural Rights are basic rights that every person is born with, simply by being human. These rights are not granted by governments but are seen as universal and inalienable. Common examples of natural rights include the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The idea was popularized by philosophers like John Locke.

21. What is "Natural Law"?

Natural Law is the idea that there are certain laws or rules governing human behavior that are derived from nature, reason, or divine will. These laws are universal and can be discovered through human reason. According to natural law, individuals and governments should follow these principles to create a just society. It’s a theory that argues there are certain moral truths that exist independently of human-made laws.

22. Articles of Confederation: Strengths and Weaknesses?
    
    

    • Strength: It successfully won the American Revolution by uniting the states under a central government.

    • Weaknesses: No power to tax, no executive branch, and no national court system.

23. How did the Articles of Confederation contribute to the creation of the U.S. Constitution?
    
    

    • The weaknesses of the Articles led to calls for a stronger central government, ultimately resulting in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

24. Confederation: Define
    
    

    • A confederation is a loose alliance of states with a weak central government. It contrasts with a unitary republic, where power is concentrated in a central government.

25. The Articles of Confederation were the first ________ ________ in American history 

    • Written Constitution

26. Why was the Confederation Congress "weak by design"?
    
    

    • The Articles were designed to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful, reflecting the fear of centralized authority after Britain’s rule.

27. Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Importance?
    
    

    • It established a process for admitting new states and prohibited slavery in the new territories, ensuring westward expansion could occur in an orderly manner.

28. Shays’ Rebellion: Who was Shays? Who supported the Shays?
    
    

    • Daniel Shays was a former Revolutionary War soldier who led a rebellion against tax and debt policies in Massachusetts. The rebellion alarmed many, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

29. How did Shays' Rebellion influence the framers of the U.S. Constitution?
    
    

    • The rebellion highlighted the need for a stronger central government to maintain order, leading to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

30. Why is the period between 1783 and 1787 called the "Critical Period"?
    
    

    • It was a time when the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became apparent, leading to calls for a stronger, more effective government.

28. Constitutional Convention

    • The Constitutional Convention (1787) was a meeting held in Philadelphia where delegates from the states gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation. Instead of just making changes, they decided to create a new constitution, which established the framework for the United States government. The result was the U.S. Constitution.

29. Who were the Anti-Federalists?
    
    

    • Anti-Federalists were opponents of the U.S. Constitution, fearing it would create too strong a central government at the expense of states' rights.

30. Mercy Otis Warren: Who was she?
    
    

    • Warren was an influential writer and political thinker who supported independence and was critical of the Constitution, advocating for a Bill of Rights.

31. What is Republicanism?
    
    

    • Republicanism is a political ideology advocating for a government in which power resides in elected representatives rather than a monarch.

32. The United States constitution is the longest functioning _____ constitution in the world?

    • written

33. Why did the framers meet in secret?
    
    

    • To avoid outside pressure and influence, and to allow for open debate without fear of public criticism.

34. Most active framer in the drafting of the Constitution?
    
    

    • James Madison is often considered the most active framer, contributing significantly to the structure of the Constitution.

35. Federalists' belief in a ______ national government?
    
    

    • Strong, or centralized.

36. What is Separation of Powers?

    • Separation of powers refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another. In the U.S., this is typically divided into three branches: the Legislative Branch (Congress), the Executive Branch (President), and the Judicial Branch (Courts). This system helps prevent any one branch from gaining too much power, ensuring a system of checks and balances.

37. What is Popular Sovereignty?

    • Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of government is created and sustained by the consent of its people. In essence, the people are the ultimate source of governmental power. This idea is foundational to democracy, particularly in the context of the U.S. Constitution.

38.  Federalism: What is Federalism?

    • Federalism is the division of power between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments. It’s a balance between two extremes: unitary systems, where all power is held by a central government, and confederations, where power is primarily held by the states. Federalism allows for a balance of authority, enabling both national and state governments to coexist and operate within their respective spheres of influence.

39. What are "Concurrent Powers"?

    • Concurrent powers are powers that are shared by both the national government and the state governments. These include things like the power to tax, the power to borrow money, and the power to establish courts.

40. What is "Judicial Review"?

    • Judicial review is the power of courts to examine and decide whether a law or government action is in accordance with the Constitution. The concept was established in Marbury v. Madison (1803). It ensures that legislative and executive actions comply with constitutional principles.

41. What is Jurisprudence?

    • Jurisprudence is the theory or philosophy of law. It involves studying the nature of laws, the legal system, and the principles that guide judicial decisions. Jurisprudence can vary from one legal system to another and influences how judges interpret the law.