AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
O Red Flag Questions
Pages 37-42
CHAPTER 2: ORIGINS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
SECTION 2: American Independence
THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE
· What English traditions did the British government fail to respect that led to the break?
Early Attempts at Unity
· New England Confederation
· Why was the New England Confederation formed?
· What event led to the signing of a treaty with the Iroquois Confederation
· Iroquois Confederation
· Albany Plan of Union
· Why were the colonists quick to reject the Albany Plan of Union?
· What important role did the Albany Plan of Union play in the development of the new nation?
Growing Tensions
· When would the king and Parliament intervene in the colonists affairs?
Changes in British Policies
· Why did the British begin to look to the colonies as a new source of revenue?
· What became the rallying cry throughout the colonies?
· Why did the colonists believe that only their colonial assemblies had the right to tax them?
The Stamp Act Congress
· Stamp Act
· What was the goal of the Sons of Liberty?
· What was the goal of the Stamp Act Congress?
Colonial Protests
· What was the Boston Massacre?
· How did the colonies stay up-to-date with events happening in Boston?
· Why did colonists stage the Boston Tea Party?
· What was King George III’s reaction to the British Tea Party?
· What were the Intolerable Acts?
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESSES
The First Continental Congress
· What was the First Continental Congress and what measures did they take?
· What clash became known as the “shot heard round the world”?
The Second Continental Congress
· Second Continental Congress
· What was the first act of the Second Continental Congress and who did they name as commander?
· What was the Olive Branch Petition and what was King George’s reaction to the petition?
· What roles did Congress assume once the Revolutionary War began?
The Common Sense of Democracy
· What did the pamphlet Common Sense by Thomas Paine persuasively argue?
· What type of government did Paine hope the colonies rebellion would produce?
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
· Who was on the committee to write a formal statement justifying independence?
· Virginia Declaration of Rights
· What did Jefferson mean by “unalienable” rights?
· What was Jefferson’s idea of the social contract?
· What happened on July 4, 1776?
THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS
· What was significant about the constitutions that the 13 states drafted?
Self-Government
· What features did all the state constitutions have in common?
· Where did the states differ?
· What was notable about New Jersey?
Separation of Powers
· What three branches of government did each state establish?
· How many states developed a bicameral legislature?
Limited Government
· What were some of the checks established for the legislative power?
Why did some state constitutions limit the term of office for the governor?
Individual Rights
· What liberties did the Massachusetts constitution of 1780 protect?