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Zach Raizon, Catherine Goohs, Maria 1. What was the main reason the colonists thought they could not remain in the British Empire?(Zach) The colonists thought they needed to leave the British Empire because the English Constitution was not adequately protecting their liberties. The rights in which the colonists were being denied were rights ordained by god., or natural rights. Later on Thomas Jefferson would sum these liberties into the phrase Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The English constitution was a set of laws rather then a single written document and while it stated the colonists liberties, in the eyes of the colonists it was not protecting their liberties. It was an inadequate check on the abuses of power and they could not stand it any longer. Theyre only solution was to revolt. 2.What did John Dickenson write, and how does it relate to what we have learned so far? (Zach) John Dickenson wrote that the rights are born with us; exist with us; and cannot be taken away from us by any human power. This relates to what we have learned so far because these are the reason for governments. In a state of nature these right are not protected but government is formed to ensure those rights are protected. This is the bases for Lockes theory. If the government is not adequately protecting these natural rights then the people have the right to vote. Also, Montesquie created a system of checks and balances for a government, so that the natural rights of the people could not be abused. John Dickensons description of these rights helps us understand the need for the theories, and governments we have learned about so far. 3. What in fact, was the Declaration of Independence? What did it claim?(Zach) The Declaration of Independence is basically a written document stating the complaints the people had against King George III, and their rights that were being violated were unalienable (based on nature and providence). It claims in the second paragraph that all men are created equal and guaranteed the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It goes on to say in the same paragraph that when a government fails to protect these rights, it is the right of the people to abolish the government and to institute a new government that will do so. Also, in the next 27 paragraphs Jefferson describes specific complaints they had against the King. All the complaints were about political liberties being violated, not social or economic problems.

4. What weaknesses did Shays Rebellion show about the Confederation? How?(Zach) Shays Rebellion took place in 1787 in Massachusetts when a group of ex-Revolutionary War soldiers used force to prevent courts from sitting, so they would not lose their farms/property to tax collectors because of debts and high taxes. The governor of Massachusetts asked the Continental Congress to send troops to squash the rebellion but they could not come up with the funds or the manpower. He tried to use his state militia but found out he did not have one. It ended with a volunteer army firing a few shots and the rebels disbanded. However, this scared many states because it showed under the Articles of Confederation the states could not protect themselves sufficiently and the central government was too weak to help. Also, this incident encouraged many state delegates to attend the Constitutional convention because they were scared of states governments collapsing from internal dissension. 5. What was the problem concerning liberty that the Framers faced? How did Madison word it best? (Zach) The problem the Framers face was to devise a government that would preserve order but not so strong as too threaten liberty. This means that the government needed to make sure the peoples liberties were protected but make sure there is no tyranny of majority. If a majority would then the minoritys voice would not be heard. Madison said if men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. This means that because men are not angels they need to be controlled and even the government needs to be controlled from the inside because even the men inside the government have ambitions and will act selfishly.