Don't Know Much About History

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

· President Buchanan puts a price on Brown’s head set at $250, and Brown jokingly responded with a bounty of $2.50 on Buchanan’s.

2) What was John Brown's plan?

· Brown’s plan was to arm the slaves who would flock to his crusade and establish a black republic in the Appalachians to war against slave holding in the south.

3) Why did John Brown become a symbol?

· He became a symbol for the abolitionist movement and he was caught and put on trial for the cause. Many decided he was a martyr in a just cause.

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

· December of 1860. South Carolina found out that Lincoln would become president so it became the first state to declare its’ secession from the Union.

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.

· There were more people in the north, more money and they increased their wartime supplies better then the south.

· The south fought a defensive war, they had a greater martial spirit, they owned their own weapons (rifles) and they had better leaders.

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

· Bombarding of fort Sumter – was the battle that officially started the war, lack of supplies causes the fort’s commander to surrender after South Carolina militia forces bombard them.

· First Battle of Bull Run – a confederate victory due to poor union generalship. Fought in Manassas Virginia. About 30,000 soldiers on each side.

· The Seven Days’ battle – June 26^th to July 2^nd in 1862. Lee attacks and drives McClellan from Richmond, which ends the Peninsular Campaign, which very well could have captured Richmond and ended the war.

· Battle of Antietam – bloody and crucial turning point of the h. With Lee offensive stalled, the likelihood of European recognition of the south is reduced, which is what they had hoped for for winning the war.

· Battle of Appomattox Court House – General Robert E. Lee surrenders his army here, in 1865. This is then end of the Civil war.

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

· I don’t agree with it because it was unconstitutional and it gave generals the right to detain thousands of people if the thought they were a threat to safety.

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

· If Lee’s plans weren’t given to McClellan at the battle of Antietam then the Confederacy probably would have won. If the Confederacy hadn’t won this battle then since this was such a big turning point in the war, they may not have actually won the war.

9) What was the reconstruction?

· It is a way to rebuild the south while bringing them into the Union. It would readmit states after they had ratified the thirteenth amendment, abolishing slavery. Parts of the plan included giving up ones beliefs and adopting those beliefs of the north, and accepting the fourteenth amendment, which allowed blacks to vote.

10) Why did the Klu Klux Klan form?

· A group that rebelled against the part of the reconstruction that allowed blacks to be involved in politics. They used political terrorism to frighten blacks as well as white republicans

11) Discuss Andrew Johnson's impeachment.

· He was the fist president to be impeached. Under Article II section 4 of the constitution the president may be impeached if they are convicted of briber, treason or other high crimes. Since Johnson tried to dismiss war secretary Edwin M Stanton, the house impeached him.

Questions 1-22 from Journey Book

1.) To blockade is to close or stop and offensive means on the attack, both are strategies used in the war.

2.) Blockade runners were Confederate ships that would sail in and out of southern ports and the Ironclad was a rebuilt wooden ship covered in thick iron plates used by the south.

3) The Border states were four states (Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware) that allowed slavery that remained in the Union accompanied by 20 free states.

4) Habeas Corpus a law that guarantees accused individuals the right to a hearing before being jailed and a draft was a law that required men between the ages of 18 and 35 to serve in the army for three years.

5) 1861-1865

6) They had better leaders, they were fighting a defensive war, they had greater a will to fight.

7) The Union was lead by Abraham Lincoln and the Confederates were lead by Jefferson Davis

8) She was a nurse who became famous for her work with wounded soldiers and is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross.

9) To prevent supplies from reaching the south and to prevent the south from earning money off the exportation of cotton.

10) It was the Union’s First big win and it became a turning point for them.

11) Lincoln knew that a blow against slavery would make Britain and France less likely to aid the south in the war. He also believed it was important that the president rather than the antislavery republicans in the congress make the decision on putting an end to slavery. So he decided to emancipate, or free, all enslaved African Americans in the south. He announced this plan at such a time that it would not look like it was an act of desperation. Since it applied only to areas that the confederact controlled, it did not actually free anyone. But Lincoln hoped and believed it would give slaves the incentive to run away from their slave owners.

12) In the South men were off fighting in the war and there wasn’t any men left to maintain the crops and fields, so that is was the slaves duty. However in the North the slaves actually fought in the wars.

13) The war not only put them in debt but it was fought on Southern land, so much of their property and land was destroyed during the war.

14) General Lee and his men would be allowed to go home freely and safely as long as they didn’t attack Grant and his men.

15) A West Virginia was formed because there were some who did not support the succession from the Union so they seceded from Virginia and joined the Union.

16) the south used it to transport supplies and in the North it divided the confederate and restricted them from getting or sending supplies.

