Changes

"to settle."

"to settle."

3.  When a question completely baffles you, such as a question asking for a motive or reason for something, look to money as the answer.  Historical events and politics are motivated more by money than most students realize.  When you're lost and can't explain why people did something, think of how money would have influenced people.

3.  When a question completely baffles you, such as a question asking for a motive or reason for something, '''look to money-related answers'''.  Historical events and politics are motivated more by money than most students realize.  When you're lost and can't explain why people did something, think of how money issues would have influenced them.

4.  Finally, '''view multiple choice questions like a puzzle'''.  Learn to enjoy solving them.  Don't let any test or question intimidate you.  Multiple choice questions become much easier when you find a way to enjoy figuring out their puzzles.

4.  Finally, '''view multiple choice questions like a puzzle'''.  Learn to enjoy solving them.  Don't let any test or question intimidate you.  Multiple choice questions become much easier when you find a way to enjoy figuring out their puzzles.

That does not mean both sides were partly right for what they did.  One side may be completely wrong, but it still had a motivation to act as it did.  Often the reason is either to make more money, or to gain more power (or self-glory).

That does not mean both sides were partly right for what they did.  One side may be completely wrong, but it still had a motivation to act as it did.  Often the reason is either to make more money, or to gain more power (or self-glory).

'''Question''':  was the American Revolution a "conservative revolution?"  It was not a true "revolution" because it did not attempt to overthrow and remove King George III, who ruled for 60 years (including nearly 40 years after American Revolution).  The American Revolution was not motivated to establish a brand new future with its own revolutionary leader, because for the first few years after the Revolution the colonies (then states) refused to have a president at all.  Instead, the American Revolution was an attempt to restore natural God-given rights and self-governance to the colonies, a "conservative" result.

'''Question''':  was the American Revolution a "conservative revolution?"  It was not a typical "revolution" because it did not attempt to overthrow and replace King George III, who ruled for 60 years (including nearly 40 years after American Revolution).  The American Revolution was not motivated to establish a brand new future with its own revolutionary leader, because for the first few years after the Revolution the colonies (then states) refused to have a president at all.  Instead, the American Revolution was an attempt to restore natural God-given rights (such as life, liberty and pursuit of happiness) and self-governance to the colonies, a "conservative" result.

==State Constitutions==

==State Constitutions==

All state constitutions then, and now, contain references to [[God]].<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/states_god.html</ref>   

All state constitutions then, and now, contain references to [[God]].<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/states_god.html</ref>   

But many colonists were fed up with kings, and their opposition to concentrating power in one person was reflected in the states' constitutions by concentrating power in the legislative branch rather than in a single executive officer like a governor.  New state governors typically lacked the power to veto any legislation.  Instead, a bill became law as soon as the legislature passed it, without needing the governor's signature.  In many states, the governor was even elected by the legislature.

Many colonists were fed up with kings, and their opposition to concentrating power in one person was reflected in the states' constitutions by concentrating power in the legislative branch rather than in a single executive officer like a governor.  New state governors typically lacked the power to veto any legislation.  Instead, a bill became law as soon as the legislature passed it, without needing the governor's signature.  In many states, the governor was even elected by the legislature.

Short terms of office were also used to limit the power of governors.  Some state constitutions used only one year as the term of office for governor.

Short terms of office were also used to limit the power of governors.  Some state constitutions used only one year as the term of office for governor.

The state courts lacked power too.  In Pennsylvania, the general assembly could remove judges at any time for vaguely defined "misbehavior".  The situation was similar in Rhode Island.  One judge decided that Rhode Island's attempts to force citizens to use paper money was unconstitutional.  He and other judges who agreed with him were then dismissed by the legislature.

The state courts lacked power too.  In Pennsylvania, the general assembly could remove judges at any time for vaguely defined "misbehavior".  The situation was similar in Rhode Island.  When one judge decided that Rhode Island's attempts to force citizens to use paper money was unconstitutional, he (and other judges who agreed with him) were then dismissed by the legislature.

'''Debate:  Were state constitutions right or misguided in concentrating nearly all power in the legislature?'''

'''Debate:  Were state constitutions right or misguided in concentrating nearly all power in the legislatures?'''

==The Articles of Confederation==

==The Articles of Confederation==

Before and during the war, the [[Continental Congress]] met repeatedly to organize war efforts and try to govern all the colonies.  This Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and proposed the Articles of Confederation in 1777.  The Declaration of Independence, which we honor on July 4th, first coined the name the "United States of America" as follows: the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America."  On November 15, 1777, this name was formally given to the new country when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.  Its first Article states: "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'"  Thus it was the [[Articles of Confederation]], not the [[Constitution]], that first established the [[United States of America]].  The Articles of Confederation were ratified by all 13 colonies in 1781, which converted them from "colonies" into "states".  But due to flaws in the Articles of Confederation, they lasted only eight (8) years, and were replaced by the Constitution in 1789.

Before and during the war, the [[Continental Congress]] met repeatedly to organize war efforts and try to resolve some issues for all the colonies as needed.  This Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and proposed the Articles of Confederation in 1777.  The Declaration of Independence, which we honor on July 4th, first coined the name the "United States of America" as follows: the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America."  On November 15, 1777, this name was formally given to the new country when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.  Its first Article states: "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'"  Thus it was the [[Articles of Confederation]], not the [[Constitution]], that first established the [[United States of America]].  The Articles of Confederation were ratified by all 13 colonies in 1781, which converted them from "colonies" into "states".  But due to flaws in the Articles of Confederation, they lasted only eight (8) years, and were replaced by the Constitution in 1789.

The Articles of Confederation is a long and detailed document, available now on the internet, which expressly includes many powers and rights that are left unsaid by the subsequent Constitution.  The Articles expressly authorized the people to recall their representatives, for example.   

The Articles of Confederation is a long and detailed document, available now on the internet, which expressly includes many powers and rights that are left unsaid by the subsequent Constitution.  The Articles expressly authorized the people to recall their representatives, for example.   

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was given the power to declare war, raise an army and navy, make commercial treaties, borrow money, control currency, and levy assessments against the states.  But Congress lacked the power to impose taxes on the people to pay for any of that.  It could ask the states for money, but could not force them to pay.  The power to raise an army is almost meaningless without the means to raise money to pay the army.   

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was given the power to declare war, raise an army and navy, make commercial treaties, borrow money, control currency, and levy assessments against the states.  But Congress lacked the power to impose taxes on the people to pay for any of that.  It could ask the states for money, but could not force them to pay.  The power to raise an army is almost meaningless without the means to raise money to pay the army.   

'''In sum, the Articles of Confederation created a very weak national government, too weak to accomplish what needed to be done'''.  Several serious problems below illustrated the defects in the national government.  A new convention would be needed to fix the Articles, and instead it decided to create a whole new system of government.

'''In sum, the Articles of Confederation created a very weak national government, too weak to accomplish what needed to be done'''.  Several serious problems below illustrated the defects in this national government.  A new convention would be needed to fix the Articles, but instead it decided to create a whole new system of government.

===Foreign Policy Problems under the Articles of Confederation===

===Foreign Policy Problems under the Articles of Confederation===