Which of the following statements is the best analysis of the attitude of Great Britain toward the colonies at the end of the Seven Years’ War?
A. The citizens of the colonies should be given natural rights.
B. The colonies should be required to help pay for part of their own defense.
C. The colonies should be allowed to govern themselves.
D. The colonies should be able to renegotiate their social contract with the British government.
The best analysis of the attitude of Great Britain toward the colonies at the end of the Seven Years' War would be option B: The colonies should be required to help pay for part of their own defense.
This is because, although Great Britain did not necessarily believe in granting the colonies full independence or self-governance (option C), they did expect the colonies to contribute to their own defense expenses. The Seven Years' War was a costly conflict for Britain, and they sought to recoup some of those expenses by increasing taxes and implementing measures like the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act in the colonies. This would suggest that Britain viewed the colonies as a source of revenue and expected them to shoulder some financial responsibility for their own defense.
The Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States, established a weak central government and granted most power to the individual states. This resulted in a decentralized system where the states had a significant amount of autonomy and authority.
Among the given options, one state that would likely prefer this distribution of power would be New Jersey (Option C).
New Jersey, being one of the smaller states in terms of population and size, would benefit from a system that grants more power to the states. With a weaker central government, New Jersey would have more influence and control over its own affairs. This would allow the state to protect its interests, make decisions that suit its specific needs, and have a stronger voice in the national decision-making process.
In contrast, larger and more influential states like Pennsylvania (Option A), Virginia (Option B), and New York (Option D) might prefer a stronger central government that can ensure their interests are adequately represented and have a greater ability to address national challenges.
A problem with the Articles of Confederation's geographic distribution of power was option A: Each state, regardless of size, had the same power in Congress.
Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had equal representation in Congress, regardless of its population or geographic size. This meant that larger states like Virginia or New York had the same voting power as smaller states like Delaware or Rhode Island. This created an imbalance and gave smaller states disproportionate influence in the decision-making process.
This problem was addressed by the Constitution, which introduced a system of representation based on population in the House of Representatives, balancing the interests of larger and smaller states. However, the equal representation of states in the Senate still remains, reflecting the compromise between the two approaches.
The correct answer is B. Frederick Douglass said that the Declaration of Independence does not apply to enslaved persons and it allows the U.S. to ignore slavery.
Frederick Douglass was an influential African American abolitionist and writer who criticized the hypocrisy of the United States' founding principles as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. He argued that the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness outlined in the document were not extended to enslaved individuals, who were denied their freedom and subjected to dehumanizing conditions in the United States. Douglass asserted that the institution of slavery contradicted the ideals of equality and justice espoused in the Declaration of Independence and demanded that these principles be upheld for all individuals, regardless of race.
The words in the Declaration of Independence that ensure the liberty and equality of all men are option B: "...that all men are created equal...and are...endowed with...liberty..."
This quote, from the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, highlights the belief that all individuals are born with equal rights and are inherently entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These words affirm the principle of equality and the idea that no one should be unjustly deprived of their rights and freedoms.
Analyze the Articles of Confederation’s geographic distribution of power. Which state would prefer this distribution of power?
A. Pennsylvania
B. Virginia
C. New Jersey
D. New York
What was a problem with the Articles of Confederation’s geographic distribution of power?
A. Each state regardless of size had the same power in Congress.
B. The larger geographic states, such as Virginia, had more power.
C. Changes to the Articles of Confederation could be made merely by a simple majority.
D. Federal taxes were apportioned to each state based on their size.
What assessment did Frederick Douglass give the Declaration of Independence?
A. He said that the Declaration of Independence applies to Indigenous Americans.
B. He said the Declaration of Independence does not apply to enslaved persons, and it allows the U.S. to ignore slavery.
C. He said the Declaration of Independence applies to all men who live in the U.S.
D. He said that the Declaration of Independence applies equally to women as to men.
Cite the words in the Declaration of Independence that ensure the liberty and equality of all men.
A. “...The United States in congress assembled shall have authority to appoint one of their number to preside...”
B. “...that all men are created equal...and are...endowed with...liberty...”
C. “they have full Power to levy War...establish Commerce, and to do... things which Independent States may of right do...”
D. “...it is evident that each department should have a will of its own.”