American Revolution and Declaration of Independence

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Questions and Answers

Match the following documents with their significance:

Declaration of Independence = List of grievances against British rule Bill of Rights = Limits on governmental power Common Sense = Persuaded colonists to support independence Articles of Confederation = First form of government for the U.S.

Match the following acts with their descriptions:

Sugar Act = Tax on foreign molasses Stamp Act = Tax on printed material Quartering Act = Required housing for British soldiers Townshend Acts = Taxes on imported goods and tea

Match the following Enlightenment thinkers with their ideas:

John Locke = Natural rights and consent of the governed Thomas Jefferson = Author of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Paine = Proponent of independence in Common Sense Montesquieu = Advocate for separation of powers

Match the following events with their outcomes:

<p>Boston Tea Party = Protest against tea taxes Boston Massacre = Killing of five colonists by British soldiers First Continental Congress = Coordination of colonial resistance Revolutionary War = Colonial independence achieved</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the causes of the Revolutionary War with their descriptions:

<p>No taxation without representation = Colonists denied representation in British government Mercantilist policies = Restrictive trade practices imposed by Britain Committees of Correspondence = Communication networks among colonies Non-importation agreements = Colonial boycotts of British goods</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

<p>Social contract = Agreement between government and governed Consent of the governed = Authority derived from the people's approval Natural rights = Fundamental rights inherent to every individual Democratic principles = Ideals supporting equal representation and liberty</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the battles/major events with their significance:

<p>Battle of Lexington = First military engagement of the Revolutionary War Battle of Saratoga = Turning point that gained French support Yorktown = Final major battle leading to British surrender Boston Tea Party = Significant act of defiance against British tariffs</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following phrases with their related concepts:

<p>Fundamental purpose of government = To secure the natural rights of the people Right to overthrow government = When basic rights are denied Influence of Enlightenment = Ideas shaping the Declaration of Independence Political development of the U.S. = Emergence of a more democratic governance structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Declaration of Independence

  • Lists grievances against British rule, advocating for separation from Great Britain.
  • Authored by Thomas Jefferson, heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinkers.
  • Represents a statement of democratic principles instead of a government framework.
  • Incorporates John Locke’s theory of natural rights; stresses "consent of the governed."
  • Emphasizes the social contract theory: government exists to secure people’s natural rights.
  • Advocates that a government denying basic rights can be overthrown.
  • Similar to the Bill of Rights in limiting governmental power and highlighting individual liberty.

Key Concept: No Taxation Without Representation

  • Colonists believed they shouldn't be taxed by Britain without representation in government.
  • Lack of representation implied absence of consent of the governed.

Thomas Paine and Public Sentiment

  • Published "Common Sense," pivotal in swaying public opinion towards independence.
  • Encouraged undecided Americans to support the movement for independence.

Response to British Mercantilist Policies

  • Emergence of Committees of Correspondence and Non-importation Agreements.
  • Boston Tea Party served as a protest against British taxation.

First Continental Congress

  • Convened to address grievances and organize colonial resistance against British rule.

Major Events Leading to the Revolutionary War

  • Sugar and Stamp Acts imposed taxes on foreign products and printed materials.
  • Quartering Act forced colonists to provide housing and sustenance to British soldiers.
  • Townshend Acts levied taxes on imported goods, particularly tea.
  • Boston Massacre resulted in the deaths of five colonists by British troops.
  • War initiated shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
  • American victory achieved with home-ground advantage and support from France.
  • Mississippi River designated as western boundary of the U.S. post-war.

Articles of Confederation

  • Served as the initial governing document for the U.S. after independence.
  • First attempt at uniting the original 13 states into a national framework.
  • Distrust of strong central government prompted a decentralized power structure favoring state authority.

Problems and Weaknesses of the Articles

  • Struggled to effectively resolve major issues as power was primarily held by states.
  • Congress relied on states for funding and manpower for the military.
  • National government lacked the ability to enforce laws.
  • States retained authority to collect taxes, coin currency, and regulate trade, undermining national authority.

Successes of the Articles

  • Established a governance system for Western territories.
  • Created a structured process for admitting new states into the union.

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