US Independence Quiz

US Independence

• Richard Henry Lee (Virginia) proposed independence for the 13 colonies on June 7, 1776.
• Lee proposed an alliance among the colonies for collective action against Britain.
• The colonies asserted the right to govern themselves, rejecting British and any other external authority.
• The concept of popular sovereignty was advocated, stating that the people had the right to choose their form of government rather than inheriting it.
• Property-owning males were considered eligible for political participation (excluding enslaved people and women).
• The 13 colonies presented 27 grievances to the British monarchy and parliament, justifying their revolutionary movement.
• The colonies sought to create a confederation among the colonies.

Grievances Against Britain

• High taxes imposed by the British crown despite colonial lack of representation in Parliament.
• Trade restrictions imposed by Britain, which hurt colonial economies.
• British military presence and actions, including perceived abuses of power against the colonists and taking land.
• Lack of adequate judicial system to address the needs of the colonies.
• The colonists accused the British crown of imposing taxes without colonial consent and representation.

US Constitution

• The 13 independent colonies shared a common desire for freedom and self-governance, but their views on governmental structure differed.
• The colonies were wary of centralized authority and favored a distribution of power among the states.
• Founding fathers debated on the issue of federalism and anti-federalism, discussing the appropriate balance of power between state and national governments.
• The colonies were divided in their opinions of a centralized government.

Monroe Doctrine

• President James Monroe issued a warning to European powers in 1823, discouraging further European colonization in the Americas.
• The US aimed to protect its interests in the Western Hemisphere and asserted its influence in the region.
• This doctrine aimed to prevent European intervention in the affairs of independent nations in the Americas.
• The Monroe Doctrine aimed to prevent European interference in the Americas.

US Declaration of Rights

• The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were proposed in 1789.
• These amendments outline fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
• The amendments also address the rights of individuals against governmental intrusion and abuses.
• The Bill of Rights aimed to protect individual liberties against potential overreach by the federal government.
• The 1789 proposed amendments addressed issues of fundamental rights.
• 10 ratified amendments form the US Bill of Rights.
• The Bill of Rights protects fundamental rights and limits government power. Article 1 was not ratified.

Bretton Woods Agreement

• The 1958 Bretton Woods Agreement linked the dollar's value with gold reserves, influencing global trade and financial transactions.
• The dollar became the dominant global currency.
• The agreement tied global currencies to the value of the US dollar to facilitate smooth international trade.
• The Bretton Woods agreement attempted to regulate global currency fluctuations by tying them to the value of gold.

Economic Challenges

• US dollar's value based on gold reserves did not match the actual amount of dollars in circulation globally.
• The existence of global trade imbalances created an inflationary issue, causing financial pressure on the US economy (balance between financial instruments and the amount of real resources backing them up).
• The dollar's reserves did not always match the circulating dollar amount. Global trade imbalances and other factors affected the US economy.

Test your knowledge on the events leading to US independence, including key figures like Richard Henry Lee and the grievances presented to Britain. Discover how the colonies fought for their right to self-governance and the principles of popular sovereignty that shaped their revolution.