1st Semester Final Review
U.S. History 8
You are responsible to know the significance of the following 6 Dates:
1607 - Jamestown Founded - 1st successful British colony
1620 - Mayflower Compact was signed by Pilgrims (first self gov’t in the new world
1776 - Declaration of Independence was signed
1787 - Constitution Written at the Constitutional Convention
1803 – Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S.
1861-1865 – war fought over slavery and states’ rights between the North and the South – Civil War
What is the difference between a Primary and Secondary Source?
Primary – 1st hand account by someone who experienced event. Example: Diary, Journal, photograph, documents,
Secondary – A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps
removed from the event. Examples of secondary sources include:
Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias
Define the term BIAS... A bias is a prejudice, usually having preference towards a particular point of view…a
preference or inclination to feel a certain way.
List 3 Reasons for Colonization and organize them into
Political, Economic, and Social Reasons. GOLD, GOD, and GLORY
Gold – Economic
God – Social
Glory - Political
13 Colonies
 List the 1st Successful colony and where it was located?
Jamestown, Virginia
 Put the 13 colonies into their correct colonial region…
New England: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island.
Middle: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware
Southern: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
 List the geographic characteristics (climate & soil conditions) of the 13 Colonies:
New England – Cold and Rocky soil.
Middle – Mild and fertile soil.
Southern colonies – Warm and fertile soil.
 List the Economic Activities of Each of the 13 Colonies:
New England – fishing, whaling, shipbuilding, lots of Trade (Triangular Trade)
Middle – farming…nicknamed “bread basket” colony wheat, barley, rye, and oats…remember Quaker Oatmeal
??? 
Southern – farming…small farms and plantations. Tobacco, rice, and Indigo
 What are surplus crops or cash crops and which colony produced them? Excess crops to be sold for
money…sometimes grains grown in Middle and southern colonies
 List the Colonies that were founded for Religious reasons and the specific religious groups that founded the
colony…
Massachusetts: Pilgrims and Puritans
Pennsylvania: Quakers
Maryland: Catholics
Rhode Island & Connecticut: founded by those who were persecuted and excommunicated from
Massachusetts by Puritans. ROGER WILLIAMS AND ANNE HUTCHISON
Why did they leave England? Religious Persecution
Which groups left because of religious persecution? Pilgrims
Puritans, and Catholics.
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Explain what Representative Gov’t is…when people have the right to elect others to represent them in
government
Who could vote in the 13 Colonies? White Males who owned property.
List the Significance of these important Foundations of Representative Government – List the group
who formed these “roots of representative gov’t”
Magna Carta 1215 – limited the king’s power and gave English noble men the right to a trial by jury.
English Bill of Rights 1689 -Protected the rights of individuals and gave anyone the right to a trial by jury. Did
away with the supreme power of the monarchy and required approval of parliament to raise taxes or an army.
Mayflower Compact 1620 The document signed by male Pilgrims to establish self-government for the good of the
community.
Virginia House of Burgesses – First representative assembly in the colonies
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut – plan of gov’t in Connecticut that expanded the idea of representative gov’t
General Court – Adult male Puritan church members only Allowed to participate in this self governing body. Each
town elected representatives to Massachusetts’ general assembly.
Common Sense - Persuaded ordinary people in the colonies to support independence. Pamphlet (handout) written
by Thomas Paine
Declaration of Independence 1776 – written by Thomas Jefferson to state the grievances against King George the
III and parliament. Explains the reasons for separation (grievances)from England and cites the ideas of
unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness as rights that cannot be taken away. Ideas taken
from
Enlightenment thinkers John Locke AND Montesquieu
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British Economic Policies – Explain Mercantilism and how it benefited the British and frustrated the
colonist. An Economic theory that states that the mother country should strictly control the trade of the baby
colony to benefit itself. The colonist resented the idea and wanted the freedom to trade with whomever they
choose.
Triangular Trade…which region participated in this trade route and how did it operate? New England
Colonies used the triangular trade to get around British policy of Mercantilism. Traded in a triangular pattern
the following items: rum, slaves, and molasses…”RUM FOR THE SlAVES, SLAVES FOR THE SUGAR,
SUGAR FOR THE RUM”
What did the John Peter Zenger Trial establish? Freedom of the Press – the right to criticize the
government.
What was a cause of the 1st Great Awakening? – It was a religious movement that contributed to the spread
of democratic feeling in the colonies…helped colonist stand up for their political rights when leaders began to
violate their liberties (freedoms)
The French and Indian War
Causes: fighting between the French Fur Traders and British settlers over the rich fertile land in the Ohio
River Valley
Effects: British Colonial border expanded to the Mississippi River and the French kicked out of North
America. French lose the war
Who fought in the War (who was on each side) and what were they fighting over? French and Indians
(Algonquin & Hurons) Vs. the British Colonist and Indians (Iroquois.)
