Dated Case 21 Bell RingersAugust 8

Where did most towns and cities pop-up during colonial times?

August 9

What made the Southern Colonies an ideal place for planting?

August 10

What was the Great Awakening and how did this effect colonist?

August 11

What was the Enlightenment? How did it impact the colonist?

August 12

Explain the Boston Massacre. Why did this happen?

August 15

Who are the Green Mountain Boys? Where are they from?

August 16

What is capitalism?

What is communism?

What is socialism?

August 17

Who is Thomas Paine? What is famous for?

August 18

What did the Declaration of Independence do? When was it signed?1

August 19

How did George Washington come to lead the Continental Army?

August 22

Explain the Boston Tea Party

August 23

List the many acts that were developed by the British and imposed on the Americans.

August 24

Who were the Sons of Liberty? Why are the important?

August 25

What did the British do after the Boston Tea Party?

August 26

What were the main reasons for the French & Indian War?

August 29

What was the Committee of Correspondence and how important was this group to the

American cause during the time leading up to the Revolutionary War?

August 30

Why was Paul Revere important to the American cause? What town was he from?

August 31

What happened at the first Continental Congress and where did it take place?

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September 1

What was the “shot heard round the world?” Where did this take place? Why did it take

place?

September 2

What was the strategy that American had at the Battle of Bunker Hill?

September 6

What advantages did American troops have over British troops during the Revolutionary

War?

September 7

What are minutemen and how did they impact the American cause?

September 8

What European nation began to help the Americans during the Revolutionary War? Why

did they not help at first?

September 9

Who was Lord Cornwallis and what happened at the Battle of Yorktown?

September 12

What was the result of the American Revolution?

September 13

What were the Articles of Confederation? Were they good or bad?

September 14

What is the main purpose of the Constitution?

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September 15

Who wrote the Constitution? Why type of man would have signed it?

September 16

Who wrote the Federalist Papers? Why was this book important?

September 19

Who was John Paul Jones?

September 20

What are the differences between a Patriot and a Loyalist?

September 21

Why was the Battle of Saratoga important?

Interpret the following quotes into your own words

September 22

“If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising

prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.”George Washington

September 23

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” 

Thomas Paine

September 26

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” 

 John Adams

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September 27

“God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country.”

Benjamin Franklin

September 28

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Quotes

“You know the rest. In the books you have readHow the British Regulars fired and fled,---How the farmers gave them ball for ball,From behind each fence and farmyard wall,Chasing the redcoats down the lane,Then crossing the fields to emerge againUnder the trees at the turn of the road,And only pausing to fire and load.

So through the night rode Paul Revere;And so through the night went his cry of alarmTo every Middlesex village and farm,---A cry of defiance, and not of fear,A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,And a word that shall echo for evermore!For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,Through all our history, to the last,In the hour of darkness and peril and need,The people will waken and listen to hearThe hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,And the midnight message of Paul Revere.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

In the first stanza, what event do you believe is being described in the poem?

What was the main purpose of the ride by Paul Revere?

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September 29

Explain how this poem is relevant and important to the American Revolution in 3

sentences.

September 30

Come up with 4-5 adjectives that come to mind when you read this poem and “you” are

Paul Revere making this ride.

October 3

"A general attack was made on the men by a great number of heavy clubs and snowballs

being thrown at them, by which all our lives were in imminent danger. . ."

What event during the American Revolution is being described in this quote?

Who do believe is telling or giving this information? Provide evidence to support your

claim.

October 4

The summer of 1776 was a harrowing time for the British colonies in America. Open

warfare with the mother country had erupted a year earlier and the future was filled

with political and military uncertainties.

What does the word harrowing mean?

Come up with a word that means the opposite as harrowing.

October 5

Nathan Hale was a lieutenant in the Continental Army. In his early twenties, Hale had

worked as a schoolteacher before the Revolution. In late September 1776 he

volunteered to cross the British lines and travel to Long Island in order to gather

6

intelligence. Unfortunately, his mission was soon discovered and he was captured by

the British. Taken to General Howe's headquarters (commander of the British forces)

Continued from page 6

in New York, the young spy was interrogated and executed on September 22. Word of

the execution was brought to General Washington's headquarters shortly after by a

British officer carrying a flag of truce.

What does the word interrogated mean in the context used?

Think of a simile for the word interrogated and create a sentence using the new word.

October 6

Do believe spying goes on in the world today? Who does it? Why do it? Is this

necessary? Write 3-4 sentences on your beliefs and ideas of spying.

