Unit 2: Forming a Nation

Section 1: Becoming America

Essential Questions: Section 1

• Did colonial America’s social, economic, religious, and racial diversity fuel the drive towards independence?

• Was America destined to be a Christian nation? Are religious principles at the heart of our democratic ideals?

Elements of Great AwakeningA. Enthusiasm--emotional

manifestations, in contrast to staid and formal Anglican and Congregational worship.

B. Whitefield would preach to crowds as large as 30,000 with great emotion.

C. Democratic religious movement1) insisted that all should have the religious

experience2) Stirred impulse towards independence among colonists3) Broke down strong

denominational ties4) Challenged religious authority. Baptists in the South preached to slavesand against the

ostentatious wealth of the planter class

Effects of Great Awakening

1. Creation of new colleges to train ministers-----Brown, Princeton, and Rutgers

2. Division between denominations rational vs. experiential

3. Development of a revivalism tradition in American religion• Second Great

Awakening• Later 19th and 20th

century revival movements in urban areas.

THE ROAD TO REVOLUTIONSection 2

Essential Questions

• Did capitalism drive us towards independence? How did it shape colonial society?

• Were American patriots justified in revolting against British rule?

Move Toward IndependenceKey factors

1. Constitutional factor--colonists demanded the right to examine the purpose for each law passed, refusing to obey those that raised revenue.,

2. Social conflicts factora) Lower class discontent resulted from limited franchise, established churches, inheritance laws.b) Upper class colonists welcomed protest support from lower classes at first, but became alarmed with mob violence. England now had two groups of protestors to deal with.

THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCESection 3

ESTABLISHING A REPUBLIC: SILENCING REBELLION AND SHAPING AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE

Section 3

Essential Questions

• How fragile was the nation at its inception? • How the founders’ political debates are still

played out today?

• Shays' Rebellion (1786) broke out in western Massachusetts with frustrated farmers losing their farms due to mortgage foreclosures and tax delinquencies.

• Massachusetts authority put down the uprising with force (killing three) b) Leaders throughout the nation worried about the potential of domestic unrest.