Study Q's for 11/23

1) What was the 1st constitution? What powers did it give the government?-It was called the Articles of Confederation. 

-It was a collaboration between all thirteen colonies to create unified friendship. 

-Most ratified the Articles  in the first year or two, minus South Carolina who held out. 

-It gave the government power to raise an army, but NOT collect taxes. This is a major WTF point because how is a government supposed to support an army w/out money? 

-The States were not supposed to have armies or foreign relations. 

------However, the States had standing militias AND foreign relations. All the states would break the rules set down, but Congress did not have the power punish them.

2) What was the paradox of the war (at least from Britain's point of view)?
-The British had just fought a war (F&I) for themselves, but mainly for the colonies

----------But the colonies were protesting the same taxes that other people (in Britain) had to pay

-Paradox= The British win and they receive a country that is hard to control and a drain on resources. Loose, they only hurt their pride and loose a troublesome country

3) What was Washington's main strength as a commander? Why did he win the war?
-Strategist

-Ideal commander because he realized how to win the war: he must only hold out and keep his army alive (not get annihilated) to win against the British.

4) What were the four points of the Peace of Paris - as laid out by John Adams?
-Outright independence for the U.S.A, withdrawal of all British troops

-Canada to remain British and a definitive boundary to be drawn

-Agreement on the boundaries of all Thirteen States

-Freedom for fishing off Newfoundland (the 1st international fisheries agreement)

5) Why did slavery increase during the revolution? 
-No mention of freedom was made in the Declaration

6) Who were the big losers of the war (name three)? List what they lost and explain why they are the biggest losers.
-French
    -Lost $ helping colonists
           -Now in great debt/ Debt&Bankers credit ruined
    -Inspired the French Revolution
           -Ultimately failed
    -Aristocrats who gave money lost money
-Natives
    -Sir William Johnson, Native/British agent, died and essentially brought an end to the alliance
    -They sided w/ the British so they lost
    -Britain abandoned them (were not mentioned in the Treaty of Paris)
-Loyalists
   -Sided w/ losing team
           -Lost houses, estates
   -Lacked leaders


7) What happened to the Loyalists in America after the war?
  -Went to Canada or Britain
  -Kept quiet on their views and afterwards led quiet lives, for the most part
  -Lost 


8) What were the most important battles of the war? Why do you think they are the most important? (Note battles is plural).
  -Yorktown
     -Battle that essentially ended the war
     -Victory for Americans
     -Major naval help from France
  -Quebec
    -British victory
    -Both sides lost generals; Howe from British, Montgomery from American
  -Lexington & Concord
     -American Victory
     -1st battle of war
     -Showed the British the colonist were willing to fight
  -Bunker Hill
     -British victory
  -Fort Ticonderoga
     -British victory
     -America had got the Ft. a year or so ago, lost it, and were attempting to get it back
  -Saratoga
    -American victory
    -Major turning point in war


9) List at least five reasons why the Americans won.
  -Had George Washington as  a leader
    -understood how to win war
  -Fighting for their home and land
    -more value
  -Most British did not care and thus sentiment back home was not in line with winning the war
  -Britain had to send supplies and men across the ocean, while Americans did not
  -American's received a lot of French Aid
    -partially due to B. Franklin, whom the French loved

12) Why did the British strategy for the war make little sense?
-Little unity or communication among plans 
-They captured Philadelphia in hopes in would crush the spirit of Americans
   -Did not realize that all the different states were not as unified as expected
 -Lord George Germaine, who had no military gifts, was put in charge of the war 


13) How did the British fail to win the war in 1776? Who was the General in charge?
  -They allowed George W. & the continental army to escape through Manhattan and retreat into New Jersey
  -General Howe was in charge of the British, General Washington the Americans