Summer Reading List AP/H/GT U.S.

History

Dear Student, This summer you need to borrow or purchase a copy of Birth of the Republic by Edmund Morgan. You need to complete the following study guide as you read the book. The study guide must be turned in August 30, 2013. You will have a test over the book that day. I will not accept the study guide if it is typed, it must be handwritten. You will also have a major test over the book at that time as well.

United States History Honors/AP

Study Guide
Edmund Morgan: Birth of the Republic

Although originally published in 1956, this book is still considered one of the best expositions on the origins of our nation-state. It covers the period from 1764 (after the French and Indian War) to the ratification of the Constitution in 1789. Morgan deals with this intensely important period of some twenty years in a little over 160 pages. Obviously, he is only trying to deal with a limited topic. As you read, try to determine what precisely his topic was. The book is not difficult to read, and it is tempting to read it very quickly. Please do not give into this temptation. Read carefully and thoughtfully. Morgan assumes a great deal of knowledge; you may find it worthwhile to use your text or another source to find out more about some of the people and events which Morgan simply mentions. Remember, as historians, we must pay attention not only to the history that is being presented in what we read, but also the viewpoint of the author presenting. Read for tone, assumptions, and viewpoint as well as to understand the history being retold. QUESTIONS: BE SURE you know the author and title of the book.

1. LEXINGTON GREEN a. What is the purpose of this brief little intro chapter? b. What is the importance of the battle at Lexington? c. This chapter contains the authors thesis for the book. What is it? 2. THE AMERICANS AND THE EMPIRE a. Morgan argues that, despite many differences among colonists, they also had much in common. He delineates seven shared characteristics. List them and give a brief summary. b. Who were the outstanding exceptions to this shared experience? c. According to Morgan, did the colonists see themselves as revolutionists or conservators? d. Why do you think Morgan would conclude the shared belief that men in power are prone to corruption would, in Morgans words, keep Americans traveling together in the same direction?

e. Would Morgan be apt to agree with the following assessment: The revolution was a result of the colonial elites attempt to preserve their economic and social dominance? Explain your answer. f. Morgan tells us that he believes that most men owned property and so could vote. He uses this to assume that most colonists were politically active. Any questions for the author about this assumption? g. A commonly used expression to describe British control over the colonies prior to 1763 is benign neglect. Would Morgan agree with this description? Explain. h. How did colonial assemblies control royal governors? i. Why did the Navigation Acts not seriously harm the colonial economies? j. What does Morgan conclude was the most important aspect of the British administration of their colonial policy (prior to 1763) rather it was intended or not? k. NOTE: MORGAN ARGUES THAT THE COLONISTS APPLAUDED THE RESULTS OF THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION IN ENGLANDBY WHICH PARLIAMENT GAINED PERMANENT SUPREMACY OVER THE KINGTHEREBY ESTABLISHING THE IDEA THAT LAWS SHOULD BE MADE BY THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED NOT MERELY BY THE WHIM OF A RULER. REMEMBER THIS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. l. Read carefully Morgans argument at the end of this chapter. What does he suggest becomes the problem for the colonists of this notion of supremacy of Parliament? 3. PEACE WITHOUT HONOR a. How does Morgan explain the repeal of the Stamp Act? b. According to the author, why was this misunderstanding so important to future relations with the colonists? c. NOTE CAREFULLY THE IMPORTANCE OF BRITISH POLITICS ON THE FUTURE OF THE COLONIES AND THE MANNER IN WHICH MORGAN CHARACTERIZES FRANKLINS APPEAL TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. d. What was the significance of the Townsend Acts...or what the colonists came to call the Intolerable Acts? e. What was colonial reaction to the Boards of Custom Commissioners created by England to collect these customs duties? How does Morgan characterize these men? f. What does this sentence tell you about the premises of Morgans history? Americans have never been a Patient People.

