APUSH 2.06
Making connections is a critical component for historians to help them understand the events that have taken place. In this essay, I’m going to compare the similarities between three groups and how they relate to a certain history theme. Each term within each group relates to a particular theme, however, eventually each term will connect to one theme overall.
The colonial legislatures, the First Great Awakening, the term “Patriots”, and the Preamble to the U.S Constitution all relate to the historical theme of Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture. To begin with, the colonial legislatures were a legislative system that consisted of an assembly and a council that controlled the decision of taxes. The colonial legislatures were developed
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To begin with, the colonial legislatures, the First Great Awakening, the term “Patriots”, the Preamble to the United States Constitution, the Second Continental Congress and the Daughters of Liberty unified the American citizens during the political transition to independence. As the people of the Americas became more unified, a sense of patriotism was developed towards the United States. Second, when the Albany Plan of Union, the Proclamation of 1763, and the Intolerable Acts were created, it was the pivotal point for which the colonists realized they wanted power within their own hands. They began to fight for independence from Great Britain, which created patriotism towards the United States because they were fighting to create their own country. Next, John Locke, the abolition of slavery, and states’ rights are terms that reflect the movements that challenged people to question the government. With a question, there is always two sides; which is the root for debate. If you have people questioning the government debating with people aren’t questioning the government, it’s increasing the patriotism within those who aren’t questioning the government. For those who agree with the government, the debate can be a renewal of their pride within the country because they are reminded why they choose to support their country. Each of these terms relate to the history theme of Identity because they each helped shape the character of patriotism that rests within the citizens of the United
Question 1: Based on what is know of the colonies and their self-government, why would written constitutions and representative government appeal to state citizens and the Founding Fathers? The written constitution appealed to the founding fathers because they understood for the new nation to be successful the nation would essentially need a set of rules. As for why representative government appealed to the people is because of past experiences. The colonies has no representation in parliament and this would also be one of the reasons the colonies would want to break away from England.
Oppressive actions such as the Boston Massacre heavily shook the general public’s view of their British rulers. Unfair policies such as the Stamp Act, in which colonists were forced to pay taxes on almost all paper goods, further agitated unrest in the colonies. If it wasn’t for a mix of oppressive actions and overbearing policies, the Revolution likely would not have gained enough traction to sway the views of the general public, and likely Thomas Jefferson would not have had enough support to write the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson not only used the Declaration of Independence to announce the United States secession from the British Empire, but he also used it to express all of the injustices he saw against colonist’s natural
The Virginia colony differed from their native land New England, in many different aspects. The Virginia colony had slightly different views on government, religion and society. The colonist were members of the Anglican faith (a tradition within Christianity comprising the Church of England and churches which are historically tied to it or hold similar beliefs, worship practices and church structures). Which is the official Church of England.
Enlightenment ideals spreading through exchanges, popularised new concepts of divine rights, republican ideologies, and the rejection of inherited authority such as a monarch. Political activists such as the radical Patriot and member of the Sons of Liberty Samuel Adams began speaking to the people these new radical ideas feeling that men were free and that therefore they were not subjects of any king. Patriots such Samuel Adams in an effort to rally the American people applied Enlightenment ideas in an effort to support the growing independence movement. Ideas than can be simplified to the statement that “all people have the right to life liberty and the pursuit of property” later penned in the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Paine in the American Crisis further shows these radical ideals through his strong use of diction calling for independence from britain(Doc 7).
Over the course of American history, society has dealt with many flaws, and dilemmas. In Source B, it illustrates that Abigail Adams, John’s wife, wanted the Continental Congress to remember the ladies when they write The Declaration of Independence. In Source C, it rationalizes how slaves didn’t have equal rights as white men, and the petition is trying to give their natural rights back. Furthermore, in Source D, a miniseries that depicted John Adams life, given particular the Revolutionary War. This source allows the viewer to visualize the conflicts that the Continental Congress had, with the colonists, and the British.
Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested (Paine, 1776)”. Thomas Paine disagrees with the British government and the way they handling business he encouraged Americas to declare their independence. The Declaration of independence was a documented created by Thomas Jefferson that announced the split from the colonies and Great Britain, it. The Declaration of Independence states “we hold these…all men are created equal...with certain unalienable rights...that when any form of government becomes destructive... It is the right of the people to alter or abolish it (Jefferson, 1776)”.
