Am Hist quiz 2
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- Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
- Patrick Henry’s speech came at a time when tension between Britain and the American colonies were at a peak. Over the fifteen years prior to his speech, Britain had been continuously trying to put controls on the colonies. Controls and Taxes such as the Sugar Act, The Currency Act, The Stamp Act, and The Townshend Acts all led to stress to relationship between them even though some of the acts were later repealed. After the Tea Act, Quartering Act (new version reinstated) and The Coercive Acts (Intelerable acts) took affect in 1773 and 1774, many started to believe that the British control was becoming overwhelmingly unbearable. At the 2nd Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry gave the “Liberty or Death Speech†to help rally support for raising a militia and defying the British. In the speech, Patrick says that in the past Britain has continued to try to control the colonies more. He says that they will not stop. He compares the restrictions on the colonies to slavery and says that things will get worse. He also says that there is no way around the impending war and says the war has already, in a sense, begun. Henry’s spirited speech helped gain support for himself and the American Revolution.
- The Declaration Of Independence
- The Declaration of Independence was written in the midst of the revolutionary war. It had been over a year since the first shots of the war had taken place on April 19, 1975. Many major battles had already taken place and intensity continued to escalate. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed a resolution calling for America to formally declare its independence from Britain. On June 11, the continental congress appoints a committee to draft to draft The Declaration of Independence. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Livingston and Roger Sherman. The committee appointed Thomas Jefferson to draft the first copy of the document. He finishes in one day and seventeen days later on June 28, the Declaration is presented to congress. On July 4, congress formally endorses the document. The Declaration of Independence states that men are granted by their creator certain unalienable rights, such as, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It explains that if these rights are infringed by a government, man has the right to alter or abolish that government and institute a new government. It also lists things the king has done to infringe upon their rights, such as, restricting their trade and forcing them to quarter troops. It finally states that the colonies are free and independent of Britain. The Declaration of Independence formally separated the colonies from Britain and declared the colonies as a free, united body.
- The Paris Peace Treaty
- General Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown in the fall of 1781 ending the Revolutionary War, but small skirmishes between the two sides continued on for two more years. In 1783, George III issued his Proclamation of Cessation of Hostilities. Peace talks were held in Paris and a treaty was drafted. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay represented and signed the treaty for the United States. Richard Oswald represented England and David Hartley signed. The document formally ended the Revolutionary War. The treaty also established that the United States was officially recognized, decided U. S. boundries, decided fishing rights, restored rights and property of loyalists, opened up Missipi River to citizens of both nations and provided safe evacuation of British troops.
- Bill of Rights
- The constitution was constructed to replace the Articles of confederation and form a more powerful national government. When the constitution was ratified, delegates of state legislators wanted a Bill of rights. The federalists supported a bill of rights and ensured that it would be constructed. They wanted a bill of rights so that governments power was restricted and could not infringe on necessary right given to the people. The anti-federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, were against the Bill of rights because they thought that those would be the only rights ensured. After the constitution was ratified, the first U.S. congress decided to draft the Bill of Rights. The task was left to James Madison. Madison based his Bill of rights on George Mason’s earlier work on the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The document included Freedom of speech, Right to bare arms, no cruel and unusual punish, trial by Jury and right to speedy trial. The document also stated that the rights included were not the only rights, which was important to the anti-federalists. It originally had 12 amendments but only 10 were passed. The Bill of Rights became law on December 17, 1791. It ensured basic rights to the people and appeased people that thought that the constitution gave too much power to the government.
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What is an American?
J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur - After the Revolutionary war many people immigrated to the U. S. from Europe to find Political Freedom, religious freedom and to escape poverty. J. Hector St. Juhn de Crevecoeur writes “What is an American?†to tell the plight of many immigrants that have came to the united states seeking a better life. He explains that he has little attachment to his former country where he had nothing and had to work hard for little reward. He explains that in their old country, many immigrants worked to barely feed themselves. He also explains that how an American is a former european looking for a better life. He points out that America is a mixture of many different cultures of Europe. He talks about how his life has changed since moving to America and how people should love this country much more than their old one. This piece shows the feelings of many immigrants who found a better life in America.
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Dairy of a Surgeon
Albigence Waldo - This piece is written in the middle of the Revolutionary War. It is a diary of a surgeon written in the winter of 1777. The weather is getting could and conditions are worsening. He tells how the army is traveling around and he is sick. There is low supplies and meager shelter. His motivation for these entries is mostly to report the poor conditions the soldiers have to face.
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Article 6
Constitutional Congress - The Constitution was being written to replace the Articles of Confederation and make a more powerful government. Under the articles of confederation, the government had little to know say in policy and could not tax. The constitution gave the government the power they needed to ensure our safety and freedom. Article 6 of the constitution says that the laws of the national government are the laws of the land. This makes the constitution applicable in all states no matter what state legislators say. It also states that any debts that were in place before the constitution are still in place.
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Treaty with the delawares
1778 - Written during the Revolutionary War. America wanted to align themselves with the delawares to help with the war. The document said that any bad blood between the two parties be forgotten. Says that an going friendship should stay in place. Says that Both should help each other in anyway they could against the british. This document solidified the alliance between the US and the delawares and helped the US in the revolution.. Said that US wouldt take their land.
- Thomas Jefferson’s second inaugural address
- This speech comes after Jefferson wins his second election. This was the first year that the VP was elected separately from president via the 12th amendment. Also, the U.S. had purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803 from France. In his speech, Jefferson explains his reasons for obtaining the territory. He says that gaining the territory will help add security to the lands east of the Mississippi and will allow expansion of the U.S. west. Jefferson also discusses the Native Americans and how he wants to continue educating them on the “American Culture†and beliefs. This speech lets people know his plans for his second term and explain some of the governments past actions.
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Lewis and Clark Journals
Clark, Ordway, Gass, Whitehouse - America purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803. Jefferson wanted to explore the territory and named Capt. Meriwether to head the operation. Meriwether select Willaim Lewis to help command the expedition. The purpose of the expedition was to explore the land west of the Mississippi, and find a passage to the Pacific. In their journal passages, they discussed how they were traveling, the weather, the terrain and who they encountered on their journey. The expedition helped explore the Western U.S. and made the idea of western expansion more probable.