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Question 1

What was the Bill of Rights?

Answer 1

The first 10 amendments of the constitution.

Guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual.

Written and passed in 1689

Question 2

What were the economic causes for the call of the 1787 constitution/ the Philadelphia convention?

Answer 2

• There was a problem of debt to France and Spain.
• Slave owners wanted security.
• Merchants couldn’t to sell to West-Indies.
• Debtors vs Creditors: tensions between individuals owing debts (debtors) and those to whom the debts are owed (creditors), arising from economic hardships and differing interests in debt repayment.

Question 3

What were the social causes for the call of the 1787 constitution/ the Philadelphia convention?

Answer 3

Shay’s Rebellion: an armed uprising in western Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War captain. The rebellion was primarily caused by economic grievances, including high taxes and debt, faced by farmers who were struggling in the aftermath of the war. The rebellion’s events involved protests and the seizure of courthouses to prevent foreclosures on farms. It underscored the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in addressing economic issues and played a role in the call for the Constitutional Convention to address these deficiencies and create a stronger central government.

Question 4

What were the political causes for the call of the 1787 constitution/ the Philadelphia convention?

Answer 4

• People were more loyal to their state than they were to the central government.
• Wanted westward expansion.
• Elites were scared of access democracy.
• Different political ideals between founding fathers were becoming a problem.

Question 5

Explain the 1787 constitution/ the Philadelphia convention.

Answer 5

The 1787 Constitution, also known as the United States Constitution, was drafted during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and ratified in 1788.

The primary causes for its creation were the perceived weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which governed the United States before the Constitution, and the desire for a stronger central government.

Influential figures like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and others played crucial roles in its formulation.

The Constitution established a framework for the federal government. Its impact has been profound, providing stability and fostering growth.

Question 6

What was ‘The Great Compromise’?

Answer 6

The Great Compromise of 1787 was a proposal during the Constitutional Convention that resolved the debate over representation in the U.S.

Legislature with a Senate based on equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives based on population.

Question 7

How successfully had Washington dealt with domestic issues as president?

Answer 7

Washington effectively dealt with domestic issues during his presidency, overseeing the implementation of Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan, which stabilized the national economy and established the first Bank of the United States.

Question 8

What were the aims of the founding fathers?

Answer 8

• To strengthen central government
• To ensure a balanced government
• To limit excess democracy
• To create a legislature of 2 houses
• To limit the power of the executive

Question 9

Outline the Articles of Confederation.

Answer 9

The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781. They established a weak central government with limited powers, as many feared a strong central authority based on their experiences with British rule. However, the Articles proved ineffective in addressing economic and governance challenges, leading to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the eventual adoption of the United States Constitution.

Question 10

List some strengths of the Articles of Confederation.

Answer 10

• New laws needed agreement from all 13 states to be put in place.
• Intentionally left vague to give states liberty and authority.
• Needed a form of central authority to stabalise the economy

Question 11

List some weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Answer 11

• Hard to get things done as new laws needed agreement from all 13 states to be put in place.
• Central authority is undermined as congress is not powerful enough.
• No standing army so would be reliant on militia.

Question 12

What does it mean to be an egalitarian society?

Answer 12

A social structure that advocates for and practices equality among its members

Question 13

Relating the concept of an egalitarian society, how could you argue that the articles of confederation were revolutionary?

Answer 13

• Men of lower social status now sat in legislatures and challenged the elites.
• Many ordinary American became officers and were promoted on status rather than merit.
• Some states abolished slavery.

Question 14

Outline the Second Continental Congress.

Answer 14

The Second Continental Congress convened in 1775 in response to the escalating tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain, particularly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Its primary cause was the need for a unified response to address grievances and determine a course of action in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. The impact of the Second Continental Congress was significant, as it oversaw the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, organized the Continental Army, and served as the de facto government for the United States until the Articles of Confederation were adopted.

Question 15

Relating the concept of an egalitarian society, how could you argue that the articles of confederation were not revolutionary?

Answer 15

• There were no attempts at redistribution of wealth.
• Remained a land of self-sufficient farmers
• Only some states abolished slavery.

Question 16

What was the Treaty of Paris?

Answer 16

The Treaty of Paris of 1783 marked the end of the American Revolutionary War and established the terms for peace between Great Britain and the United States. The causes for the treaty were rooted in the desire to bring an end to hostilities and acknowledge the independence of the United States. The impact of the Treaty of Paris officially recognized the United States as a sovereign nation and secured key concessions.

Question 17

Why did America declare independence in 1776.

Answer 17

• British attitudes: King refused to negotiate with the colonists.
• Spread of ideas: Thomas Paine spread a case against tyranny of kings.

Question 18

What were the reasons for Britain’s success in the 7 years war?

Answer 18

• William Pitt: 3 pronged attack, sent 25K troupes, promoted junior officers based on merit.
• Navy: Significantly stronger than the French and Spanish. Lord Anson formed a naval blockade, causing difficulty for French.
• Native Americans: They cultivated a friendship and utilized guerrilla warfare.
• Colonists: Didn’t do too much but helped build roads and forts.
• Finances: They paid Fredrick the Great (king of Prussia) to attack French naval forces.

Question 19

How successfully and with what consequences did Britain expand its territory in North America in the period 1740-1763?

Answer 19

During the period of 1740-1763, Britain expanded its territory in North America through a combination of military victories and diplomatic treaties. The most notable expansion occurred during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), where Britain, allied with American colonists, defeated France and gained control of Canada and various territories east of the Mississippi River through the Treaty of Paris in 1763.

This expansion, however, led to increased tensions with Native American populations, as well as a surge in costs that contributed to the imposition of taxes on the American colonies, eventually sparking discontent and setting the stage for the American Revolution.

Question 20

How had colonial society and the economy developed in British North America by 1763?

Answer 20

By 1763, colonial society in British North America had evolved into a diverse landscape with distinct regional characteristics. The New England colonies were marked by small family farms, a strong emphasis on education and religious institutions, while the Middle Colonies were characterized by a more diverse economy with a mix of agriculture and trade. In the Southern Colonies, a plantation economy reliant on enslaved laborers dominated, creating stark social hierarchies.

Question 21

What is the mercantile system?

Answer 21

A economic framework that emphasizes the importance of accumulating wealth, particularly in the form of gold and silver, through a positive balance of trade, state intervention in the economy, and the establishment of colonies to secure resources.