Lesson 35: Peace of Paris (1783)

Question: What condition had to be met as stated in the treaty before peace would be concluded between Great Britain and the United States?

"Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain and France."
Peace had to reached between England and France before England and the United States.

Lesson 34: The War Continues with French Allies

Question: Which of the following is not one of the major provisions of the 1778 "Treaty of Alliance" between France and America?

"To solicit support from Spain after a year of war against Britain."

Lesson 33: Major Battles

Question: The "Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms," was written following which incident?

"The Battles of Lexington and Concord."  

Lesson 32: The Great Declaration

"While approximately 75% of the Declaration Manuscript was accepted, two topics were completely deleted: the existence of slavery in America and ______________."

"a derogatory reference to the English people."  

"Delegates removed Thomas Jefferson's harsh assault of the British people for backing the king."

Lesson 31: The Continental Congress

The first Continental Congress wanted to have their own free government under England.

The second Continental Congress met again in light of recent acts of the British. One reason for the meeting was to discuss the formation of the Continental Army to defend the colonies from England.

Lesson 30: Social

How did the Revolutionary War affect the status of colonial women?

Their status improved as they accepted the distinguished role of natural nurturers.
They became "guardians of moral values."

Lesson 29: Political

Question: What other British action helped to strengthen the colonists' determination to declare independence from the "Mother Country?"

Hiring of foreign soldiers. Taxes, regulations, and the use of foreign soldiers to stop colonial uprisings weakened the loyalists' allegiance to the crown.

Lesson 28: Boston Tea Party

Consider this: If Americans believed they were overtaxed and wanted to retaliate against Parliament, why was there only limited support for the Bostonian's actions in the harbor?

Probably because they needed to keep the group small to avoid suspicion.  With a large crowd of supporters, the British may have become aware of their plan.  Or, it was just the certain group (the Sons of Liberty) that planned to destroy the tea and told no one of their plans.

Lesson 27: The Townshend Duties

Consider this: By comparing and contrasting the two accounts of the Boston Massacre,which viewpoint is a better example of political propaganda?  Why?

I'm not exactly sure what "political propaganda" is, but i'll try to answer the question based on what I think it may be.

I think that the patriot's account was a better example because they were trying to convince the people that the British soldiers had killed a few citizens on purpose rather than stating that it was a misunderstanding between the two factions.

Lesson 26: Stamp Act

Question: which item was not taxed by the Stamp Act?

Coffee.  The Stamp Act was mainly for printed materials.

Question: Why did Parliament's decision to revoke an American tax excite so many Britons?

The repeal meant better trade opportunities for British merchants.

Lesson 25: Proclamation of 1763

Question: What reason did the Crown give for restricting colonists' purchase of land west of the Appalachians from the Indians in the "Proclamation of 1763?"

Great frauds and abuses have been committed.  The colonists were testing British rule and becoming aggressive toward the Indians.

Lesson 24: North American Alliance

Question: Which of the following was a result of the Peace Treaty of Paris of 1763?

Great Britain received claim to Nova Scotia. Great Britain emerged as the greatest colonial empire.

Question: What fate did Benjamin Franklin fear if the colonists did not unite to repel the French and Indians?

Being killed and scalped.  The Indians and French would have taken over and destroyed many people.

Lesson 23: The Great Awakening

Question: In his sermon "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God," Jonathan Edwards presented the idea that:

All people were sinners in daily danger of damnation unless they immediately turned to God for salvation.

Lesson 22: The Enlightenment

Question: Which of the following items proved to be the most problematic and led to abuse in the trials of those accused of witchcraft, including Susanna Martin, in Salem village?

The courts frequently allowed  spectral evidence (claims of what was occurring in the spiritual world.)

In his "Essay on the True Original, Extent, and the End of Civil Government," John Locke states that political power is:

the power of a magistrate over a subject.

Lesson 21: Family and Social Life

Question: The "Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" provided that no one should be punished for:

"Any differences in opinion in matters of religion."
When Roger Williams established Rhode Island, he created a government based on the consent of the people, tolerating all religions.

Lesson 20: Diversity

Question: Did the different economic needs and opportunities of the different sections of the British North American colonies lead to colonial unity or separation?

I'd say that it lead to unity, for the fact that each colony probably had some things that the others didn't, so they probably traded among themselves.

Lesson 19: Origins of Slavery

Question: What alternative to African slaves might you have employed to harvest tobacco?

Firstly, I wouldn't be harvesting tobacco because its bad for people.  But, if I was harvesting tobacco, I would have hired others from England to work for me.

If slaves were limited on education and couldn't read, how do you think the slave codes affected their daily life?

They would probably be wondering why they were treated the way they were and always being in the dark about it.

Lesson 18: Maryland, Carolina, and Georgia

Question: Which religion was not tolerated in seventeenth century Maryland?
Judaism, Maryland would not tolerate any religion that denied Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Lesson 17: Pennsylvania and Delaware

Question: How do you suppose William Penn's Quaker beliefs influenced how he communicated with the Indians?

