SAQs for APUSH Topic 3.6 — The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals

Ten questions designed to help students review for the annual exam and that relate to the impact of the lofty ideas that inspired the colonists to revolt in 1776.

1. Name one revolutionary ideal?
2. The ideals that inspired the colonist to revolt against the British in 1776 influenced some Americans to call for the abolition of slavery. This in turn led to all northern states abolishing slavery by 1804 and the country as whole abolishing slavery more than a half-century later. Name one religious group that in the years before, during, and after the revolution called for the abolition of slavery. Briefly describe one major way in which the issue of slavery was addressed at the Constitutional Convention. Also, briefly describe one major difference between the 13th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation.
3. The ideals that inspired the colonist to revolt against the British in 1776 influenced some Americans to call for an expanded role for women in society. One piece of evidence in support of this claim is something called “Republican Motherhood” — an attitude toward women that centered on the belief that the patriots’ daughters should be raised to uphold the ideals of republicanism, in order to pass on republican values to the next generation. Name and briefly describe one “republican value.” To be able to raise their children to uphold the ideals of republicanism, what was one thing that mothers encouraged to do?
4. The ideals that inspired the colonist to revolt against the British in 1776 influenced some Americans to call for the creation of laws that, remembered the ladies and were more generous and favorable to them than their ancestors. Evidence in support of this claim is Abigail Adams’ 1776 letter to her husband, the third president of the United States. What “extraordinary code of laws” did Abigail Adams want to see created? What did she threaten if these laws were not created?
5. The ideals that inspired the colonist to revolt against the British in 1776 influenced some Americans to call for a broader definition of the word democracy when used in terms of the new state governments. Virginia, for example, attempted to broaden the definition of democracy by creating a law, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, that allowed people to worship their own religion of choice. New Hampshire also passed a law to broaden the definition of democracy. What did this law permit? (clue: no other state had ever passed a law like this before.)
6. The ideals that inspired the colonist to revolt against the British in 1776 influenced some Americans to call for a broader definition of the word democracy when used in terms of any new national government that would follow the revolution. One piece of evidence in support of this claim is the Bill of Rights. What is the Bill of Rights?
7. The ideals that inspired the colonist to revolt against the British in 1776 influenced some people living outside of the US to call for independence from their own country’s imperial authority. Name one people who were inspired by American revolutionary ideals to seek independence against their own country’s imperial authority.