October 7 (continuation of Nathan Hale’s story)

'On the morning of his execution,' continued the officer, 'my station was near the fatal

spot, and I requested the Provost Marshal to permit the prisoner to sit in my marquee,

while he was making the necessary preparations. Captain Hale entered: he was calm,

and bore himself with gentle dignity, in the consciousness of rectitude and high

intentions. He asked for writing materials, which I furnished him: he wrote two letters,

one to his mother and one to a brother officer.' He was shortly after summoned to the

gallows. But a few persons were around him, yet his, characteristic dying words were

remembered. He said, 'I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.'"

What do believe the terms “gentle dignity” means in the context used in the reading?

What did he mean by “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”?

In 2-3 sentences explain your thoughts on the military or soldiers attitudes and

perceptions are regarding the protection of the United States.

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October 11

At the end of the seventeenth century approximately 200,000 people inhabited the

British colonies in North America. The following century saw an explosion in numbers

with the population doubling about every 25 years. The majority of these new

immigrants were Scotch-Irish, Germans or African slaves. Between 1700 and the

beginning of the American Revolution, approximately 250,000 Africans, 210,000

Europeans and 50,000 convicts had reached the colonial shores.

Why did the number of Africans grow during the early days of colonial America?

What is a convict? Why did these people make the journey across the Atlantic Ocean?

October 12

With a population of approximately 55,000 in 1793, Philadelphia was America's

largest city, its capital and its busiest port. The summer of that year was unusually dry

and hot. The water levels of streams and wells were dangerously reduced, providing an

excellent breeding ground for insects. By July the city's inhabitants were remarking on

the extraordinary number of flies and mosquitoes that swarmed around the dock area.

That same month, a trickle of refugees escaping political turmoil in the Caribbean

Islands became a torrent of thousands as ship after ship unloaded its human cargo on

Philadelphia's docks. Unbeknownst to the city's inhabitants, all the necessary

ingredients for an unprecedented health disaster were now in place.

What do you believe happened because of all the flies, mosquitoes, and insects that

swarmed the area?

In the reading the word torrent was used…what do you believe the word torrent means?

What kind of health disaster do you believe took place in Americas, biggest and most

populated city?

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October 13 (Conditions at Valley Forge)

Conditions in the camp were horrendous. Forced to live in damp, crowded quarters,

Washington's army of approximately 12,000 suffered from a lack of adequate clothing

and food. Diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, typhus and pneumonia ran rampant. An

estimated 2,000 died. Morale plummeted.

Explain in 2-3 sentences how living and working at Valley Forge, under the direction of

perhaps American’s greatest general, would help you survive the harshness at Valley

Forge.

Write 4-5 adjectives that may describe the leadership of the USA during this time

knowing what is taking place at Valley Forge

October 14 (Conditions at Valley Forge)

General Washington was in despair as he watched his army disintegrate. However, as

time progressed, a transformation occurred. Under Washington's inspired leadership,

conditions improved: more food, equipment and new recruits reached the camp lifting

spirits. Most importantly, the training efforts of Baron von Steuben increased

discipline and reinvigorated pride among the troops. A former member of the General

Staff of the Prussian Army, Steuben arrived in camp in February bearing a letter of

introduction from Benjamin Franklin whom he had met in Paris

What do you believe was General Washington’s attitude during this time at Valley

Forge?

What do you believe his attitude was like prior?

Write 4-5 adjectives that may describe the mood in camp if you were a soldier

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October 17

General Cornwallis did not attend the surrender ceremony saying that he was not

feeling well. His substitute, General O'Hara, first tried to surrender to the Comte de

Rochambeau who directed the British officer to General Washington who in turn

directed him to Washington's subordinate General Lincoln. During the ceremony a

British band played the song "The World Turned Upside Down."

In your opinion why do you believe General Cornwallis did not attend the surrender?

Why do you believe the British band played the song “The World Turned Upside

Down?” What did this signify?

October 18

The Constitution of the United States was ratified by the states in June 1788. In

February of the following year the new nation's Electoral College selected George

Washington to be its first president. On April 16, 1789 Washington began the journey

from his home at Mount Vernon to New York City, then the nation's capital, where he

would be inaugurated. Washington was reluctant to leave the serenity of his home and

uncertain about his new position. His journal entry for that day noted:

"About 10 o'clock I bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life, and to domestic

felicity, and with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I

have words to express, set out for New York in company with Mr. Thompson, and

Colonel Humphries, with the best dispositions to render service to my country in

obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its expectations."

In the text he says “with less hope of answering its expectations,” what does that mean?

Do you believe he had a lot of pressure on him or less pressure on him, being the newly

elected president of the USA? Provide evidence from the text to support your claim.

