Haley Gurtler
1
All questions need to be answered in a “short answer” format. Your answers should
be 2-4 paragraphs in length. The length is less important than answering the
question completely. Also, you MUST connect each question to the present. Think
in terms of “lasting impact.” (Why is the topic important/what effects does it have
on our world now/why do we still study it?)
*Each question is worth 12.5 points. The entire test is work 100 points. Partial
credit will be given when necessary.
1. Analyze the reasons for escalating anti-British sentiment among American
colonists in the decade (1765-1775) preceding the Revolution. Then look at
the rising Anti-British sentiment form the British perspective. Were the Acts
being passed by Parliament entirely unreasonable?
There are many reasons for the anti-British sentiment among the colonists.
One of the reasons could be due to the laws and rules that were in place for the
colonists to follow. The Stamp Act was the most famous act that affected the
colonists. One of the most infamous acts was the Declaratory Act of 1766. This act
stated the Parliament’s supremacy ruled even in American colonies. This act
asserted the authority to enforce any rule in Britain within the colonies, despite
what the circumstances.
Fault can be seen in four main acts of the British nations. First, the Sugar act
was unreasonable solely for the fact that the taxes were way to high. Partially, there
was a lack of enforcement of this act, causing the law to be broken continuously.
Without having a government to hold up the law, the law serves no useful purpose.
Next, the Currency Act was also unreasonable. This took the colonial script, the
colonies’ form of money, and made the script illegal. The only way that the script
from then on served a purpose was to trade it in for the British money issued by the
Bank of England. For every two colonial scripts, one Bank of England note would be
given. This cut all profit in half.
The Quartering Act of 1765 was also another unreasonable act. This allowed
the soldiers to live in the house of colonies, and to provide supplies and barracks for
the soldiers. Especially in this day in age, this would be something very hard to
accept. There should be no reason as to why the British couldn’t provide the correct
housing for their soldiers. The American colonists didn’t want them to be in the
colonies, so forcing housing upon the colonies was way out of line of the British
government. Finally, the Stamp Act. Without giving the colonies fully representation
or any voice in the laws that were being passed, but still being forced to house the
soldiers and pay the taxes to the British government was the drawing line for the
colonists. After the Stamp Act, the colonists decided it was time to fight for the long-
earned freedom that they so much deserved.
The Acts had an important effect on our nation now. The revolt of the
colonists against the British got our nation started. Without the revolt, our nation
Haley Gurtler
2
would not be able to be the nation it is. Even waiting to revolt or revolting against
Britain too soon could have changed our nations entire course of history. It is
important to study this part of our nation’s history because we need to learn about
the events that got us to revolt, how to handle situations that may arise like this, and
to learn why things have become the way that they are in our nation due to these
revolts of the colonists against the British government.
2. Freedom and an individual’s right to vote became interchangeable in the wake of
the Revolution. Discuss how that transformation came about and how the definition
of “eligible voter” has evolved over the centuries.
The right to vote came to be when the Constitution was being formed. To
have equal and majority representation in the House and Senate, there had to be a
vote to decide who was going to be able to take those positions within the House
and Senate for each state. Over time, the equality for everyone has been given.
Currently in the United States, any 18 years of age and older with a current/valid
voter’s registration can vote. Over the past 250 years (more or less), our nation has
made great strides towards all equality for voters.
The definition of the eligible voter has changed greatly over the nations.
When voting was introduced into the new nation of the United States, the only
people allowed to vote were white males who owned property. When segregation