17) Because no matter what skin color, having the most amount of people on your side in the was is very vital, and it was a war fought for freedom, freedom that African Americans wanted badly.

18) He was a good leader for his men and in return they respected him which helped them work together to get things done. He was also very strategic in planning his attacks.

19)

· Attack on Fort Sumter was fought in 1861 and was the Confederates first attack, and the start of the Civil War.

· Monitor v. Merrimack was fought in 1862, it started a new chapter in naval warfare because it was the first battle fought between two metal ships

· Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863 and it showed that the people were fighting for the rights of slaves and their freedom.

· Lincoln is reelected in 1864 helped the push for the confederates to rejoin the Union

· Appomattox Court House was fought in 1865 and was the end of the war, resulting in Lee surrendering.

20.) Cemetery ridge

21.) Ewell

22.) Lee, Ewell, Pickett, Longstreet and Hill.

Study Questions for Manifest 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.

(28) Constitution 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 saw the importance of keeping the government from taking too much power. Because the people in power are scared of making everyone else angry and starting a rebellion.

2) Why did Shay's Rebellion happen?

• Happened because the new government was taking away he rights of the farmers. They were being sent to court and jail and they were getting their land taken away

3) The constitution is "a political creation, hammered together in a series of artfully negotiated compromises. Discuss these compromises.

• Two house legislature

• Three-fifths compromise – a slave counted as three-fifths of a person

• Slave trade – they band the slave trade and the northerners agreed that they the congress could not interfere with the southern slave trade until 1808

• George Mason proposed the bill of rights to be included in the constitution.

4) What was the Virginia Plan?

• Drafted by James Madison. Becomes the Constitution but there were compromises for it.

5) "No person held in service" was a euphemism for what?

• slaves

6) List the basic Powers and Checks of the three branches of the government.

Executive Powers

· Approves or vetoes federal bills

· Carries out federal laws

· Appoints judges and other high officials

· Makes foreign treaties

· Can grant pardons and reprieves to federal offenders

· Acts as commander-in-chief of armed forces

Legislative Powers

· Passes federal laws

· Establishes lower federal courts and the number of federal judges

· Can override the president’s veto with two-thirds vote

Judicial Powers

· Interprets and applies the law by trying federal cases

· Can declare laws passed by congress and executive actions unconstitutional.

#2

Checks on Executive Powers

· Congress can override vetoes by two-thirds vote

· Senate can refuse to confirm appointments or ratify treaties

· Congress can impeach and remove the President

· Congress can declare war

· Supreme court can declare executive acts unconstitutional

Checks on Legislative Powers

· Presidential veto of federal bills

· Supreme court can rule laws unconstitutional

· Both houses of congress must vote to pass laws checking power with legislature

Checks on Judicial Powers

· Congress can propose constitutional amendments to overturn judicial decisions

· Congress can impeach and remove federal judges

· President appoints judges

7) Who wrote the Federalist Papers and why did they write them?

• James Madison

• Alexander Hamilton

• John Jay

They wrote them to state there side about wanting a central government. They were backing up the ratification of the constitution. It was a debate

8) Briefly outline the first ten amendments.

• Freedom of Speech, press, religion and petition

• Right to keep and bear arms

• Conditions for quarters of soldiers

• Right of search and seizure regulated

• Provisions concerning prosecution

• Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, etc.

• Right to a trial by jury

• Excessive bail, cruel punishment

• Rule of construction of Constitution

• Rights of the states under Constitution

9) Who could vote in the first election (what parts of the population)?

• White men with land

10) How did Washington D.C. come be located on the banks of the Potomac?

• Because Virginia wanted it there. It is a secret dinner decision between Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.

11) What did Jay's Treaty do?

• The Jay Treaty increased trade between the countries, and it averted another war —until 1812. It eliminated British control in western posts.

12) What was the "Whiskey Rebellion" and how was it put down?

• The farmers rebelled because

13) Describe the election of 1800? How was it finally resolved?

• It was a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr and it finally went to the House of Representatives.

14) Who was John Marshall?

• Was there for 35 years, he 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 Hati, Napolean realizes he needs to worry about affairs in Europe rather than creating colonies and fighting in America

16) What did Lewis and Clark do? Describe their journey?

• They explored the west as ordered by Jefferson and then they left present day Indiana then they headed up Missouri then they went to North Dakota for the winter then they explored the area a little more then when home.

