-SD+Responses+to+Essential+Questions-

8/29/09 English colonization was a difficult and deadly process throughout the Jamestown settlement. Why did these colonists decide to collectively endure the hardships? Was the need to keep pace with Spain on a Global scale the primary motivation or were other factors throughout England forcing the colonists to make the new settlement work? Analyze the question and post your response to your personal wiki page. English settlers faced many hardships during colonization in America. They dealt with diseases and food shortages, which caused the population to decrease enormously. By going through these perils, the Englishmen hoped to establish a new empire along with providence while competing with other countries for their place in the New World. Therefore, these hardships were almost mandatory for the Englishmen to succeed in colonizing America. With their population in Jamestown minimizing each day, the settlers had to figure out ways to stay alive for as long as possible. They could not rely on the provisions from the supply ships coming from England because once they arrived, there would not be enough left to feed the hungry people. Resorting to finding absolutely whatever they could to eat was their only option. Competing with other countries in hope of success required the colonists to endure everything they could. If Spain was already ahead of them in the New World, then they would have to start somewhere to catch up to them, meaning what was happening in Jamestown was necessary to get through for the settlers. The other factors like creating a new, free empire and providence added on to the necessity of enduring the difficult times. The search for gold was the initial reason for arriving in the New World but when none was found, the settlers decided to stay anyways. They also wanted to become free. Free to their religion and beliefs and free from the government in England. Colonizing America meant being able to found a new government that everyone agreed to. These factors all added up to become the reason why the Jamestown settlers went through all the horrible events like famine and diseases.

9/4/09 Essential Question (2) - //__In which of the colonies from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts would you have preferred to be a settler? Explain FULLY why. (Include thesis focusing specially on the social and economical make up of your choice)-__//

Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are two very different colonies. The Puritans in Massachusetts allowed only one belief, creating a Utopian society. Pennsylvania on the other hand was full of a lot more freedom among the Quakers. I would prefer to be a settler in Pennsylvania due to their beliefs and their economical strength.

The Quakers befriended the Indians right away and had no qualms with them. William Penn bought land from the Indians instead of just attacking and forcing it away from them. Trade was fair and beneficial for both parties, causing the colony to prosper with no urgent needs of any provisions. The good relations with the Native Americans caused Pennsylvania to have to highest and most successful economy within the other colonies.

The freedom of worship within the colony was very much appreciated. Unlike the Puritan society, Quakers allowed the people around them to have whatever beliefs and faith that they wanted and no one was punished for believing in something different. The Quakers would not focus on spreading their own religion, but be at peace having their own unique beliefs. The only two crimes that were required punishment were murder and treason, which are two crimes that are still punished today. The laws that were made against gambling and drinking were to protect the peacefulness within the colony. Everyone was treated as an equal and no one was criticized or made fun of in any way.

9/16/09 Essential Question (2) - __//Why is the French and Indian War a major turning point between British and colonial relations? Cite specific examples focusing specifically the economical and social aspects of the period. (1763-1774) Due Thursday 2nd Period.//__

The French and Indian War affects both Britian and the American colonies. Britains success in the French and Indian War caused Britain to go into major debt. Compared to the 2 million pounds that the 13 colonies were in debt, Britain was struggling with 132 million pounds for Britain. This debt was placed on the American colonies because they were then taxed on everything. This angered the colonists and caused many to protest against it. The rights that the Englishmen had in the colonies were stripped and they were no longer treated as the Englishmen that they were. These American colonists were not getting the freedom and rights that they had possesed in England and the British success can be blamed for this. The American colonists, however, were united against Britain for the first time. The bitter feelings that were created brought the colonists closer together. The colonies were exposed to a socializing experience for everyone.

The Seven Years War shifted many feelings and many ecomonical aspects within the colonies. They're new taxes that Britian was putting on them were angering them. Then this anger brought them all together to form a more social region. This war brought the colonies together and the British on the outside, against the colonists with the colonists fighting back.

9/23/09 Essential Question (2) - __//Justify the actions of the American colonists in declaring and fighting for their independence. Essential Question Due Thursday 2nd period. 9/24/09//__

Britain's rule over the colonists had created many different conflicts within the colonies. Beginning with new taxation and the Writs of Assistance, the colonies fought back and rebelled with the War of Independence. Britain believed that they were able to control the colonies and claim all of their success for their own and the colonists did not believe this was fair. The colonists declaring and fighting for their own independence is justified by the facts that Britain was unfair to them and that the colonies should not have had to go through the taxes and Acts that Britain passed against them. They were not treated as Englishmen.

The Declaratory Act in 1766 gave Britain the right to pass any acts that they saw fit. This meant that anything they wanted taxed could be taxed and anything they wanted done would be done. The Parliament did not include any colonial representatives, therefore they had absolutely no say in what acts or laws would be passed in their own colonies. Being stripped of any power and having to follow the monarchy of King George III, was unfair to the colonists that had worked so hard to create their own nation.

Independence from Britain was the only solution for the American colonists. The Intolerable or Coercive Acts were the last straw for the colonists. Rebellion occured and the Battle of Lexington and Concord took place. This began the war between Britain and the colonists. The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 was the ending solution and the colonists got their deserved freedom.

10/11/09 __//Essential Question- How does the constitution allow for an enduring political debate? Use support from activity completed in class. (Due Sunday by 8:00 pm)//__ George Washington's presidency was the first and only one that had two different political parties within his cabinet. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton came from different colonies with different opinions on almost everything. Thomas Jefferson came from a Democratic-Republican family in Virginia and he followed in the footsteps of his father in politics. Alexander Hamilton was a federalist and came from the North. Washington could have had many reasons for choosing the diverse cabinet, like the advantage of hearing both sides of the arguments that arose and then making his decision based off the one that he saw more fit.

The Constitution was created to make everyone equal and set guidelines for our whole nation, but some of these laws or rules conflicted with the views of Jefferson and Hamilton. Therefore a debate between Jefferson and Hamilton, practically enemies, would have been long and drawn out and filled with many different opinions and arguments. Jefferson would be in favor of things based on agriculture and the common man while Hamilton focused on what would help the economy grow and help the North prosper. Funding of debts and the National Bank were two of the most debated topics during Washington's presidency. The Constitution has some amendments that favor the federalists and some that favor the Democratic-Republicans and that is why issues can arise and create enduring political debates.

10/25/09 __ //Essential Question- Was the Revolution of 1800 truly a Revolution?// __ The Election of 1800 between Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Aaron Burr was named the Revolution of 1800 by Thomas Jefferson, the victor of this competitive presidency election. Thomas Jefferson's goal was to convert the Federalist power over to his views with the Democratic-Republican party. This change of power was what he considered the 'Revolution' but there are many aspects of this election that shows it cannot be defined as a full fledged Revolution that America has already experienced in 1776. The change of power was not as drastic as past revolutions. It was the mere conflict of whether a Federalist or a Democratic-Republican would take the office, there was no major events that changed the whole nation, just a few changed by the different party taking control. The revolution in 1776 resulted in America's independence, something that affected the nation as a whole. Thomas Jefferson won the election, but he made the switch as peacefully as possible. The Election of 1800, renamed as the Revolution of 1800 by Thomas Jefferson, is not literally a revolution, just an important election in the history of the United States.