What was the Proclamation of 1763 and why was it issued?
Proclamation issued by King George III that stated the colonist could not settle past the Appalachian
Mountains.
To stop the fighting between the Natives and Colonist.
What was the Albany Plan of the Union? A call for the colonies to unite in defense “one general gov’t”
against the French in the F & I war.
Who was the author of “join or die” and what was his message? Benjamin Franklin…if we don’t come
together we will lose the war.
Explain each of the English Acts (Taxes) passed:
Proclamation of 1763 – see above.
Sugar Act 1764 – tax on Molasses
Quartering Act 1765 – required Boston colonist to house and provide basic needs of soldiers.
Stamp Act 1765 – tax on legal documents, newspapers, playing cards and even dice.
Townshend Acts 1767 – taxed goods such a glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea.
Tea Act 1773 – taxed tea and then bypassed tea merchants and sold directly to the colonist.
Intolerable Acts 1774 – Harsh taxes to punish Boston colonist for the Boston Tea party and shut down the port of
Boston to trade. Forbade colonists to hold town meetings without governor’s permission.
Explain what “no taxation without representation” meant?
Colonist protest slogan of British King and Parliament passing laws without the consent of the colonist.
Important Treaties
Treaty of Paris 1763- Ended what war? Ended the French & Indian War kicked French out of North America
Treaty of Paris 1783- Ended what war? ended the Revolutionary
War recognized United States as Independent nation from Great Britain.
Causes and Effects of the American Revolution
Colonial Grievances leading to Declaration of Independence
 Why did the colonist declare independence from Great Britain? List some grievances (formal
complaints or reasons)
Taxing without representation
 List 5 of the founding fathers…George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams,
Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock.
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What is Civic Virtue? – putting personal lives aside for the good of community…ex: signing the Declaration
of Independence (pledging lives, fortunes, and sacred honor) and serving on Continental Congress without
pay.
Important People
Abigail Adams – wife of John Adams who advised him through letters. Said, “Remember the Ladies” First
woman’s rights activist.
Patrick Henry – member of the sons of liberty. Patriot who said “Give me Liberty or Give Me Death”
Samuel Adams – founder of the sons of liberty who organized committees of correspondence. Led the Boston Tea
Party. Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
John Paul Jones – naval hero who said, “I have not yet begun to fight”
Benedict Arnold – America’s first Traitor
Marquis de Lafayette –Frenchman and loyal aide to George Washington. Was in charge of forcing the British
army to surrender at Yorktown using their naval fleet.
Charles Cornwallis – British General
James Oglethorpe – founded the colony of Georgia
Benjamin Franklin – signer of Declaration of Independence
William Penn – founded Pennsylvania – Enlightenment Thinker…”Equality”
George III – King of England
Haym Solomon – polish jew and businessman who made loans to the continental congress to support the American
Revolution.
Thomas Paine – author of Common Sense
John Hancock – president of Continental Congress and signer of the Dec. of Independence
Pocahontas – helped keep the peace between the Jamestown colonists and Powhatten Indians
Paul Revere – Patriot who is famous for his Midnight ride at Lexington and Concord
Phyllis Wheatley – African American Poet during Amer. Rev.
John Peter Zenger – journalist jailed for criticizing gov’t.
George Washington – commander in chief of continental army. Freidrich Von Steuben – helped train the troops at
Valley Forge
Nathan Hale – patriot spy who was hanged. He said, 'I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.'"
John Adams – patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson – wrote the Declaration of Independence
John Smith – helped save the Jamestown colony. Said, “he who does not work shall not eat.”
“Molly Pitchers” – nick name given to women who helped bring water to cool the cannons in Revolutionary War.
Bernardo de Galvez - sent gunpowder, rifles, bullets, blankets, medicine and other supplies to the armies of
General George Washington. Helped drive the British out of the Gulf of Mexico.
Crispus Attucks – 1st African American killed in the name of freedom…sailor who was killed at the Boston
Massacre.
Wentworth Cheswell – rode in Midnight Ride with Paul Revere Revolutionary war veteran who was the first
African American elected to office
Mercy Otis Warren - Revolutionary play write who wrote plays that made fun of British officials.
John Burgoyne – British general who would surrender his troops to the patriots at the Battle of Saratoga
James Armistead – Born into slavery he gathered information for the Patriot cause at the Battle of Yorktown.
Spied on British activities and Gen. Cornwallis.
Important Battles of the American Revolution
Lexington and Concord – “shot heard round the world” 1st battles of the American Revolution
Battle of Bunker Hill – proved the colonists could defend themselves against the British.
Trenton & Princeton – Washington defeats the Hessians by his surprise crossing of the Delaware river at night.
