Unit 3 AoS 2 Declaration of Independance to the acceptance of Bill of Rights

Question 1

The War of Independence

Question 2

Articles of Confederation

Answer 2

• Mainly written by John Dickinson.
• Acted as a loose union of the states, “firm league of friendship”.
• Slowly accepted by the different states, not fully ratified until 1781.
• Allowed Congress to function and for the states to be united enough to win the war, obtain foreign allies, and negotiate a successful peace treaty.

Question 3

Treaty of Paris

Answer 3

(1783)

Question 4

Shays’ Rebellion

Question 5

The Philadelphia Convention

Answer 5

(1787)

Question 6

Federalists

Answer 6

-People who supported the constitution.

-Considered a “school of thought’ rather than a centralised group.

-Members included almost all of the constitutional drafters and became more popular when it was publically supported by Washington.

Question 7

Anti-Federalists

Answer 7

-People who didn’t support the consitution.
-Most notable representative was Patrick Henry.
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Question 8

Ratification of the Constitution

Answer 8

-The 9th state ratified the constitution in June 1788.

-Final 4 states pressured to sign from threats of economic isolation.

-A strongly written letter from Washington supporting the constitution won many over to the side of ratification.

Question 9

Post-War Recession

Question 10

Opportunities for Economic Development

Question 11

Debates on Federal and State Rights

Question 12

Features of the Constitution

Question 13

Individual Rights

Answer 13

-Not explicitly stated within the Constitution, which Anti-Federalists became concerned about.

-Federalists argued that the seperation of powers would not enable any of the 3 branches of government to infringe on individual rights.

-James Madison was the first notable Federalist to entertain the idea of amendments to the constitution.

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Question 14

The Bill of Rights

Answer 14

-A series of 10 amendments to the Constitution.

-Focuses on protecting the civil, legal, and human rights of all people in the US.

-Includes freedoms of speech, the press, religion, assembly, and petition.

-Many aspects of the Bill of Rights comes from grievances and issues experienced during the 1760s and 1770s.

Question 15

Slavery

Answer 15

-Southern states defended slavery as a practice rigorously.

-Constitution allowed slave trade to continue but introduced a twenty year sunset clause.

-Abolitionist movements increased during and after the revolutionary war.

Question 16

George Washington

Question 17

Alexander Hamilton

Question 18

Patrick Henry

Question 19

James Madison

Answer 19

• Wrote almost the entirety of the Virginia Plan.
• Although not part of the revolutionary war, was very influential post war.
• Political philosopher and architect of the constitution.
• Nationalist at the forefront of the federalist movement.
• “Father of the Constitution”.
• Also drafted the bill of rights alone.

Question 20

Patriots

Question 21

Loyalists

Question 22

Continental Army Soldiers

Answer 22

• Until late 1770’s, experienced soldiers were continuously replaced with new recruites due to the short service period.
• Barely existent militia discipline and command structures led to an inefficent army.

Washington: “[The Continental Army Soldiers] would fight very well if properly officered, although they are an exceedingly dirty and nasty people.”

• Washington attempted to improve discipline by introducing floggings (beatings) and doing low-level tasks not typically done by officers.

Question 23

Women, Post Revolution

Answer 23

-Experienced little benefit from the revolution.

-Returned to traditional role within society as wives, mothers, and household managers.

-Religious groups such as Baptists or Methodists encouraged women to preach publicly and some sects even offered leadership roles.

-Remained invisible in terms of citizenship.

-Abigail Adams (Husband of John Adams), wrote to him “remember the ladies…” when developing the new political system.

-Education for women was largely disregarded.

-President of Yale when presented with the idea that women may attend his college, “But who will make our puddings?”

Question 24

Women, Post Revolution - Historian Quotes

Answer 24

Gordon Wood: “The Revolution made Americans conscious of the claim for the equal rights of women as never before.”

Gordon Wood: “Religion was a major public arena in which women could play a substantial role.”

Question 25

Native Americans

Question 26

African Americans and Slaves, Post Revolution

Answer 26

-While the ideas of the revolution weakened Slavery, it was also fortified by the new society.

-Counted as property.

-Many Slaves sought their freedom after the Declaration of Independence.

-Free slaves in America increased threefold.

-Hypocritical to demand freedom when slavery continued to be practiced.

-Slaves considered three-fifths of a person.

-3/5ths of a states slave population were counted when determining the number of seats that state should have in the House.

Question 27

African Americans and Slaves, Post Revolution - Quotes

Answer 27

George Washington (1786): “I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of [slavery].”