Unit 2 Test Flashcards
What was the purpose of the Convention on the Future of Europe according to Giscard d’Estaing?
For members to agree to propose a concept of the European union which matches our continental dimension and the requirements of the 21st century, to write a new chapter in the history of Europe
What was the constitutional convention?
A convention about the constitution, held in Philadelphia in 1787 presided over by George Washington. It was known then as the Federal convention which was charged with revising the Articles of confederation, they ended up producing the constitution
Why are the constitution and Future of Europe convention compared?
The Future of Europe Convention wanted to create a constitution to unite Europe, and they must face a lot of the questions our founding fathers faced
What freedoms did Americans have under British rule that most countries at the time did not have?
Landowners could control and transfer their property at will, there were no compulsory payments to support and established church, no ceiling on wages, almost complete freedom of speech, press, and assembly and guilds and professional organizations
What 3 factors explain constitutional durability?
- They tend to derive from an open, participatory process
- They tend to be specific
- The tend to be flexible through amendment and interpretation
How did the British cover the cost of the colonies and how did it cause disagreement?
The British believed taxing the colonies was the obvious way to meet the cost of the colonies. The colonists did not want to be taxed by a distant government where they had no representation.
What was the Sons of Liberty?
An intercolonial associated made by a group of merchants, lawyers and prosperous traders that destroyed taxed items, and forced the official stamp distributors to resign
How did women resist the British colonial taxes? What was the Daughters of Liberty?
Women resisted the taxes by joining together in symbolic and practical acts if patriotism. The Daughters of Liberty was a group of young women that met in public to spin cloth and encourage the elimination of British cloth from markets. They consumed American and local food and drinks as symbols of opposition
What did Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party?
They passed the Coercive or “Intolerable” acts. These acts imposed a blockade on Boston until the tea was paid for and allowed governors to quarter British soldiers in private America homes
Which colony didn’t attend the first continental congress?
Georgia
What was the objective of the first continental congress?
Restore harmony between British and American colonies
How was the first continental congress setup?
Each colony attending got one vote each, and a leader called the president was elected
What was the purpose of the second continental congress?
To serve as a government for the colonies in the deteriorating conditions and face the dilemma of going to war or reconciling with Britain
What did the second continental congress decide on?
After debating, they decided to go to war for independence
What role did Thomas Jefferson and John Adam’s play in writing the Declaration if Independence?
Thomas Jefferson, a skilled writer, became the “pen” to John Adam’s “voice”
Which philosopher influenced the Declaration of Independence?
John Locke, they used his argument that people have God-given or natural rights that can not be taken away by any government
Which political idea was used in the Declaration of Independence?
The Social contract theory, which says that people establish rulers for certain purposes but those rulers can be removed or resisted if they violate those purposes
What happened during the Watergate scandal?
President Richard Nixon was found trying to cover up tapes that revealed he was aware of a cover up. He went to through great trouble to not release the tapes, defying congress and criminal court issues
Why did Jefferson not use slavery as an argument against the king?
South Carolina and Georgia wanted slavery so they objected that argument
What is the major premise of the declaration of independence?
People have a right to revolt of they determine that their government is denying them legitimate rights, which the king was doing
Why did Catholics have a hard time deciding whether to join the revolution or not?
Catholics were treated with intolerance in the Protestant colonies but also faced cruelty by remaining loyal to England
How did Anti-Catholics respond to the Catholic-revolutionary situation?
They recognized that if they didnt, have the support of the Catholic population, it could jeopardize their victory, and support American Catholics would encourage Catholic France to help
What factors helped the Americans defeat the British?
- America was too vast to subdue without total military rule
- Britain had to transport soldiers and supplies all the way over the Atlantic Ocean
- America had the support of British rivals
What was a fear of Americans and their leaders once they declared independence?
They feared having a government that resembled British rule
What are the reasons the Articles of Confederation failed?
- They didnt give national government the power to tax
- There was no independent leader as a result of the fear of a monarchy
- The government was not allowed to regulate interstate and foreign commerce
- The Articles could not be amended without unanimous agreement from congress and all state legislatures, anyone could veto
What was the goal of the Articles of confederation and which form of government did they pursue?
The Articles were meant to retain powers within the states, which is consistent with republicanism