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October 19

The labor-intensive agriculture of the New World demanded a large workforce. Crops

such as sugar cane, tobacco and cotton required an unlimited and inexpensive supply

of strong backs to assure timely production for the European market. Slaves from

Africa offered the solution. The slave trade between Western Africa and the America's

reached its peak in the mid-18th century when it is estimated that over 80,000 Africans

annually crossed the Atlantic to spend the rest of their lives in chains. Of those who

survived the voyage, the final destination of approximately 40% was the Caribbean

Islands. Thirty-eight percent ended up in Brazil, 17% in Spanish America and 6% in

the United States.

Using the information in this text create a circle/bar graph indicating where most African

slaves were shipped to in the New World.

October 20

A slave's journey to a life of servitude often began in the interior of Africa with his or

her capture as a prize of war, as tribute given by a weak tribal state to a more powerful

one, or by outright kidnapping by local traders. European slave traders rarely ventured

beyond Africa's coastal regions. The African interior was riddled with disease, the

natives were often hostile and the land uncharted. The Europeans preferred to stay in

the coastal region and have the natives bring the slaves to them.

According to the reading who did most of the trapping/kidnapping and trade of Africans?

At what level were Europeans involved in the trapping/kidnapping of Africans? Why

was their role limited?

What role did Europeans play in the slave trade?

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October 21

Mary Jemison was born on the ship that brought her Irish parents, brothers and sisters

to America in 1743. A few years later her family moved from Philadelphia to a

homestead on the Pennsylvania frontier. The family toiled on the edge of civilization

transforming the wilderness to cultivated soil. Each new day brought with it the fear of

attack by wild beast or hostile Indian. These fears became reality on the morning of a

spring day in 1758. The British colonies were engulfed in a war against the French.

The Iroquois Confederacy (consisting of the Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, Mohawk,

Onondaga, and Tuscorora Indians) allied with the French against the British. On that

spring morning in 1758 a small raiding party made up of French and Indians swooped

down on the frontier settlement capturing a number of British colonialists including

Mary and most of her family (two of her brothers escaped.) At age thirteen, Mary's life

changed forever. From that day until her death 78 years later she never left the Indian

culture.

What historical event is being described in this text?

Why do you believe Mary did not go back to her village or try to live the lifestyle/culture

she was accustomed to prior to being kidnapped?

October 24

William Byrd II was born in Virginia in 1674 but was soon taken to England where he

was educated. He remained there until his father's death in 1704. He returned to the

colony and took over the management of Westover, the family plantation on the James

River. He became an influential member of the Virginia aristocracy and was appointed

to the colony's Council of State in 1708. He owned vast amounts of land

(approximately 179,000 acres) and numerous plantations. He founded two cities -

Richmond and Appomattox - on his land. He died in 1744.

What does the word aristocracy mean? Come up with a word that means the opposite

and write a sentence using it in the correct form.

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October 25 (Abigail Adams letter to her sister describing the White House)

"...We have had some very cold weather and we feel it keenly. This house is twice as

large as our meeting House. I believe the great Hall is as big. I am sure tis twice as

long. Cut your coat according to your Cloth. But this house is built for ages to come...I

had much rather live in the house at Philadelphia. Not one room or chamber is

finished of the whole. It is habitable by fires in every part, thirteen of which we are

obliged to keep daily, or sleep in wet and damp places."

What are some of the problems described in her letter about the new house?

What does the sentence “Cut your coat according to your Cloth,” mean?

Why do you believe she would rather live in Philadelphia?

October 26 ( The burning of Washington DC, 1812)

"... the blazing of houses, ships, and stores, the report of exploding magazines, and the

crash of falling roofs informed them, as they proceeded, of what was going forward.

You can conceive nothing finer than the sight which met them as they drew near to the

town. The sky was brilliantly illuminated by the different conflagrations, and a dark

red light was thrown upon the road, sufficient to permit each man to view distinctly his

comrade's face.

Circle words that you do not know. Come up with similar words to replace those and re-

write the passage.

13

October 27

The atmosphere at the Presidential Mansion was one of controlled panic. The First

Lady(Dolly Madison) prepared to flee taking with her as many state documents and

other prized possessions as she could hurriedly gather. Among these was a full-length

portrait of George Washington that hung in the State Dining Room. She was aware

that the British troops had boasted that, if they captured her, she would be sent to

England in irons and exhibited on the streets of London. This knowledge only

accentuated the importance of her escaping the city as soon as possible.

Do you believe it was her place to save and take items from the White House as the

British troops marched on Washington DC to burn the city? Support your claim.

Do you believe her assumptions were correct if she was captured by the British? Support

your claim.

