Unit 2: American Revolution – A New Government
Standards
Vocabulary
1. Stamp Act
2. Intolerable Acts
3. Common Sense
4. Valley Forge
5. Proclamation of
1763
6. Treaty of Paris,
1783
7. Sons of Liberty
8. Daughters of
Liberty
9. Committees of
Correspondence
10. Articles of
Confederation
11. Shays’ Rebellion
12. Federalist
13. Antifederalist
14. Checks and
Balances
15. Great
Compromise
16. Separation of
Powers
17. Bill of Rights
18. Whiskey
Rebellion
19. Faction
20. Limited
Government
SSUSH3 The student will explain the primary causes of the American Revolution.
b. Explain colonial response to such British actions such as the Proclamation of 1763,
Stamp Act, and the Intolerable Acts as seen in Sons and Daughters of Liberty and
Committees of Correspondence. (pg. 100-103)
c. Explain the importance of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense to the movement for
independence. (pg. 111-112)
SSUSH4 The student will identify the ideological, military, and diplomatic
aspects of the American Revolution.
a. Explain the language, organization, and intellectual sources including the writing
of John Locke and Montesquieu of the Declaration of Independence and the role
of Thomas Jefferson. (pg. 112)
b. Explain the reason for and significance of the French alliance and foreign
assistance and the roles of Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette. (pg.
120)
c.
Analyze George Washington as a military leader, including the creation of a
professional military and the life of a common soldier, crossing the Delaware
River, and Valley Forge. (pg. 109,118)
d. Explain the role of geography at the Battle of Yorktown, the role of Lord
Cornwallis, and the Treaty of Paris (pg. 124,125)
SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought
about the adoption and implementation of the United States Constitution.
a. Explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays’
Rebellion led to a call for a stronger central government. (pg. 140-141)
a. Evaluate the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the
debate on ratification of (pg. 151-152, 143) the Constitution as put forth in The
Federalists Papers concerning form of government, factions, checks and
balances, and the power of the executive, including the roles of Alexander
Hamilton and James Madison.
b. Explain the key features of the Constitution, specifically the Great Compromise,
separation of powers, limited government, and the issue of slavery. (pg. 146148)
c.
Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of individual and states’
rights. (pg. 153)
d. Explain the importance of the Presidencies of George Washington and John
Adams, including the Whiskey Rebellion, non-intervention in Europe, and the
development of political parties (Alexander Hamilton). (pg. 195-197, 202-203)
Important People
Sam Adams
John Locke
Patrick Henry
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Paine
Baron de Montesquieu
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton
Marquis de Lafayette Daniel Shays
Lord Cornwallis
James Madison
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Unit 2: American Revolution – A New Government
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Why did the British levy more taxes against the Colonists? What policy did this end?
What was the colonists’ argument against taxation by the British?
Explain the importance of the Stamp Act. What colonial group was formed in response to the Stamp Act?
What were the Townshend Acts? What was the colonial response to the Townshend Acts?
Explain the Boston Massacre (who, what, why, when). What group was formed as a result of the Boston Massacre?
What was the Tea Act? What was the colonial response to the Tea Act?
What was the British government’s response to the Boston Tea Party? What did the colonists call these Acts? What colony was
Britain punishing with these acts? Why? What were three parts of these Acts? What group was formed as a result of these
acts?
What group was formed after the Battles of Lexington and Concord? Who was named commander of the Continental Army?
What was Paine’s goal in writing Common Sense? What arguments did he use to help the cause for independence?
Name two philosophers whose ideas influenced the Declaration of Independence. What philosophical movement were they
part of? What was the goal of the movement?
What is the “Social Contract Theory”? What are three ideas about government according to John Locke?
What does Baron de Montesquieu say about government?
What group signed the Declaration of Independence? When? Where? What were the signers risking? Who was the primary
author of the D of I? What was the basis of his political ideas?
What was the purpose of the D of I as stated in the preamble? List two political ideas found in the second paragraph.
List 3 specific complaints about the king. Whose signature is largest on the D of I?
Who was the Marquis de Lafayette? What role did he play in the Revolution?
After what battle did the French join in the fighting? On whose side did they fight? Why? Who helped convince the French to
join the Patriots?
Why were some colonists Loyalists? What groups supported the Loyalists? Why?
What is considered the first battle of the Revolution? The turning point battle? The last battle?
What is the significance of the Battle of Trenton? Valley Forge?
How did geography impact the Battle of Yorktown? Who was Lord Cornwallis? What happened at Yorktown?
What was the result of the Treaty of Paris, 1783?
What were the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation? Did the states or the national government have more
power under the Articles? Why did Daniel Shay lead a rebellion? Against whom did he lead the Rebellion? How did
Shay’s Rebellion show that a strong central government was needed?
What was the Constitutional Convention? Why was it held? Where was it held?
What kind of people were Anti-federalists? They believed who should have the power in government? What were
their arguments against ratification of the Constitution?
What kind of people were Federalists? Who did they believe should have the power in government? What were
their arguments for ratifying the Constitution without the Bill of Rights?
How many branches of government exist under the Constitution? What are they? What person/ group is associated
with each branch?
What in the Constitution divides power between the three branches of government? What keeps one branch of
government from becoming stronger that another?
What was the Virginia Plan? What group of states favored it? Why?
What was the New Jersey Plan? What group of states favored it? Why?
What was the Great (Connecticut) Compromise? What are the parts of it? How is representation in the House of
Representatives determined? How is representation in the Senate determined?
What was the 3/5 Compromise? Slave-Trade Compromise? What group of people did both compromises discuss?
What does the Constitution say about slavery?
What were the three areas of conflict at the Constitutional Convention? Who was arguing? What were they arguing
about? How were the arguments resolved?
What was added to the Constitution to gain Anti-federalist support? Why?
Who does the Bill of Rights protect? How?
What did the Whiskey Rebellion demonstrate about the power of the government under the Constitution? What
precedents did George Washington establish as President? In his farewell address, what did Washington say about
political parties and foreign alliances?
What kind of government did Alexander Hamilton favor? What kind of people supported Hamilton? What were they
called? List the parts of Hamilton’s financial plan.
What kind of government did Thomas Jefferson favor? What kind of people supported Jefferson? What were they
called? What developed as a result of the differences between Hamilton and Jefferson?
What was the XZY Affair? What effect did the XYZ Affair have on foreign relations? What were the Alien and Sedition
Acts?