American History Chapter 6

Inquizitive Chapter 6 1. Match the trailblazer from this period with his or her correct description. Answer: - Hannah Snell : this woman joined the British army in 1745 disguised as a man; later she was awarded a soldier’s pension. - Lemuel Haynes : this veteran of the Massachusetts militia and noted preacher was an early proponent of extending freedom and equality to people of African heritage. - Phillis Wheatley : the poetic talents of this woman challenged the idea that black freedom was not a birthright. 2. In what ways did the expansion of the definition of liberty and the proliferation of democratic practices change religious practice in the early U.S? Answer: - Democratic liberty challenged the traditional authority of some religious traditions. - The disestablishment of state-sponsored churches allowed for the proliferation of religious denominations. 3. Identify why Jefferson’s assertion in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” was viewed as a radical principle. Answer: - In Britain and in the colonies, the conventional belief was that wellordered society depended on obedience to authority. - It implied liberties were entitlements (rights people are entitled to by virtue of being born), rather than privileges earned through social status, familial ties, wealth, or property ownership. 4. What were some of the biggest obstacles to the enactment of widespread abolition during the early years of the republic? Answer: - Some argued that slavery was necessary and brought the economic prosperity that would allow true freedom for Whites. - Slavery was an old, established institution that existed in every colony. 5. Identify how requirements for voting and officeholding changed after the Revolution. Answer: - Many new constitutions reflected the view that voting was an entitlement, not a privilege for only those who owned land. - Southern stat legislators changed few property requirements in order to preserve the landed gentrys control over political affairs. 6. The distinction between the northern economy and southern economy declined with the disappearance of indentured servitude from the U.S Answer: FALSE. 7. Fill in the blanks to complete the passage describing religion and public morality. Answer: Many members of the founding generation, like Thomas Jefferson, were DEISTS. Though they thought religion was fundamental to the establishment of public morality, they believed in a just God that WOULD NOT intervene in the earthy world of man. The beliefs of the founders with regard to religion had much to do with influences of the ENLIGHTENMENT upon their thinking. 8. Read the excerpt from Abigail Adams’s letter to John Adams, Braintree, Mass. Which of the following statements are true regarding her message to her husband? Answer: - Abigail suggests that women will not obey a new Code of Laws that does not give women fair representation. - Abigail Adams asked her husband to ensure women were empowered under the new laws. 9. Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence describing the founders’ principles of freedom. Answer: As the founders saw it, freedom in a republic was so closely tied to the VIRTUE of its citizens, that many leaders of the Revolution felt the need to ESTABLISH FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS so every citizen could be prepared to VOTE AND GOVERN. 10.Identify the statements that describe free black communities in the postrevolutionary period. Answer: - They offered aid and comfort to escaping slaves. - They challenged the logic and consistency of slavery in a democratic republic. 11.Identify the statements that describe Loyalists in the American South. Answer: - Loyalists were joined by numerous slaves in their siding with the crown. - In the American South, divisions between loyalists and patriots tended to take on a class-based dynamic. 12.The Revolutionary War is often thought of as a conflict between Great Britain and one of its colonies. Identify some other perspectives that can help us better understand the conflict. Answer: - The Revolutionary War was an international conflict because it involved France and native nations in addition to Great Britain and its colony. - The Revolutionary War was a civil war, in a sense, because it pitted neighbor against neighbor. 13.What were some ways that African Americans attempted to secure freedom during the Revolutionary period? Answer: - African Americans created and presented freedom petitions. - Many black writers appealed to the Revolutions ideology of liberty to argue for their own rights. - African Americans attempted to pass as freeborn blacks. 14.Complete the following passage about the relationship between church and state during the revolutionary era. Answer: Jefferson, like many members of the founding generation, wanted to make sure there was a “WALL OF SEPARATION” between church and state. During the early years of the republic, many states DISESTABLISHED their churches, meaning they REMOVED their public funds and special legal privileges. 15.Complete the following passage about the spread of democratic ideas in the late 18th century. Answer: The LOCAL MILITIA was among the first institutions t embrace democratic ideals and put them into practice. Its member elected their own leaders, completely ignoring the age and property qualifications commonly associated with officeholding. 16.Identify the statements that describe the most common ways for enslaved African Americans to acquire their freedom in the post-revolutionary era. Answer: - Attempt to escape their place of enslavement by running away. - Voluntary emancipations by slaveowners. 17.Identify the radically democratic elements of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1776. Answer: - The establishments of a one-house legislature. - The abolition of property requirements for suffrage. - The abolition of the governor’s office. 18.Identify the statements that were true of democracy in the 18th century context. Answer: - Democracy meant, in general that government should serve the needs of the people as a whole and bring greater equality in political participation. - Democracy was feared by some who associated it with mob rule. - Democracy had several meanings, some derived from ancient intellectuals. 19.On which of the following events did the American Revolution and its success have an important ideological and political influence? Answer: - The French Revolution. - Latin American wars for independence in the early 19th century. 20.How did the Revolution affect religious freedom according to Dr. Foner? Answer: - There was a clear separation of church and state. - It expanded religious freedom, with some states passing laws for religious tolerance. - The Constitution did not include religious requirements for voting or holding office. 21.Landownership was important for social mobility and political standing during the early republic. Identify the reason for this. Answer: - Many states still had property ownership qualifications for voting. 22.Read the following excerpt from the 1773 and 1777 Petitions of Slaves to the Massachusetts Legislature. Identify the statements that are correct. Answer: - The petitioners refer to the natural rights endowed by God mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. - The petitioners question the Christian practice of slaveowners who treat then poorly. - The petitioners describe themselves as having lived in civilized conditions in Africa. 23.Identify the statements that characterize the principles of Christian Republicanism. Answer: - It viewed the American Revolution as being the result of God’s plan. - It held that personal virtue was central to the creation of a healthy society. 24.Identify the statements that were true of slavery- both the concept and the practice- in the post-revolutionary period. Answer: - Some members of the founding generation argued that liberty for whites was possible only because of the enslavement of blacks. - Most founders owned slaves, even though they promoted the concept of liberty and equality as natural entitlements. - Revolutionaries used the word “slavery” to describe the denial of personal and political rights by a tyrannical government. - Many ex-slaves began life anew as free persons in Nova Scotia and England.