Lesson 2: Balancing Liberty and Order
Name_______________________________________________
Textbook Analysis
Directions: Using chapter 2 from your textbook, answer the following questions in COMPLETE
sentences. Using COMPLETE sentences also implies proper punctuation and mechanics. In instances in
which a question asks you to “list” items, complete sentences are not needed.
Chapter 3: An Emerging New Nation (1753-1820) starts on page 104 of the Pathways to the Present
textbook.
1. Why and how did British colonial policies change after 1763?
2. List two “reasons for independence” that are given in the Declaration of Independence?
3. How was foreign aid (aid from other countries) important to the patriot cause during the
Revolution?
4. List three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
5. Describe ONE compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention.
6. Explain the system of Checks and Balances.
7. What was the importance of Hamilton’s Debt Plan
8. Why did Jefferson win the election of 1800?
9. What was the importance of Marbury v. Madison, and the Louisiana Purchase?
10. What were the causes of the War of 1812?
Lesson 2: Balancing Liberty and Order
Name_______________________________________________
1. The British had several reasons for moving away from Salutary Neglect. First, the crown had
incurred a large amount of debt by intervening to help the colonists during the French and Indian
War. Thus, Britain felt it was only fair to tax the colonies to help eliminate that debt. There is
some evidence to suggest that Britain may have ended up taxing the colonies more heavily—even
if there was no French and Indian War.
One other reason was that Britain had hoped to place restrictions on the colonists that would
limit their interaction with Native Americans, hopefully preventing further conflicts.
2. Many of the reasons given for independence came from the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers. One
of the more influential thinkers was John Locke. Locke’s ideas about inalienable rights and the
right to overthrow a government that does not best serve its people were at the center of the
movement for independence.
3. Spanish and, more importantly, French aid was the primary reason the colonists were able to
defeat the British. The providing of money, ships, supplies, and military expertise was essential to
the Patriot cause. Without this aid, it is likely Britain would have been able to outlast the colonial
armies.
4. The Articles of Confederation had several weaknesses, but there were three major parts that were
particularly weak. First, it created a government with only one branch. Second, Congress had to
petition the states for money, a process that made it difficult to generate revenue. Finally,
changes to the Articles could only take place if all 13 colonies were in agreement. Because of
these weaknesses, many foreign countries did not look at the U.S. and a respectable country. This
made trade and other foreign-policy issues difficult to manage.
5. The most famous compromise at the Constitutional Convention is now referred to as “The Great
Compromise”. This enabled the creation of a legislative branch made up of two houses
(bicameral). Theses “houses” are the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is
made up of 2 senators from each state, while the House is comprised based off a state’s
population.
6. The system of checks and balances was created to balance power between the branches of
government. Furthermore, each branch has the ability to “check” or stop the other branches in
certain ways. This is designed to prevent the misuse of power by any one branch.
7. Hamilton’s debt plan was important because it would ultimately be one of the first tests of the
new constitution. In his plan, the national government assumed the debts of the states, focused the
national government on the economy, and transferred power from the states to the national
government.
Lesson 2: Balancing Liberty and Order
Name_______________________________________________
8. Jefferson won favor for several reasons. He was a leader of those who favored local control of
government over national government. He had faith in the citizens that they had the ability to
behave properly without a big, intrusive federal government.
9. A.) Marbury v. Madison was a landmark case as it set up the concept of Judicial Review, which
established the premise that the Supreme Court has the right to review state laws and policies to
ensure that they are aligned with the constitution.
B.) The Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the size of the U.S. territory and also set the stage
for westward expansion.
10. The War of 1812 was caused by continued tensions between the United States and Britain.
Specifically, many Americans thought the British were encouraging Native American resistance
as Americans tried to push westward.