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

#1

Executive Powers

· Approves or vetoes federal bills

· Carries out federal laws

· Appoints judges and other high officials

· Makes foreign treaties

· Can grant pardons and reprieves to federal offenders

· Acts as commander-in-chief of armed forces

Legislative Powers

· Passes federal laws

· Establishes lower federal courts and the number of federal judges

· Can override the president’s veto with two-thirds vote

Judicial Powers

· Interprets and applies the law by trying federal cases

· Can declare laws passed by congress and executive actions unconstitutional.

#2

Checks on Executive Powers

· Congress can override vetoes by two-thirds vote

· Senate can refuse to confirm appointments or ratify treaties

· Congress can impeach and remove the President

· Congress can declare war

· Supreme court can declare executive acts unconstitutional

Checks on Legislative Powers

· Presidential veto of federal bills

· Supreme court can rule laws unconstitutional

· Both houses of congress must vote to pass laws checking power with legislature

Checks on Judicial Powers

· Congress can propose constitutional amendments to overturn judicial decisions

· Congress can impeach and remove federal judges

· President appoints judges

#3

· Two house legislature

· Three-fifths compromise – a slave counted as three-fifths of a person

· Slave trade – they band the slave trade and the northerners agreed that they the congress could not interfere with the southern slave trade until 1808

· George Mason proposed the bill of rights to be included in the constitution.

#4

· James Madison

· Alexander Hamilton

· John Jay

#5

· Protection of individuals’ rights, people were worried the government would get to much power and their rights would be taken away.

#6

· Their worry was that their new constitution would take away the liberties Americans had fought to win from Great Britain. The constitution would create a strong central government and would ignore states and favor the wealthy.

Zinn Chapter 5 Summery

The chapter describes pre-Revolutionary War. They were having a hard time getting white men to fight and Indians and southern blacks weren’t allowed to fight. So they ended up getting a lot of men who are basically poor. Except for a few rich men that became generals there really aren’t any rich men in the war. The rich are trying to keep the poor people at a disadvantage by having them fight. Whereas the poor men are thinking by joining the war they will get respect, but they don’t. Instead after the war when they get home they find out that they were in debt and would loose everything. Luckily, the Blacks started fighting for freedom and rights in the North. And as the slavery in the north decreased the slavery in the south increased. Other then the slave change the social ladder stays the same after the war. The Indians continued to loose land and the poor white people stayed poor.

Then Zinn talks about making the constitution and how those who wrote it were rich men. Also how some laws and amendments were as good as they could have been and that some of them should have been worked on a little more.

Study Questions For Revolutionary War

1) What rebel leaders does Paul Revere ride at midnight to warn?

The british are coming

• April 18th, 1775
• He had volunteered to be an alarm rider
• Milisha men, ready to fight whenever.
• April 19th they were ready to fight

2) In detail, describe how the battle of Concord looked?

Some man accidentally fired a shot
Which started the war
8 colonist dead 2 wounded
first taste of battled
they fired at their own british troops
minute men and milisha men

march back to boston – bloody mess
one in the three hundred bullets one hit
they didn’t have good guns
the red coats were attacked from all side
73 british were killed
it would not end before involving all military powers of the world in the war

3) Why was the Revolutionary War the most important event in U.S. History?

Leagallly greated nation in 1776
Infused into our culture
Things we still stand for today
The war of our independence
Revolutionary war was just a part of the revolution the revolution was

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

Four

5) Describe the country before the Revolutionary War? Why might not we, in the 21st century, recognize it?
Because of the modernization that we have achieved.

• There were only 2.5 million people
• 4 citys that had population over 10,000
• rivers were highways
• wooded
• colonists saw themselves as the freest people in the world
• land was cheap
• social ladder was short
• wealth was accesable through hard work

6) Why was James Otis important?

Boston lawyer
His writings were the inspiration for all leaders after
Mind be hind it Sam Adams mouth


7) What was Samuel Adams known for?

Organized a political action group called sons of liberty

8) Describe the Patriotic Leaders.

• Noble idealists
• They had self interested motives and they were cunning, they would do whatever they had to get what they wanted

9) What percent of the population, according to John Adams, wanted liberty?

One third wanted it one third didn’t and one third didn’t care.

10) Discuss how the events of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party lead to the Revolutionary War.

Boston Massacre
• a clash between British troops and townspeople in Boston in 1770, before the Revolutionary War. The British troops fired into a crowd that was threatening them, killing five.
• The soldiers had been sent to help the British government maintain order and were resented even before the incident
• The killing of the townpeople increased the colonists' desire toward revolution.
Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was the effect of the Tea Act, in which all tea incoming to America was greatly taxed. The events of the Boston Tea Party sparked rebellion in the People, and was one of several intolerable acts made by the British which led to the founding fathers creating the continental congress. The year before Benjamin franklin had come up with the idea of the continental congress but it failed until the tea party.