Saratoga – turning point of the war…French would ally with colonist after this success.
Yorktown – last battle of the American Revolution
 Important Events
First Continental Congress – meeting of colonial delegates to discuss taxes…called on formation of colonial
militias…wrote the Olive Branch Petition…called for a boycott of British goods.
Second Continental Congress – wrote Declaration of Independence.
Boston Massacre – colonial protest against British soldiers in Boston.
Boston Tea Party – colonial protest of Tea Act (sons of liberty throw chests of tea overboard in Boston Harbor)
Winter at Valley Forge – winter encampment for American troops, thousands died from exposure, disease and
starvation.
 Important Terms
Political – having to do with government
Social – having to do with people and how they interact
Economic – having to do with money, business, and trade.
Articles of Confederation – 1st attempt at government in colonies…”Wimpy”
Boycott – to refuse to buy… #1 form of colonial protest.
Cash Crop – crop sold for cash.
Subsistance Farming – Farming just enough for survival
Continental Army – colonial army led by George Washington
Common Sense – pamphlet that convinced many colonists to support independence.
Democracy – form of government in which people elect representatives to be their voice.
Great Awakening – religious movement in colonies.
Enlightenment – period of time in 17th & 18th centuries where thinkers turned to reason & science to explain the
world. Famous Enlightenment thinkers…John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu.
Hessians- professional German soldiers sent to fight Colonists in Revolution.
Loyalist – Loyal to Great Britain during American Revolution
Militia – civilian army
Parliament – British law making body
Patriot – supported independence from Great Britain
Grievance/Petition – a formal complaint
Pilgrims – religious group who settled at Plymouth colony.
Propaganda – information used to persuade opinions for a cause. (Example: Boston Massacre…Paul Revere’s
picture)
Puritans – religious group who settled Massachusetts Bay.
Quakers – pacifist religious group who settled Pennsylvania
Sons of Liberty – secret society who organized and protested against British (boycotts, riots, articles) formed to
keep colonies informed of events and organize protests Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry…
Unalienable Rights…Rights that cannot be taken away.
What are they? Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Natural Rights that John Locke said we are all born
with.
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List at least 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of the American troops during the Revolution.
Advantages: George Washington chosen as commander, were fighting for independence, (stronger
motivation), fighting with their own weapons. Knew the land…fighting for their homes.
Disadvantages: Lack of supplies and training, no navy, men were not willing to enlist for long periods of time
in Continental Army.
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What country agreed to assist the Americans in the Revolution after the Battle of Saratoga? France
Who convinced them to do so? Benjamin Franklin
Identify the geographical boundaries of the 13 colonies…
Before the RevolutionaryWar?
No settlement past the Appalachian Mtns.
After the RevolutionaryWar?
Now the United States of America with the Mississippi River as the boundary.
The Constitutional Convention
People were afraid of a strong national government after the Revolution?????
Because Americans feared a strong government would lead to tyranny they felt under the British government.
The first “wimpy” Constitution of the national government – the Articles of Confederation
Limitations of the national government under the Articles of Confederation –
- no executive (president) to lead the country and enforce laws
- no power to tax or regulate trade
- no court system to settle disputes between the states
The Northwest Ordinance - provided for future expansion of the United States by describing how a territory
would be governed and admitted into the country as a state.
A major effect of Shays’ Rebellionled the nation’s leaders to believe that the Articles of Confederation were too weak and if the country was to
survive, a stronger national government was needed.
“Father of the Constitution”- James Madison
Kept in depth journal (primary source) of the who, what, when, where and why during the writing of the U.S.
Constitution.
Virginia Plan- Favored by Large States
Bi-Cameral (2 houses)
Based on state population
New Jersey Plan- Favored by Small States
Uni-Cameral (1 house)
1 Vote per state
Great CompromiseSolved the issue of how representation would be decided on in the Legislative Branch.
Bi Cameral (2 Houses) – OUR CONGRESS!!!
1. House of Representatives – representation based on population of State. (Satisfied
Large States)
2. Senate – representation is EQUAL
2 Per State (Satisfied Small states)
3/5 Compromise - addressed the arguments between Northern and Southern states beliefs on how to count
slaves for representative purposes in Congress.
Federalists - for ratification of the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Against Ratification of the Constitution
because they feared the individual liberties (freedoms) would not be protected by the strong National
Government.
Federalist Papers - created by Hamilton, Madison and Jay to explain their viewpoint and counter any
arguments posed by the Anti-Federalists.
Federalists:
George Washington- Yes and No!!! He did not want to pick sides but did support a strong National
Government.
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Anti-Federalists:
Patrick Henry
George Mason
Sam Adams
Constitution
7 Principles: know these definitions!
Bill of Rights: 1st 10 amendments
Civil War Amendments:
13 – Free
14 – Citizens
15 - Vote