James Lowen's main thesis? Concepts used to support thesis?
Students are not enthusiastic
What myths exist regarding Christopher Columbus' several voyages to the Bahamas and surrounding islands?
He treated Natives terribly. Killing and enslaving them.
How did the British Empire choose to pursue colonization? What were the two basic types of British colonies? what was this basic structure of government in each colony?
Farming and commerce, constant supply of people
What was the relationship between colonists and Native Americans in the various colonies and settlements
Relationship was slightly hostile in the beginning
What economies developed throughout the colonies and in what ways did the economies affect the future development of colonial America?
North - Commerce, South - tobacco (cash crops)
How did slavery develop in colonies? How did that development affect the class and race structure of colonial America?
It thrived in the southern colonies. It increased racism. Georgia at one point had more slaves than freed meni
What are the various aspects of US political culture today? How did they develop in America?
Rich plantation land owners in south, in the north, people who came from little wealth. Commerce and farming
What were the various issues that caused conflict between the colonists and the British government from 1763-1775? How did each side respond to those issues? How did these responses lead to and foreshadow the coming rebellion?
Stamp Acts, there were various boycotts. Boycotts showed American willingness to resist.
What was the constitutional issue that framed the colonial response to various British laws? Why did the colonists believe there was a conspiracy against their liberty?
No taxation without representation. They thought that they were becoming enslaved, their rights were being restricted.
What occurred during the battles of Lexington and Concord?
British planned to come into Lexington to take out weapons stockpile. Confrontation on the way there. Guerrilla warfare all the way back to the bay.
What actions did the Second Continental Congress take?
Continental Army
What was the condition of the US military at the beginning of the war?
Terrible
What were the various reasons that the US was able to defeat the British in the War for Independence
They had a right: liberty
In what ways was the American Revolution considered a revolution?
American idealism changed: Republicanism
What was the concept of republicanism? How was it embodied in the new republic?
Small weak limited Government, morality, civic participation, education. Embodied in Articles of Confederation
What were the various failures of the Articles of Confrontation?
Individual government. The State government had too much power and they were starting to split apart.
What was the financial situation of the new republic under the Articles of Confederation?
High inflation