While it is obvious that our modern country is nothing like it was in 1776, is the growth we have experienced living up to the goals and ideals the Founding Fathers had for us? There is clearly two sides to this dilemma. Some say that our country is not the exact same but, that it is for the better, our country has grown in ways the Founding Fathers could have never predicted. Although this growth could have been unfathomable for our original founders, it is the growth we needed to progress and overall, positive for our country as a whole. Our growth is still in line with the values and ideas of the Founders.
Documents of 1776 The Revolutionary War began as a result of gradual tensions that involved wealthy and the “common people”. The wealthy elite were in positions of power within the government due to the fact that they owned more land than other colonists did. The reason why this occurs can be summed up from a gentry man himself. According to document number two involving John Adams, he states that “power always follows property”.
On one hand the fledgling government strived to apply considerably fair republican and Enlightenment ideas to the new system. Through this strong belief in the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, the colonists were able to unite and connect under one American identity. No longer did they identify with the despicable British, the colonists were now free, American men ready to reap , as stated in Document B, “the sweets of independence.” People were ready for the new promise of equality, with no all-powerful aristocracy or church to govern the day to day lives of the common. For example, Document D describes the freedom of religion in Virginia and thus showing a moderate progression toward the separation of church and state.
The founding fathers were smart men who the world looked up to because of their smart decisions, actions, that directed the U.S. to what it is today. But sadly in today’s society most people either have forgotten the things they did for us, or they just do not care. The founding fathers were great men who led this country to victory in war and on the political front. And often early U.S. history is portrayed as moving smoothly for the colonies turning into the a country of its own , but in reality it was just the opposite. George Washington our first president had problems figuring out ways to control the new nation as it progressed under his leadership.
The delegation of New Jersey understands that the preamble is an introduction to a document. One of the most important documents of the United States contains a preamble. The preamble of the constitution states many important terms that have influenced our state and America in general. The preamble started off with the phrase “We the people of the United States” which back then only referred to white male from the colonies; but today it represents all Americans no matter gender or race. In the preamble it also states that in order to form a better country that we should work together with the other states.
We all know that American is the gradated country in the would and we also agree that there were numerous contrasts between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. However, the Articles of confederation were affirmed by congress on 1777, but their formal adoption was not achieved until 1781. It was an unassuming endeavor by another nation to unite itself and structure a national government. The Articles set up a Confederation that gave the majority of the ability to the states. Numerous issues emerged thus another Constitution was composed in 1787 in independence Hall.
The Constitution—the foundation of the American government—has been quintessential for the lives of the American people for over 200 years. Without this document America today would not have basic human rights, such as those stated in the Bill of Rights, which includes freedom of speech and religion. To some, the Constitution was an embodiment of the American Revolution, yet others believe that it was a betrayal of the Revolution. I personally believe that the Constitution did betray the Revolution because it did not live up to the ideals of the Revolution, and the views of the Anti-Federalists most closely embodied the “Spirit of ‘76.” During the midst of the American Revolution, authors and politicians of important documents, pamphlets, and slogans spread the basis for Revolutionary ideals and defined what is known as the “Spirit of ‘76”.
The Constitution is better than the Articles of Confederation because the Articles of Confederation had many weaknesses. The Articles did not give Congress the power to place tariffs on foreign goods, hurting American businesses that could not compete with cheaper British goods. The U.S. government had no chief executive so there was no one to enforce the laws that were passed. The new Constitution addressed many of the problems created by the Articles by creating a federal system of government with a much more powerful national government. The Constitution made a stronger Federal government that could unite the States, taking many of the powers held by the States: the right to tax, the right to raise armies, the right to regulate trade and
The Declaration Of Independence was an image all colonists wanted to live up to. They wanted all men equal, and the government to be fair. The American Revolution was a political upheaval that took place between 1765 and 1783.The Declaration stated all of this and the colonists said it would be. After securing enough votes for the passage, independence was voted for on July 2nd. The Declaration Of Independence, drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson, marked the formation of a new sovereign nation, which called itself the United States Of America.