The American Revolution

What was the significance of the Seven Years War/French and Indian War? How did it change things for Britain and France? Britain had gained control of land East of the Mississippi in North America, while France was forced to give up Canada and its holdings in India. This meant the Britain had gained more control of North America, while France lost almost all of its territory.

What did John Locke believe about government? What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau believe about government? What was the difference between their two beliefs? John Locke thought that governments were created to protect life, liberty, property, and that people had the right to rebel when a monarch violated these natural rights. Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought that the will of the people was sacred and that the legitimacy of monarchs rested on the will of people. Locke was focused on the individual will of people, and Rousseau was focused on people acting collectively.

How did European leaders react to Enlightenment ideas that threatened their power? Though willing to embrace reform proposal when they served royal interests, Europe's monarchs moved quickly to suppress or ban radical ideas that promoted republicanism or directly attacked religion.

What role did women play during the Enlightenment? Women during the Enlightenment purchased and discussed books, pamphlets, articles, and newspapers, expanding the reach of the ideas of the Enlightenment and discussing ideas in public places, expanding the influence of the Enlightenment to illiterate people. Additionally, some women contributed to the Enlightenment as writers and commentators, and women of the time began to raise and debate the issue of women's rights.

What did Benjamin Franklin symbolize to Europeans? To Europeans, Benjamin Franklin symbolized the vast potential of America. He proved to be an important political figure, an American intellectual, and an inventor who seemed to confirm the Enlightenment's overall objective of human potential.

Explain the conflict between monarchs trying to increase their authority and common people fighting for their traditional customs. In the 18th century, monarchs wanted to increase their authority and to centralize their power by reforming tax collection, judicial practice, and public administration. Even though monarchs viewed these changes as reforms, common people mainly viewed them as violations of sacred customs and responded with bread riots, tax protests, and attacks on royal officials.

What do you think the text means when it says that the “British colonies enjoyed substantial political autonomy” when compared to other American colonies? How do you think that might have led to the American Revolution? British colonies were more free to govern themselves when compared to the Spanish or Portuguese colonies in the Americas. It would seem that this helped spark the American Revolution because if the colonies knew that they could govern themselves and were already engaged in government, it would not be as big a step to form their own government in disregard to the people in Europe governing them. This was definitely not the only factor that led to the American Revolution, but it may have helped give the British colony the edge and self- confidence, that other American colonies lacked, to push for independence.

What actions did Britain take to anger the American colonists? There are several. O Proclamation of 1763 O Stamp Act 1765 O Quartering Act of 1765 O Townsend Act of 1767 O Boston Massacre

What factors led to the defeat of the British army by the colonists? George Washington's charisma and boldness, even in the face of numerous military defeats, helped lead the Americans to victory. Washington's understanding that victory required the Americans to fight a defensive war enabled him to avoid direct and fruitless combat with the larger and more powerful British armies. A second major factor that helped the Americans win the war was Great Britain's considerable distance from the colonies. The 3000-mile Atlantic Ocean that stretched between the British isles and the American continent prevented Britain from effectively managing, supplying and communicating with its armies. Additionally, the colonists knew the local terrain and territory far better than the foreign British armies did. The most important factor to colonial victory was the assistance of the French. Prior to 1778, the French provided unofficial aid by selling weapons cheaply to the colonies. However, after the colonial victory at the Battle of Saratoga, New York, in 1777, the French agreed to an official alliance.

What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga? The Battle of Saratoga is known as the turning point in the American Revolution. The American victory convinced the French to join the war along side the American colonists.

What was the process for creating the United States Constitution? They started out by creating the Articles of Confederation, but the did not work. The Constitutional Convention met and remade the Constitution. By taking ideas from the Articles of Confederation, and improving on them, the created the Constitution we have today. Three branches of government, separation of powers, checks and balances, etc. The first ten amendments are our Bill of Rights.

What were some of the major issues that were debated during the Constitutional Convention? O Representation O Electoral procedures O Executive powers O Slavery O Relationship between the federal government and the states