Homework Two Answers - Student Three
1. Two important trials or series of trials occurred in the colonies between 1690 and 1750. What where they, and why were they significant?
The first of these two trials is The Salem Witch Trials, which was a time when many women, and a few men, were convicted for being witches, and in some cases, warlocks. This time period is important because it is one of the reasons that spectral evidence is no longer allowed in the court today. There are many theories on whether or not Satan was behind all or even one of these trials. My own biased opinion is that he was behind the first few. He then allowed the trials and eventual killings to get out of hand, which is also quite clearly his work. The next trial is The Zenger Trial, which is when John Peter Zenger accused the Governor of something embarrassing. His convictions were true, yet Zenger himself was also accused of seditious libel, however the jury ignored this law and pleaded him not guilty, because the accusations he made were true. This is also important because it portrays how the jury has the right to be biased and simply ignore the law.
2. What do you think were the two biggest cases of the revolutionary war, and why?
I believe that one reason is the timing that Britain got stricter with their laws. We had just gotten over The French and Indian War, so we were not exactly at ease. Another reason is that America was growing, and it was natural for them to get more independent and want to in some way “break free” of the "mother country."
4. The “Tea Party” today takes its name from which event? Explain how that event connects to the views of the Tea Party Movement today
The Tea party takes its name the famous Boston Tea Party. It connects to it in the sense that we’re asking for fewer taxes. While it is not as drastic as The Boston Tea Party was, The Tea Party Movement is still greatly at work today.
5. Explain and discuss The Great Awakening, and its effect in uniting the colonies. The Great Awakening was led by both Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, teaching an interesting sermon titled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. While I do not 100% agree with some of the things that he said, for instance, just looking at the title: Psalm 103:8, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love,” this does not match up with the title “Angry God” does it? The Bible also states that we are all sinners, Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”; does this mean we’re all going to be thrown into hell? I sure hope not. Furthermore, I do not believe it is for Edwards and Whitefield to say who goes to hell, this is judging, and is considered, by the bible to be a sin. However I still believe that The Great Awakening was very helpful in bringing the colonies together, and that, while it had its errors, the sermon they preached and the things they did, are, at the very least, very respectable.
6. What was the significance – and the outcome – of the French and Indian War? Should it have a different name? The French and Indian War was based off of the dislike between the French and English, which had carried over into America. The Indians would usually side with the French, based off of their trading relation with them. This war continued for seven years until Britain, France and Spain finally signed the Treaty of Paris. The name of this war should probably be the French and English war because they were the ones who were really fighting.
7. Describe several of the laws passed by Britain during the time period leading up to the Revolutionary War, and their effect on the colonies. The Sugar act, which obviously raises the taxes on sugar. The Quartering Act, which let British colonials could stay in american inn for free. and the Proclamation Line, the line which did not allow the colonies to go too far westward, are all examples of laws that Britain Passed in the years leading up to the war. These angered the colonies and were probably a big reason that the war even started in the first place.
Daniel N.
