• Original ColoniesConstitution DayThe Original George WShays' Rebellion Marker
     
     
    Unit III: Birth of a New Nation and Struggle for Identity (1754-1800)

     

     

    I.                   The Contest for Empire  

     

    Text 108-114

     

    What role do the American colonies play in the struggle for empire between the British and the French?

     

     

    II.                 The Watershed Treaty of Paris  

     

    Text 120-124; Spirit 112-113 (Parkman)

     

    MODERATION

     

    How does the French and Indian War illuminate the differences between the Americans and the British?

     

     

     

    III.              The Cracks widen

     

    Text 126-127 (1st column), 129-136 (1st paragraph)

     

    What amount of taxation is considered reasonable?  Were the colonies acting petulantly in their responses to the Stamp Act?

     

     

     

     

    IV.              Toward Independence

     

    Text 136-139 (top four lines)

     

    Are the various causes of colonial discontent legitimate?

     

     

     

     

     

    V.      The American Revolution: Whose fault is it?

     

    In-Class Debate: Who is more to blame for the deteriorating relationship between the British and her American colonies?

     

     

    VI.              The War against the Redcoats

     

    Text 154-155 (Makers of America – The Loyalists), 156-157 (1/2 1st column)

     

    Can loyalists during the Revolution be considered a persecuted minority?  Why or why not?

     

     

    VII.        Fighting the Revolution

     

    Spirit 164 (Dunmore), 164-165 (Page), 166-167 (Hessian), 168-169 (Grant)

     

                   What role did African-Americans play in the Revolutionary War?

     

     

    VIII.           Revolutionary Diplomacy and the Treaty of Paris part deux

     

     Text 160-161, 166-168; Spirit 172-173 (Adams), 173-174 (Deane)

     

                      Who are the “winners” and “losers” of the American Revolution?

     

     

    IX.        The Heritage of the Revolution

     

    Text 174 – 179 (1/2 2nd column)

     

    What advantages had been gained by independence?  What disadvantages were suffered?

     

     

    X.          Creating a New National Government

     

    Text 179 – 182 (all)

     

    What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the Articles?  What were the governmental achievements of this period?  What ideas and ideals were put into practice during this “Experimental Period”?

     

     

     

    XI.  Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation

     

     

    Text 183-186 (1st paragraph), Spirit 178-179 (Washington), 179-180 (Jefferson)

     

    MODERATION

     

    The text refers to the United States at this time as “The World’s Ugly Duckling”.  In what ways is this phrase accurate?  In what ways is it inaccurate?

     

     

    XII .Drafting the Constitution

     

    Text 186-195 (all)

     

    What specific events led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention?

     

     

     

    XIII-XIV.   The Constitution of the United States

     

     

    Text 197; Spirit 184-186 (Hamilton), 186-187 (Mason), 187-188 (Jefferson)

     

                What are the basic differences between the Articles and the new Constitution?  Why did the Constitution limit the power of the federal government?  According to John Adams, the “Constitution was extorted for a reluctant people by a grinding necessity”.  Explain the meanings of the underlined words.

     

     

    XV. The “Founding Fathers”

     

                 

    Richard Hofstadter, The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It (hereafter cited as APT), chapter 1 (in-class)

     

    What is Hofstadter’s interpretation of the basic motives and guiding principles of the men who drew up the Constitution?

     

     

     

      

    XVI.                   The First Administration

     

    Text 199 – 205

     

    How did the administration use each of its measures to attempt to solve a pressing problem of national importance?  Taken together, did they constitute a political program designed to unite the new country?

     

     

     

    XVII.                The Rise of Political Parties

     

     

    Text 205-206; Spirit 206-211, 211-213, 213-214 (Hamilton v Jefferson)

     

    MODERATION

     

    What caused a party system to evolve in America?  How closely did the Federalists and Jeffersonians resemble modern parties?  Did Hamilton’s and Jefferson’s differences over funding the debt reveal any basic disagreements over philosophy of government?

     

     

     

    XVIII.             Foreign Affairs of the New Nation

     

    Text 206-207; 210-213 (middle of 2nd column)

     

    What were the key problems of American diplomats during this period?  All things considered, were the Americans successful in dealing with foreign powers at this time? 

     

     

     

    XIX.             John Adams as President

     

    Text 213-219; Spirit 226-227 (Pickering), 227-228 (Madison)

     

    Are the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions reasonable responses to perceived abuse by the national government?  What other topic will be argued in the future using this precedent?

     

     

     

     

     

    XX.                The Revolution of 1800

     

    Text 219-221; 224-226 (all), 228, Spirit 231-232 ( Federalist newspaper excerpts)

     

    What was revolutionary about the Revolution of 1800?

       
Last Modified on July 11, 2016