I think that his beliefs taught him to be kind to others, which is why he treated the Indians with respect.

In "William Penn's Frame of Government for Pennsylvania," he noted that the divine right of the government was to:  Cherish those that do well.

Lesson 16: New York and New Jersey

Question: What do you suppose James, Duke of York, to award part of the land he had just conquered to Lord John Berkley and Sir George Carteret?

I suppose, that he may have just been being a nice friend, or maybe ha did not care for the land.

Lesson 15: Dissention in the Bay

Was the pressure to conform to a single way of life supportive of, or in contradiction with, the very reason Puritans came to America?

I'd say, in support of, they only wanted to go the way they believed and didn't want people saying anything different.

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were unique because they:

Did not reference the king or any other government or power outside of Connecticut.

Lesson 14: The Puritan Religion

Question: Why would anyone accept and follow the Puritan doctrine of predestination when it leaves no incentive for upright, moral behavior?

If you knew that you were "predestined" or a true Christian, you would want to behave upright, morally, and live a godly life.  You won't want to do anything but that.

Lesson 13: Massachusetts Bay Colony

The Massachusetts Bay Colony was unique because it:  Contained a feature that allowed the government of the company to be located in the colony rather than England.  Governors were chosen from church men of the colony as well.

John Winthrop advocates a social philosophy for the Massachusetts Bay Colony that emphasized: 

Social reciprocity.  He indicated that there should be a mutual exchange of support among the members of the colony.

Lesson 12: The Plymouth Colony

Question: Who remained the supreme ruler according to the Mayflower Compact?

The English King.  The Compact said that the pilgrims were still loyal to King James.

Lesson 11: The Jamestown Colony

Question:  What was one of the primary reasons the king stated in the Virginia Charter for allowing the colony to be established?

To "propagate the Christian religion."
Other reasons were to find gold,  a sea passage to Asia and the Indies, and to establish the king's power.

Another Question:  What does the song "Tobacco's but an Indian Weed" indicate about the controversial nature of tobacco since the moment of its introduction into Europe from the New World?

Although tobacco brought wealth and "delight" it also brought decay.

American History Lesson 10: Mission System

Missions were communities made to take care of themselves with their own supplies.
They consisted of a chapel, shops, and houses.  They were also surrounded by walls to protect themselves from hostiles.

American History Lesson 9: French Explorers

Question: What was the primary objective for French expeditions?

To establish strong trade relationships with Native Americans.
Fur was very popular with France, which was one reason for the trade with the Natives.

American History Lesson 8: Spanish Explorers

Question:  How might England have used the Black Legend to motivate and justify its colonization of North America?


They may have used it as an excuse to invade North America as a way to attack the Spaniards, since they had already fought in wars together.  England may have used the legend to make the people believe that they were doing a good thing and 'freeing' North America.

American History Lesson 7: Exchanges

Question: Which cash crop is most directly tied to the importation of African slaves to the New World?

Sugar. African slaves were imported to work on sugarcane plantations.

American History Lesson 6: Rise of Nation-States

Question: How did the emergence of nation-states accelerate exploration of the New World?

The unification of the people of a nation allowed them to pursue expansion.

American History Lesson 5: Technological Factors

Question: What similarities did the two voyages share? (referring to Colombus's journeys and the Apollo's trip to the moon.)

Both voyages were sent across dangerous unknown distances. (Space, Sea.)

American History Lesson 4: Commerce

Question: How did the use of printed receipts, bills of exchange, and promissory notes affect merchants and consumers during the Middle Ages?

The printed documents encouraged those conducting business to improve their reading and writing skills.

American History Lesson 3: Cortés Defeats the Aztecs

Question: What might the Spaniard's treatment of the Aztecs tell us about how Europeans perceived Native Americans during the Age of Discovery?

It might be that the Europeans thought that the Native Americans were not fit to be more than slaves, the Spaniards conquered the land and made the natives do there bidding and they seemed to have no rights, but to serve.

American History Lesson 2: Christopher Colombus

Question: What motivated Colombus on his voyage of exploration?

A key motivation for Colombus's voyage of exploration may have been to gain wealth and political power for himself. This is the correct answer on the site, and very believable, but another answer may be that he wished to convert the natives that he would meet.

A letter was given to Colombus by the King and Queen of Spain saying that they would reward him with the right to be the governor over the land that he conquered.

American History Lesson 1: Pre-Columbian Era

The Iroquois Confederacy brought five nations together to form an alliance. These nations were the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. This alliance was governed by a covenant known as the Great Law of Peace.

Question: Can you identify any features of the Great Law that layout a structure for government?

Yes I can identify a few features of government in the Great Law. The Mohawk Lords were the heads and the leaders of the Five Nations Confederacy. No council of the Confederate Lords was legal unless all the Mohawk Lords were present.

All the business of the Five Nations Confederate Council was conducted by two combined bodies of Confederate Lords. First the question was passed upon by the Mohawk and Seneca Lords, then it was discussed and passed by the Oneida and Cayuga Lords. Their decisions were then referred to the Onondaga Lords, for final judgement.