G. Note contrast of views between English leaders and colonists on these troublesome times in the colonies as described. Morgan is calling our attention to the fact that there were several perspectives on this issue. HOWEVER, WHOSE SIDE DOES HE SEEM TO FAVOR? HOW DO YOU KNOW? h. How does the English government decide to settle the problems in the colonies? 4. TROOPS AND TEA a. According to Morgan, why did the colonists find it hard to believe the English governments rationale for sending troops to America in 1768that the colonists needed protection? b. In this chapter Morgan argues that the grounds for colonial opposition to British intervention in the colonies began to change. What is the new position taken by some of the colonial leadership? c. Why was the behavior of the Bostonians, in reaction to the arrival of British regulars, important to the development of the revolution? d. As Britain begins to punish rebellious Boston, why do other colonists begin to express sympathy for the Bostonians? Using Morgans choice of words as a basis for judgment, assess his views of which side was in the right. e. What question does Morgan say all historians of the period must eventually address? What is Morgans answer and how does he justify it? f. Thesis: Morgan assumes that men act in a reasonable fashion. Write a paragraph which could be used to support this thesis. g. List three or four of the developments which Morgan argues brought an end to the period of improved relations between Britain and the colonies. h. What was the reason for the call for a Continental Congress in 1774? 5. EQUAL RIGHTS AND EQUAL MEN a. Characterize the mindset of the delegates to the Continental Congress? b. Why was Sam Adams an important figure in this meeting? c. What is the basic argument, according to Morgan, for the colonial position that Parliament had no authority over them at all?

d. How does Morgan characterize the mood of the delegates upon adjournment of the Congress? THESIS: The delegates to that convention were essentially conservative men. What evidence does Morgan offer to support this thesis? e. What is the discovery made by these delegates which would fundamentally change the course of history? NOTE THAT MORGAN ARGUES THE BRITISH PUSHED THE COLONISTS TO THIS POSITION. MORGAN HAS INTRODUCED A NEW THEME INTO THE BOOK HEREWHAT IS IT? f. How did the British view the colonial behavior at the Continental Congress? g. April 19th, 1775the battles of Lexington and ConcordWhat is Morgans tone as he describes these incidents? h. What was the purpose of the Olive Branch Petition? i. ACCORDING TO MORGAN, WHY WAS THERE A REVOLUTION? j. Why were Paine and Common Sense so important in this story? k. NOTE CAREFULLY MORGANS DESCRIPTION OF LOCKIAN BELIEF AND HIS POSITION THAT MANY COLONISTS KNEW THIS PHILOSOPHY AND HAD ACCEPTED FOR YEARS BEFORE THIS REVOLUTION DEVELOPED. L. THINK about what you have read in this chapter. IN A SENTENCE OR TWO, DESCRIBE YOUR SENSE OF THE FLOW OF THESE EXCITING TIMES AS MORGAN PICTURES THEM FOR US. 6. WAR AND PEACE a. How does Morgan account for the American victory in the war? b. According to the author, what primarily motivated France and Spain to give aid to the American revolutionaries? In hindsight, might those rulers have regretted that decision? Why? c. What was the major accomplishment of the US Peace Commissioners in negotiating an end to the war? Who were those men? (Peace of Paris, Sept. 1783) 7. THE INDEPENDENT STATES a. How does Morgan explain the lack of any major social revolution in America during or as a result of the political revolution? b. Summarize the ways in which the colonists experiences with Britain affected the new governments which they created. c. According to Morgan, why did the new constitutions not create governments in which reflected the principle of equality of all men? How does Morgan excuse our founding fathers from a charge of hypocrisy on this issue?

