APUSH Review: Key Concept 3.2 (Period 3)

Summary

This video covers Key Concept 3.2 from period 3 (1754-1800), exploring the emergence of new political, religious, and cultural ideas that challenged traditional imperial systems. It highlights the influence of Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, on the American Revolution, the debates at the Constitutional Convention, and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The video also discusses the Articles of Confederation’s weaknesses, key compromises like the Great and Three-Fifths Compromises, and the development of political parties. Finally, it touches on the gradual abolition of slavery, the role of women, and the global impact of the American Revolution.

Takeaways

• 😀 The First Great Awakening sparked new religious movements, encouraged personal faith, and inspired colonists to question traditional authority, including government.
• 😀 Enlightenment ideas, promoted by thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, emphasized natural rights, equality, and individual merit over hereditary privilege.
• 😀 Colonists experienced significant self-governance under salutary neglect, which fueled resistance to British taxes and control after the French & Indian War.
• 😀 Thomas Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, encouraged independence from Britain and helped rally support for the American Revolution.
• 😀 The Declaration of Independence (1776) was heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideas, emphasizing life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as natural rights.
• 😀 The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, leading to issues such as trade barriers between states, inconsistent currency, high debt, and inability to maintain a national military.
• 😀 Shays' Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles and underscored the need for a stronger federal government.
• 😀 The U.S. Constitution established federalism, separation of powers, and included compromises like the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise to address representation issues.
• 😀 Political parties emerged with Federalists favoring a strong national government and pro-British policies, and Democratic-Republicans favoring states' rights and support for France.
• 😀 Social changes after the Revolution included gradual abolition laws in northern states and early advocacy for women’s rights, though significant inequality remained.
• 😀 The American Revolution and its ideas inspired global movements, including the French Revolution and independence movements in Haiti and Latin America.

Q & A

What role did the Great Awakening play in shaping American society?

The Great Awakening promoted evangelical religious fervor, challenged traditional religious authority, and helped develop a new American identity. It encouraged individuals to question authority, which also influenced political thinking and inspired experiments with self-governance.

How did Enlightenment ideas influence the American Revolution?

Enlightenment ideas emphasized natural rights, equality, and individual talent over hereditary privilege. Thinkers like John Locke and Rousseau inspired American political leaders to advocate for independence, as seen in the Declaration of Independence and revolutionary thought.

Why were the Articles of Confederation considered weak?

The Articles created a weak federal government with no executive branch, no power to tax, inconsistent state currencies, and difficulties regulating trade between states. These weaknesses led to economic problems, internal unrest, and challenges in foreign relations.

What was the significance of Shays' Rebellion?

Shays' Rebellion highlighted the economic struggles of farmers and the inability of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation to maintain order or provide a national military. It demonstrated the need for a stronger central government.

What were the key compromises made during the Constitutional Convention?

Key compromises included the Great/Connecticut Compromise, which created a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House and equal representation in the Senate, and the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted three-fifths of slaves for representation purposes.

Why was the Constitution initially controversial, and how was it ratified?

The Constitution was controversial because Anti-Federalists feared a strong central government. Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights protecting individual liberties, which secured enough support for ratification.

What factors led to the emergence of political parties in the early United States?

Political parties emerged from debates over the balance of power between the federal government and states, economic policies like Hamilton’s financial plan, foreign affairs, and interpretation of the Constitution. Federalists favored a strong central government, while Democratic-Republicans favored states’ rights.

How did early social reforms reflect the limits of the American Revolution?

Reforms included Pennsylvania's gradual abolition law, advocating education for women, and calls for greater political democracy. However, these reforms were limited, as many groups, especially women and enslaved people, still lacked full rights.

In what ways did the American Revolution influence other global movements?

The American Revolution inspired revolutions abroad, including the French Revolution (1789), Haiti’s independence (1804 under Toussaint Louverture), and early 19th-century independence movements in Latin America against Spanish rule.

What was the purpose of Thomas Paine’s *Common Sense*?

Thomas Paine’s *Common Sense* argued for American independence from Britain, criticizing monarchy and promoting the idea that it was common sense for a larger continent to govern itself rather than a distant, corrupt monarch.

What were the major challenges in implementing the Articles of Confederation in trade and foreign relations?

States could place tariffs on goods from other states, issue their own currencies, and were responsible for paying war debts individually, which hindered trade and created inflation. Internationally, Britain and Spain restricted access to strategic territories and supplied Native Americans to resist American expansion.