October 28 (Dolly Madison’s letter to her sister)

Three o' clock - Will you believe it, my sister? We have had a battle, or skirmish, near

Bladensburg, and here I am still, within sound of the cannon! Mr. Madison comes not.

May God protect us! Two messengers, covered with dust, come to bid me fly; but here I

mean to wait for him. . . At this late hour a wagon has been procured, and I have had it

filled with plate and the most valuable portable articles, belonging to the house. Whether

it will reach its destination, the Bank of Maryland, or fall into the hands of British

soldiery, events must determine.

Our kind friend, Mr. Carroll, has come to hasten my departure, and in a very bad humor

with me, because I insist on waiting until the large picture of General Washington is

secured, and it requires to be unscrewed from the wall. This process was found too

tedious for these perilous moments; I have ordered the frame to be broken, and the

canvas taken out. It is done! and the precious portrait placed in the hands of two

gentlemen of New York, for safe keeping.

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And now, dear sister, I must leave this house, or the retreating army will make me a

prisoner in it by filling up the road I am directed to take. When I shall again write to you,

or where I shall be tomorrow, I cannot tell!"

In your own words come up with different words and/or phrases for the

underlined/bolded areas in the text and revise the statement.

October 31 Saved by an Indian Maiden

The story begins when Captain John Smith and two English companions are ambushed

by Indians. After killing his two companions, the Indians take Smith to their chief,

Powhatan. After two months in captivity, Powhatan determines to have the Englishman

clubbed to death in a ritual ceremony. According to Smith, the plan is thwarted only

when the chief's daughter, Pocahontas (then aged 11 or 12), throws herself between him

and his attackers causing her father to relent. Smith published his account of the incident

in 1624.

Create a picture of the description from above in the box provided.

15

November 1

On the afternoon of August 19, 1812 a mortal combat took place between the USS

Constitution and the British frigate Guerriere 750 miles off the coast of Massachusetts.

Barely fifty yards apart; each ship fired its twenty-two cannon point-blank into its

opponent. The barrage from the British frigate seemed to be having little effect,

however, as its cannon balls bounced off the Constitution's rugged oak sides. Seeing

this, one of the Constitution's crewmen shouted: "Huzza, her sides are made of iron!"

The Constitution's nickname was born.

What nickname was given to the USS Constitution?

What war did this battle take place?

November 2 (Battle of New Orleans)

Jackson arrived in the city on December 2, 1814 and found its citizens in near-panic. A

British naval force appeared on near-by Lake Borgne on December 12 and quickly

destroyed the American defenses there. By December 23 the British land force was only

8 miles south of the city. Jackson announced to the British that he was ready to fight

by immediately launching an attack. Rebuffed, Jackson retreated only three miles

towards the city where he ordered the digging of a watery trench bordered by a massive

breastwork that stretched some 1000 yards from the swamps to the Mississippi River.

Here, Jackson would make his stand. The battle was joined during the early-morning

hours of January 8, 1815. Poor leadership, confusion on the battlefield, the swampy

terrain and American tenacity combined to create a debacle for the British Army.

Within an hour after it started, the fight was ended with the surrender of the British on

the battlefield. The British suffered an estimated 300 killed and 1,200 wounded while

the Americans counted 13 killed and 52 wounded or missing.

What was the outcome of the Battle of New Orleans?

What was strange about this battle?

What does the phrase “Jackson would make his stand” mean?

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November 3

Define: Rebuffed, terrain, tenacity, & debacle as used in the text

November 4 ( Give 4-5 adjectives to describe this picture & place in the box)

17

November 9 (Do you know current or past military people? Who?) VETERANS DAY

November 10

Who are these two men? What are their jobs? How long do they have their jobs?

November 11

The relationship between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr was charged with

political rivalry and personal animosity. Alexander Hamilton, the nation's first

Secretary of the Treasury, was the chief author of The Federalist papers advocating a

strong central government. Burr represented the old Republican Party. His greatest 18

accomplishment was achieved in 1800 when he was elected Vice President to Thomas

Jefferson. Hamilton considered Burr an unprincipled rogue. The antagonism between

the two came to a head in 1804 when Hamilton thwarted Burr's attempt to gain re-

nomination for Vice President as well as his bid to win the governorship of New York.

Burr responded by challenging his antagonist to a duel, an invitation Hamilton felt

compelled to accept.

What does the underlined word animosity mean?

Create a sentence using a similar word in place of animosity.

In your opinion, why did Hamilton consider Burr “an unprincipled rogue?”

