Don't know much about history part 2

Reading Questions for "Don't Know About History"

1) Why does the author suggest that John Brown had a sense of humor?

- He makes a joke, when President Buchanan put a price of $250 on Browns head, Brown responded with a bounty of two dollars and fifty cents on Buchanan’s

2) What was John Brown's plan?

His plan was to march south, arm the slaves who would flock his crusade and establish a black republic in the Appalachians to wage war against the slaveholding South

3) Why did John Brown become a symbol? To the North he became a symbol of a martyr in a just cause, He was a forceful and eloquent spokesman for the cause of abolition. South, he represented yankee interference in the souths way of life taken to its extreme.

4) When and why did South Carolina succeed from the Union?

1860, many reasons, what brown did. The south felt it was being over powered by the north, and the south way of life was being threatened.

5) List some of the advantages of the North at the beginning of the war. List some of the advantages of the South at the beginning of the war.

North: More people, more money, more industrialized, it vastly outproduced the south, they had a better way of increasing their wartime supplies.

South: was in a defensive war, they had beeter commanders, were better riders, better with weapons, and showed a greater martial spirit.

6) List some of the (5) famous battles of the Civil War with a brief description of each.

First battle of the bull run: First major battle of the war. 30000 Union soldiers and about the same number of Confederate soldiers. Fought in Manassas Virginia. Both green armies. Confederates beat the Union, chasing them back to DC.

Battle of Ball’s Bluff: takes place in Virginia. Another rout of Union Forces with some 1,900 Union troops killed.

Battle of Shiloh: Confederate forces under Albert Johnston attack Grant’s army. Union Forces are nearly defeated, but reinforcements arrive and drive off the Confederate army. 13,000 Union troops and 11,000 Confederate troops are lost in 2 days.

The seven Days’ battle: Lee attacks McClellan and eventually drives him away from Richmond ending the Peninsular Campaign.

Battle of Gettysburg: Confederate troops in search of shoes run into a group of Union troops. A three day battle where many are killed (Confederates lost 28,000). Final turning point in the war, Union army turns back repeated Confederate assaults.

7) How do you view Lincoln's suspension of "the writ of habeas corpus"?

I honestly think it was a good move at the time. It was a move to help the Union within Union boundries. He did what he had to do, if you were supporting the South but living in the North you could only expect to be watched more closely.

8) What if Lee's plan had not been found at the battle of Antiem?

I really think the south would have won. If Lee hadn’t been found out he the south would have gotten the support of the foreign nations.

9) What was the reconstruction?

It was the process of joining the nation back together. Letting the Southern States readmit to the Union.

10) Why did the Klu Klux Klan form?

It was a post civil war group of white southerners formed to as a backlash to reconstruction. They wanted to prevent blacks in politics.

11) Discuss Andrew Johnson's impeachment.

He was impeached for trying to dismiss an official who had been appointed with Senate consent without getting senate approval and this man Johnson tried to dismiss was an ally of the Radical Republicans.

Manisfest Destiny

1)What was Manifest Destiny?
The idea that the United States was meant to extend its borders from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
2) The Oregon Territory consisted of what area? Who claimed it?
Giant area that lay between the Pacific Ocean and the rocky Mountains north of California. Included all of what is now oreagon, Washington and Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming. Who claimed it? United States, Great Britain, Spain and Russia.
3) Who were the Mountain Men?
People who spent most of their time in the Rocky Mountians. Made their living by trapping Beaver and trade fur. Many had Native American wives and adopted the Native American Ways. They lived in buffalo-skin lodges and dressed in fringed buckskin pants, moccasins and beads.
4) Why was the Oregon Trail important?
It provided a passage for the settlers moving west. Start of the Great Migration.
5) Discuss the meaning behind the slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight"?
reffered to the line of latitude that Democrats believed should be the nation’s northern border in Oregon. Get/fight for Oregon.
6) James Polk made what promises to the American public during the election
of 1844 (list four - you might need to look up on the internet).
He supported American clams for sole ownership of Oregon.
7) Discuss how Texas became independent.
The U.S. Texasn banned together with volunteers and they fought and they liberated San Antonio.
March 2 1836 they declared their independence. They formed a Declaration of Independence. Santa Anna recognized their independence on March 14.
Extra: Their was more Americans in Texas then Mexicans who hadn’t adopted their ways so Mexico issued a Decree, which stopped more Americans from settling in Texas anymore.
8) Discuss the battles of The Alamo and San Jacinto.
Alamo was a small Texan force barricaded inside a nearby mission. They were low on gun powder and they had 180 men to their thousands but they stood their ground.
San Jacinto – Sam Houston marched his army to a camp of Mexican army. He captured some of the men including Santa Anna
Texas thinks very highly of itself and it did win the war of its independence from another country.
9) How long did it take the U.S. to annex Texas? Why?
It took about 9 years, because the United States had to agree to bring in a slave state. And because there would be an unbalance of slaves states.
10) How did the Mexican-American War start? Why did it start? Was it a "Just War"? American settlement in the southwest led to conflict with Mexico. Fulfilling manifest destiny, and possession would guarantee that the united States had a clear passage to the Pacific Ocean – an important consideration because the British still occupied part of Oregon.
Was it Just? No because they had no right to take it, Mexico declined their request so they took it by force.
11) What was the American response to the war?
The north didn’t like it, the democrats wanted it though.
First – American troops would drive Mexican forces out of the disputed border region in Texas and make the border secure.
Second – the United States would seize New Mexico and California
Third – American forces would take Mexico City, Capital of Mexico
12) List the major battles of the war.
Mexico city – ends the war
Monterrey
Santa Fe
Buena Vista
Bear Flag Revolt
13) What was the cost of the war?
The war cost the United States nearly $100 million to fight them and $25 million for their land, and Mexico lost half its territory.
14) Why was the California Gold Rush important?
The lure of gold and the promise of religious freedom drew many settlers westward.