d. What evidence does Morgan use to suggest that, although the revolution did not rid our society of all inequalities, it certainly did make some Americans aware of the need to redress social ills? e. According to this historian, which groups gained and lost most economically from the Revolution? f. What answer does Morgan give to those who criticize the American Revolutionary leaders for failing to bring fundamental social and economic change? According to Morgan, what was the most radical effect of the Revolution? 8. THE INDEPENDENT NATION a. How did our revolution differ from many of more recent years? b. READ CAREFULLY THE PARAGRAPH WHICH BEGINSONCE THEY TURNED What does he intend when he notes that the means became an end? When have we, as a nation, seen other peoples nationalism as ugly or dangerous? c. Would Morgan accept or reject this thesis: The colonists rather stumbled into a revolutionary philosophy to justify actions they had already taken. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER. d. Morgan believes that the Federal Government predated state governments. What evidence does he use to support this contention? e. How does Morgan account for the creation of a very weak central government under the Articles? What most important power was denied to the central government under this document? f. Explain the issue created by western lands held by some states but not others. What was the role of land speculators in this issue? How was the issue resolved? NOTE PARTICULARLY THE ARGUMENT ABOUT THE PROPER SIZE OF A REPUBLIC. g. When did the Articles of Confederation become the official government of the new nation? NOTE THAT THIS IS BEFORE THE WAR IS ENDED. 9. THE CRITICAL PERIOD a. Why does the author put this chapter title in quotes? b. How does Morgan justify his assertion that the accomplishments of the US under the Articles were impressive? c. Describe the Ordinances of 1784 and 1787, noting not only what they did but their importance. d. Morgan has several times in this book made the point that sometimes self-interest and principle have met to produce an equally desirable result. Where does he see that happy product in this discussion of the Northwest Ordinance?

e. What were the basic economic problems faced by the new nations (at least as identified here) and what was the basic solution? (AGAIN NOTE MORGANS ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SOME BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AMERICANS.) f. Identify the social problems Morgan believes were experienced by the new nation during this period. g. Although the perspectivethroughto those of eastern merchants, Morgan reminds us of the need to be historically minded. What does that phrase mean? h. According to Morgan, how did many of the Founding Fathers view the new government of the Confederation? What evidence does Morgan give to suggest that although the Confederation accomplished some important things, in many ways it was failing to meet the needs of the time? i. Describe Shays Rebellion. What impact might the uprising have on the willingness of some to consider a stronger central government? 10. THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION a. Take notes of the events which led to the Philadelphia Convention. Does Morgan regard this proposal for the meeting in Philadelphia as revolutionary? How do you know? Do you suppose if someone proposed a similar meeting today it would be considered the same way? b. Which state did not send a delegate to Philadelphia? c. How did Beards vision of the Founding Fathers differ from those historians who wrote earlier than he? How does Morgan view Beards conclusions? On what grounds does Morgan criticize Beards characterization of Roger Sherman? ACCORDING TO MORGAN, WHY DOES THE CONVENTION SUCCEED? d. Would Morgan agree that the Founding Fathers could properly be described as pragmatic men? Explain your answer. e. What agreement constituted the so-called Great Compromise? Why was this concession so important? Morgan says this compromise still impairs the equality of men for which the little states were fighting. What does this mean? f. What does the Constitution say about slavery? Why was the issue not more strongly addressed? g. Note how compromises were also reached between those who wanted to preserve some power to the states and those who wanted an even more powerful central government. h. What decisions were made to improve the chances that the new document would be ratified?

11. RATIFICATION a. Morgan argues that the members of the convention were much more aware of the national danger. He gives no evidence for that assertion. List several reasons he might use to support his position. b. Why did the question of scale of representation raise such alarm among the citizenry? c. Note the questions about the proper role of a representative. Is he a filter or a spout? This is a question which we have yet to resolve. d. What term was used to identify those who favored the Constitution? e. Describe some various questionable means which were used in some states to get the Constitution ratified. POLITICAL INTRIGUE IS NOT A CREATION OF THE LAST TWENTY YEARS! f. Why was that the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution after initial ratification. (In what year does the Constitution become officially the government of the nation?) g. Does Morgan agree with those critics of the new government that it denied the democratic fervor of the revolution? Explain his answer.

Its a short book although there is a great deal of interest in it, wasnt there?!!?!!!