What does the word “thwarted?” mean

November 14

The moral inconsistency of slavery existing within a nation founded upon the sanctity

of individual freedom was well recognized in the early days of America's history. All 13

colonies legalized slavery at the beginning of America's War of Independence in 1775.

By the time the nation's Constitution was ratified 13 years later; five states had

abolished the practice.

Why did only 5 states practice slavery out of the original 13?

Create an argument for or against slavery in the 13 colonies in 2-3 sentences. Included

specific facts.

November 15

Explain the Three-Fifths Compromise in detail.

Was this the right decision to come to when it came to the counting of slaves towards

population? Justify your answer in 2-3 sentences.

19

November 16

Who is considered the “Father of the Constitution?”

When, where, and how was the Constitution signed?

How many states needed ratify the Constitution for it to become law?

Why did two members not sign the Constitution?

November 17

Explain several ideas Americans came up with from John Locke.

Explain Natural Rights. Do we have them today?

November 18 (Andrew Jackson’s inauguration)

Give a description in 2-3 sentences of what is taking place in the picture. Page 363 in the

book if you need to a refresher.

What would you do if you were involved in this picture? 20

November 28

Explain in detail the “Corrupt Bargain.”

November 29

Explain the following colonial political cartoon. Give details to support your claim.

November 30 (Choose which response represents the cartoon)

a. King George and George Washington upset over the revolution.

b. Britain and the colonist going to war.

c. Britain and the colonies of the new world opening trade routes.

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December 1

What group of men raided Fort Ticonderoga…the first time? Who was their leader?

What did the men get that was important to the American cause?

December 2

What role did women play in the Revolutionary War? What about African Americans?

December 5

Who did the gentlemen at the Second Continental Congress choose as the leader of the

Continental Army? Why did they choose him?

December 6

Triangular Trade was the never ending cycle that had a lasting impact on the New World

and Europe. What impact did this cycle have on the New World? What impact did this

have on Europe? How did this effect Africans?

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December 7

Explain in several sentences how this political cartoon is connected to Triangular Trade.

December 8

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might

after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors.

They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the

company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our

arms, and many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest

king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and

feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation

and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be

not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are

so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

What event do you think is taking place in the reading from above?

In the space provided draw a quick picture of the description from above.

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December 9

The Pilgrim's journey to America began in 1608 when they were forced to leave their

native England for Holland. Their Puritan religious beliefs were in conflict with those

of England's Anglican Church. As the Anglican Church and the monarchy of King

James I were one, the Puritan's opposition could be interpreted as treason;

consequently, they felt it prudent to leave the country. Problems plagued their

departure from the start. Leaving Southampton on August 5 aboard two ships (the

Mayflower and the Speedwell) they were forced back when the Speedwell began to

leak. A second attempt was thwarted when the Speedwell again began to leak and

again the hapless Pilgrims returned to port. Finally, after abandoning the Speedwell,

102 Pilgrim passengers departed from Plymouth aboard the Mayflower on September

6. The intended destination was Virginia where they planned to start a colony. After a

journey of 66 days they made landfall at Cape Cod near present-day Provincetown -

more than 600 miles off course.

What rights did the Pilgrims seek in the New World?

What rights in America today do you feel is the most important for you?

December 12

The Dutch traders were primarily interested in furs – beaver furs for fashionable hats.

Their principal trading partner was the Mohawks who lived in the area surrounding

Fort Orange. The Mohawks were a part of the Iroquois family of Native Americans

that also included the Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca tribes. Three centuries

earlier, hardships, that included famine and warfare, forced these groups to abandon

their homeland in the Mississippi Valley and make an exodus to the New York area.

The Iroquois invasion was a gradual process in which the tribes carved out separate

homelands by ousting the resident Algonquians. The Mohawks had established

themselves in the area of the headwaters of the Hudson River approximately one

hundred years before the arrival of the Dutch.

Explain how you believe the fur trade was beneficial to both the Dutch and Mohawks.

24

Write 3-4 adjectives that describe the fur trade.

What were the relations like between Native Americans and Europeans involved in the

fur trade? Were these relations always good, why or why not?

December 13

President Washington has decided to give his farewell address in DCMS gym. You have

been asked to introduce him to the school. Come up with 3-4 sentences to introduce him.

December 14

If you had been a Shoshone or Mandan leader, would you have decided to help Lewis

and Clark? Explain your reasons. Create a political cartoon depicting Westward

Expansion

December 15

What are the two places that the "shot heard 'round the world" refer to?

Who was the British King during the war?

America received foreign aid from what country?

December 16

What was the last major battle of the American Revolution?

Where did the battle take place that was known as the "Turning Point" of the American

Revolution?

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