PG 380 6-10, 13-15

6) That they would coexist.
7) He didn’t want an unbalance of slave and no slave states.
8) They would have access to the Pacific and we would be bordered by ocean and not another country.
9) We wanted their land and they didn’t agree to our buying.
10) They could charge whatever they wanted to the miners.
13) It gave us a lot more land, new Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Utah.
14) They didn’t like it.
15) We took over the southwest and with the Oregon Trail we coexisted.

Don't Know Much About History: study questions

Don't Know Much About History: study questions

1) Discuss the significance of Thomas Jefferson's quote: "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing...God forbid that we should ever be twenty year without such a rebellion...The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
~ He said this after Shay's Rebellion and it is prevented an over reaction of the up rise. And it prevented people from just giving up on the new government and that it was important that the government did not get to much control.
2) Why did Shay's Rebellion happen?
~ Farmers were being sent to jail and court and having their land taken away because they could not pay taxes, the farmers thought they were being treated unfairly
3) The constitution is "a political creation, hammered together in a series of artfully negotiated compromises. Discuss these compromises.
~ 3/5 compromise which stated that slaves would count as 3/5, this was for taxation and representation purposes.
4) What was the Virginia Plan?
~ Becomes the constitution with some compromises. James Madision's idea
5) "No person held in service" was a euphemism for what?
Slaves, how it is written in the constitution
6) List the basic Powers and Checks of the three branches of the government.
~ 1) What are the three branches of government and what are the powers of each?
The legislative Branch (House of Representative & the senate): collecting taxes, coining money, and regulating trade. They can declare war and raise and support armies. They also makes all laws needed to fulfill the functions given to it as stated in the constitution.
Executive Branch (The president): There job is to carry out the nation’s laws and policies, be commander in chief of the armed forces and conduct relations with foreign countries.
Judicial branch (Supreme Court and other lower federal courts the congress establish): They hear cases involving the constitution, laws passed by congress and disputes between states. Executive serves as a check or limit on congress, by which they can vetoing the bill. But congress can override or vote down the veto by having two thirds of both the houses voting for the bill.
Also the president chooses the supreme court justices and the senate must approve. The supreme court checks the congress and president by ruling on the constitutionality of the laws and presidential acts.

7) Who wrote the Federalist Papers and why did they write them?
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. To back up the radification of the constitution.
8) Briefly outline the first ten amendments.
1st. seperation of church and state
2nd. The right to bear arms
3rd. soldiers cannot be housed in a private house
4th. the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure
5th.laws concerning prosecution
6th. right to a speedy, public trial
7th. Guarantees trial by jury
8th. prohibits cruel and unusual punishment
9th. Defines the rule of the construction of the constitution
10th.rights of states under constitution
9) Who could wrote in the first election (what parts of the population)?
white males with land
10) How did Washington D.C. come be located on the banks of the Potomac?
They wanted it next to virginia. A secret dinner desicion between Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison wanted it close to virginia to ensure Virginias state of power.
11) What did Jay's Treaty do?
it eliminated british control of western posts, increased trade between countries and averted war
12) What was the "Whiskey Rebellion" and how was it put down?
The farmers rebel because whiskey was being taxed and Washington lead a bunch of troops which put down the rebel quickly

