Discuss in your study groups in preparation for our in class inquiry... --; USE THE Gordon Wood Text!
- Was the American Revolution inevitable? Could America have gradually and peacefully developed independence within the British Commonwealth, as Canada later did, rather than engaging in a violent revolt? At what point in time, if any, was a violent revolt inevitable?
- Were all the American grievances really justified or were the British actually being more reasonable than most Americans traditionally believed?
- What was the Revolutionary movement at its core really all about? The amount of taxation? The right of Parliament to tax? The political corruption of Britain and the virtue of America? The right of a king to govern America? The growing sense of national identity apart from Britain? Was the Revolution truly a radical overturning of government and society--the usual definition of a "revolution"--or something far more limited or even "conservative" in its defense of traditional rights?
- In 1775 which side would a neutral observer have expected to win--Britain or the colonies? Why?
- What was radical and new in the Declaration Independence, and what was old and traditional? What did statements like "all men are created equal" mean in their historical context, and what did they come to mean later?
1 comment:
1.Evaluate the system of Mercantilism. What were the benefits for Britain and for the colonies? What ere the costs to Britain and the colonies? Is the system of mercantilism sustainable or will the colonies inevitably revolt?
Mercantilism is the economic policy that governments control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the military security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. The benefits of marchantilsim was that it justified their control over the colonies. Merchantilism benefited them because they believed that "wealth was power and that a country's economic wealth could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasury"(page 123). On the other hand, the benefits of merchantilism towards the colonies was that they "fiercely resented its very existence-another example of how principle could weigh more heavily than practice in fueling colonial grievance. The costs to Britian and and the colonies was that they had to undergo many different strategies to facilitate everyday purchases. As said in the text, "to facilitate everyday purchases, the colonists resorted to butter, nails, pitch, and feathers for purposing of exchange"(page 124). The system of merchantilism is unsustainable, and therefore the colonists will unevitable revolt. As mentioned in the text on page 123, they report on this situation as "a manifest violation of the most sacred rights of mankind".
Post a Comment