Introduction Flashcards
How do the U.S. depict themselves through the “Virtual Capitol Tour” (2020)? Which aspects of U.S. history and society are particularly stressed? Which tone prevails?
The tone of the narrator is optimistic and cheerful throughout the whole video, even when some dark historical chapters are mentioned (enslavement, …). Ultimately, this tone represents the “American optimism”
It depicts itself as a diverse country: there are statues of individuals of different backgrounds (European, black and native). Moreover, there are two “Freedom statues”, what implies that notion of freedom is a central point.
Different historical chapters are mentioned, even the bad ones. They still own to their history, but the focus is always on the positive aspects.
The architecture of the building, some statues and many art works are based on foreign architecture and style. It is evident that the European roots are accepted but the “American exceptionalism” prevails.
What were the main differences between the Jamestown Colony and the Plymouth Colony? Who founded them and for which reasons?
Jamestown Colony: Was found on May 14, 1607 by a group of a joint venture called the Virginia Company. The first English settlement was founded in North America on the banks of the James River. The colonialization was motivated by economic reasons and financial profit. The English trade should be extended and thus create a wider market for English goods. Tobacco became Virginia’s first profitable export.
Plymouth Colony: Was founded in September 1620 by disgruntled English Protestants, who left England and moved to Leyden, a town in Holland, as there was more religious freedom and they wanted to be free from religious prosecution. After spending a few years there, they got worried that their children would lose their English heritage because of Holand’s easygoing atmosphere. They heard about the English Colony in Virginia, so they decided to leave Holland. They were religious separatists from the Church of England (Pilgrims)
What does the Declaration of Independence state as the justification for separating from Great Britain? What “entitles them” to do this?
The most important and dramatic statement comes near the end: “That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.” It declares a complete break with Britain and its King and claims the powers of an independent country.
When the first skirmishes of the Revolutionary War broke out in Massachusetts in April 1775, few people in the American colonies wanted to separate from Great Britain entirely. But as the war continued, and Britain called out massive armed forces to enforce its will, more and more colonists came to accept that asserting independence was the only way forward.
In order to have any hope of defeating Britain, the colonists would need support from foreign powers (especially France), which Congress knew they could only get by declaring themselves a separate nation.
What are the “truths” that are considered “self-evident” in the American Declaration of Independence? How are they related to the American Dream?
The “truths” that are considered “self-evident” in the American Declaration of Independence are that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Those truths fuel the idea of the American Dream.
What were the central values that the U.S. Constitution sought to validate and ensure? How did it seek to ensure them?
The central values the U.S. Constitution sought to ensure were the Establishment of Justice, Insurance of domestic Tranquility, Provision for the common Defense, Promotion of the general welfare, Secureness of the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity (We the People of the United States).
It established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens.
Which two major compromises went into the U.S. constitution? How were the states represented? How was the enslaved population represented?
The three major compromises were the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the Electoral College.
Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, proposed a legislature with two parts; states would have equal representation in the Senate, and the population of states would determine representation in the House of Representatives. This created a bicameral legislative branch, which gave equal representation to each State in the Senate, and representation based on population in the House.
The word “slave” does not appear in the Constitution. The framers consciously avoided the word, recognizing that it would sully the document. Nevertheless, slavery received important protections in the Constitution. The notorious three-fifths clause—which counted three-fifths of a state’s slave population in apportioning representation—gave the South extra representation in the House of Representatives and extra votes in the Electoral College.
Who was (at first) effectively excluded from the “we” of the U.S. constitution?
Americans Indians, African slaves, poor immigrants and women were excluded from the “We the People”; so actually the people in the preamble were free, white male citizen. This was problematic because this group of people didn’t have the same rights and place in society as the other group.