13) Describe the election of 1800? How was it finally resolved?
It was a tie between thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr that had to go to the house of representatives. After 35 votings Hamiltion persuaded on Represnetative to vote for Jefferson which made him win
14) Who was John Marshall?
head of the supreme court for 35 years, put in place by John Adams and made the supreme court what it is today
15) Why did France sell its North America possessions (the Louisiana territory) to the U.S.?
After losing Haiti, Napoleon decides to worry European affairs rather than getting a colony and fighting in America
16) What did Lewis and Clark do? Describe their journey?
Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to Explore the west and the new territory. They did this because Jefferson wanted to get American into the fur trade, to feel out the political and military uses of the West and to collect scientific information about this vast uncharted land. they set out from St. Lewis on three boats, , wintered at fort mandan in north dakota. in the spring the continued west and reached the pacific coast by boat in november and wintered in Fort Clatsop. went for an overland return, splitting into two groups after crossing the rockies and arrived together in St. Lous.
17) How did Hamilton incur the wrath of Aaron Burr? Was he right in what he did? How did the ordeal end?
We made Burr lose his spot as president and as governor, causing a successful political destruction of Burr. Well yes in a sense, challegning Hamilition should have been expected by what he did to burr but burr betraying the United States was not right. Hamiltion was killed and Burr's take over and creat a new empire failed.
18) What was Jefferson's Embargo Act? Why was it unpopular and what was it suppose to do?
the Embargo act prohibited all exports into America as economic retaliation for the British impressment policy and as a means to keep America out of the war. It was very unpopular.
19) What did Tecumseh try and do?
Tried to unite the native groups because he envisioned a vast Indian confederacy strong enouogh to keep the Ohio River as a border between Indians and Whites ( prevent further westward expansion)
20) Describe the Battle of Tippecanoe?
Occured at the junction of the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers. The Prophet ordered poorly calculated attack on Harrisons 1000 men. The indians inflicted heavy losses but were eventually pushed back and all of their food stores, their village were destroyed and the prophets claim of invincible magic was shattered
21) Most historians call the War of 1812 a draw. Why?
Both agreed on a truce and neither side lost or gained anything
22) Describe the Battle of New Orleans.
It was a very lopsided war. British suffered more than 2000 dead, while the US casualties were 8 dead and a small number wounded
23) What did the Monroe Doctrine state?
it declared that the United States would not tolerate interventions in the Americas by European nations. or that the US would not interfere with already established colonies or with government sin Europe.
24) What was the Missouri Compromise?
Missiouri would be considered a slave state even though it was north of the slave non slave seperation boundries.
25) How was the election of 1824 decided? Why was it called a "corrupt bargain"?
It went to the house of representatives. it was between andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. Lots of mudslinging. When John Quincy Adams was elected, Clay was given a position of power which looked like clay dropped to let Adams win so long as he got a position of power. recieved a spot on the presidents cabinet so it looked like a bargon
26) List some of the labels attached to Andrew Jackson.
Trail of Tears, Jacksonian Democracy, Andrew jackson embodied the new American spirit and became the idol of the ambitious jingoistic younger men who called themsleves Democrats ( of the American common man)
27) Was Andrew Jackson an Indian hater? What did the natives call him? What "Indian Wars" did he fight in and what was the outcome? What was his native "policy" as President?
Yes he was, They called him Long Knife. Creek War, which is where he got his reputation as a ruthless indian fighter, first Seminole war, 1812. Unless they adapt the American Culture, we ill kill you our you need to move.
28) How did Jackson come to symbolize the common people?
Andrew jackson embodied the new American spirit and became the idol of the ambitious jingoistic younger men who called themsleves Democrats. Cam from porverty, fought in the revolution, first president from the west.

The Constitution: Study Questions

The Constitution: Study Questions

1) What are the three branches of government and what are the powers of each?
The legislative Branch (House of Representative & the senate): collecting taxes, coining money, and regulating trade. They can declare war and raise and support armies. They also makes all laws needed to fulfill the functions given to it as stated in the constitution.
Executive Branch (The president): There job is to carry out the nation’s laws and policies, be commander in chief of the armed forces and conduct relations with foreign countries.
Judicial branch (Supreme Court and other lower federal courts the congress establish): They hear cases involving the constitution, laws passed by congress and disputes between states.

2) How can these branches check and balance each other?
Executive serves as a check or limit on congress, by which they can vetoing the bill. But congress can override or vote down the veto by having two thirds of both the houses voting for the bill.
Also the president chooses the supreme court justices and the senate must approve. The supreme court checks the congress and president by ruling on the constitutionality of the laws and presidential acts.

3) What were the compromises to the constitution?
A two- house legislature and slaves would only count as 3/5 of a free person for both taxation and representation.
4) Who wrote the Federalist papers?
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay

5) What was the Bill of Rights? Why did some states demand its inclusion before they ratified the constitution?
Because they believe that no government could be trusted to protect the freedom of its citizens and the bill of rights is what protected individual freedoms
6) What were the anti-federalists main fears about the constitution?
They feared that the constitution would take away the liberties Americans had fought to win from Great Britain. They didn’t want the power going back to the rich.

