1. American History 10 Mr. Riddlebarger
Historic Documents
American History 10
Mr. Riddlebarger

2. Sources of Information
Primary and Secondary Sources
The use of both in the study of history includes an analysis of their credibility (whether or not they are believable).
To determine this, check for:
Qualifications and reputation of author
Agreement with other sources
Perspective or bias of the author
Accuracy and internal consistency
Circumstances in which the author prepared the source

3. Thesis The main point you present in a report
Provides a meaningful interpretation of the past by telling the reader the manner in which historical evidence is significant in some larger context.

4. The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a movement of ideas that occurred in Europe between 1680 and 1790.
The rejected blindly following tradition, authority or church teachings.
The free exercise of reason and the direct observation of nature
Natural Rights: Belief that natural law gave each person certain basic “natural rights” that could not be taken away.
Right to personal freedom and to own property
Social Contract: Citizens enter into a social contract with their ruler to protect their rights. If the ruler violated this “social contract” by failing to protect their rights, then the people had a right to overthrow that ruler & create a new government.
Rejection of divine right

5. Declaration of Independence
Written in 1776 (largely by Thomas Jefferson)
Approved July 4
Explains the reasons (grievances) colonial leaders decided to break away from Great Britain
A series of events since French-Indian War which the colonists deemed were tyrannical acts destructive of their rights
Connections to Enlightenment ideals?

6. Articles of Confederation
The document that created the first central government for the United States.
1777
Several critical problems:
No separate executive branch
Lack of separate Judicial branch
Difficult to pass legislation and to amend the Articles
Government struggled to pay Revolutionary War debt
Shay’s Rebellion

7. US Constitution 1787; replaces Articles of Confederation
Required 9 states to ratify
Enlightenment connections?

8. Federalist Papers
The US Constitution is a big departure from the Articles of Confederation
Proponents and opponents of the Constitution attempted to sway opinion
Proponents- for ratification = Federalists
Opponents- against ratification = Anti-Federalists
New York was a key state in the debate
Essays published in papers by proponents are known as the Federalist Papers
Issues debated included
National taxation
Benefits of strong national defense
Distribution of powers
Citizen rights
Anti-Federalist articles looked at taxation, use of a standing army, national power vs. state power, protection of people’s rights

9. Bill of Rights Derived from English law Magna Carta
Constitutional protections of rights, trial by jury, habeas corpus, cruel and unusual punishment
Influenced by: Enlightenment ideals, Colonial experiences, early self-governing experiences, ratification of Constitution
Natural rights: life, liberty, property

10. Northwest Ordinance Adopted in 1787 by 2nd Continental Congress
Provided a means for admitting new states to the Union (from Northwest Territory)
Subsequently used as the nation expanded further west
A bill of rights protecting religious freedom, the right to habeas corpus, trial by jury and other individual rights
Precursor for Bill of Rights to Constitution
Established a precedent for governing the United States

11. Republic Key components of: Supreme power is held by the citizens
Citizens are entitled to vote
Elections are held for government officers and representatives of the citizens
Elected officers and representatives are responsible to the citizens
Elected officers and representatives govern according to the law