US History Group Projects

* List the strengths of each group and why they should win the war at the beginning
Largest Army,
* List the complaints of each side that lead to war
Americans weren't being taxed enough when it was a war fought for them that put britain into debt
* Outline the important figures of your side (and assign a member of your group to be that character)
King George III - Anna
George Grenville- Kaitlyn
Sir Henry Moore- Helen
Colonel Henri Boughet
* List battles that your side won
* Come up with one theory why the war was won or lost
* Explain the outcome of the war for your side
* Recreate as an i-movie what you feel is the most important moment of the war for your side

Questions from movie

1) What rebel leaders does Paul Revere ride at midnight to warn?
Paul Revere was riding to inform Samuel Adams and John Haddcocks of the 700 British troupes heading for concord because the militia/ minutemen were gathering and had weapons. He also told the Captain of the minutemen and alarmed every house until he got to Lexington.

2) In detail, describe how the battle of Concord looked?
Rebels marched towards the bridge. The British started firing at the rebels so they started to fight back as well. A lot of house-to-house fighting. Minute men marched towards the bridge as the British were coming to it. The British fired a warning shot and than a shot into the minutemen. The American rebels fired back. 19 miles running battle as the British ran back to Boston. 11,000-minute men and militiamen ran to the roadside but only 4000 reached the road to fire at the king’s army.

3) Why was the Revolutionary War the most important event in U.S. History?
It was the most important because it was our attempt and success to break from Britain.
Legally created the nation and infused out beliefs in equality, liberty, happiness of ordinary people and constitutionalist.
So many aspects of what Americans are today were created from the people of the revolutionary war. Composites’ of America are in the revolutionary war

4) How many cities over 10,000 where there in America at the time of the Revolution?
There were four cities.

5) Describe the country before the Revolutionary War? Why might not we, in the 21st century, recognize it?
The riches of the land were the colonists for the taking. We might not recognize it now because them there were only 2 ½ million people who all lived close to the oceans. There were no bridges. The rivers where used as highways but obstacles for movement. It was all wooded. The colonists saw themselves as the freest people in the world.

6) Why was James Otis important?
Lawyer saw the seeds of tyranny. His writings that were the inspiration for Samuel Adams
His writings which where the inspiration of Samuel Adams and other leaders; he was the mind behind the revolution, Samuel was the mouth


7) What was Samuel Adams known for?
He was a leader during the Revolutionary war. Started the Committees of Correspondence. He was the Boston protest movement's mastermind. Started the sons of liberty. Exploited the Boston Massacre.

8) Describe the Patriotic Leaders.
All the leaders were rich white men who didn’t want their social status to change or the way of life to change they just wanted to break from Britain
Radical Patrick Henry
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Samuel Adams

9) What percent of the population, according to John Adams, wanted liberty?
1/3 wanted liberty, 1/3 wanted to stay with Britain and 1/3 remained neutral

10) Discuss how the events of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party lead to the Revolutionary War.
A shot was fired that started the war, it was the first bloody spilled of a fight between the minute -men and Britain,
Boston Massacre: in Boston, British soldiers killed men in a mob. Adams wrote that they needed to be tried for murder and British soldiers were removed from Boston.
The Boston Tea Party further angered both the colonists and British; it caused Britain to strike back hard.

Zinn: Over view of Chapter 5

This chapter had a lot to do with post revolution and a little about the war. It starts with explaining how America had a hard time recruiting white men to fight and that most did not stay in the army for long. Indians were not allowed to fight and only in the North were blacks and slaves allowed to join. Many poor white farmers joined in hope that they would gain social ranking by eventually moving up to a colonel position. This did not happen in most cases and instead afterwards when the men returned home they found out they had become in debt and had not paid thing such as taxes so they lost everything, one women had her her bed taken from under her. Also the revolution was fight mostly by people from the North, the south mostly stayed out of it because they were to busy trying to keep slaves under control. After the revolution, the natives continued to lost land and were not considered equal to colonies. While the blacks began fighting for freedom and rights. Which was mostly gained in the north while slavery in the South grew.
Chapter 5 than continued to talk about the making of the constituiton. It explained how those that meet to write it were many rich men and so the poor colonest started campaign and riot for rights. Preventing court date to go through with in a lot of cases. Zinn also touched on how it was established how leaders would be chosen. Chapter 5 than ended with explaining how some laws and ammendaments have been twisted such as the freedo of speech and that there were many creases that needed to be ironed out within the new government.