Politics and Government Homework

Unit 1: How Democratic is the Constitution?

Read pages 87-86 in "A Kind of Revolution"
Answer each of the following questions using SEVERAL COMPLETE SENTENCES. Include at least one quote that helped you determine your answer. Use the vocabulary list below to help with complex passages.

1. Which segments of the population supported the war, which were against and which were neutral? Why do you think this was the case?

2. Which groups in were not allowed to participate in the Revolutionary Militia? Why do you think they were forbidden?

3. Discuss the findings of historian John Shy. What does he seem to be suggesting about the relationship between social class and war?

4. Discuss the Connecticut draft. Do you think this draft was democratic? Why or why not?

5. How do the soldiers react to Robert Morris?

6. Why might one describe the Maryland constitution as aristocratic?

7. Discuss concerns about poor whites as they related to blacks.

8. Zinn seems to be suggesting that the war was more about class than independence. Provide three quotes that support his claim. Explain why you have selected each quote.

commissary: someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it

recalcitrant: marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey figures of authority; hard to deal with or operate

impressment: the act of compelling men to serve in a navy by force and without notice

conscription: the draft, call-up or national service

cognizant: being fully aware or having knowledge of something

viz: namely, as follows

avaricious: immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth; "they are avaricious and will do anything for money"; "casting covetous eyes on his neighbor's fields"; "a grasping old miser"; "grasping commercialism"; "greedy for money and power"; "grew richer and greedier"; "prehensile employers stingy with ..."

commerce: transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)

speculation: an investment that is very risky but could yield great profits; "he knew the stock was a speculation when he bought it"

profiteer: someone who makes excessive profit (especially on goods in short supply)

grievance: grudge, a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation; "holding a grudge"; "settling a score"

mutiny: open rebellion against constituted authority (especially by seamen or soldiers against their officers)

consternation: alarm, fear resulting from the awareness of danger

divisive: having a quality that divides or separates

vigilant: carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger; "a policy of open-eyed awareness"; "the vigilant eye of the town watch"; "there was a watchful dignity in the room"; "a watchful parent with a toddler in tow"

disposition: your usual mood; "he has a happy disposition"

debtor: a person who owes a creditor; someone who has the obligation of paying a debt

apparition: a ghostly appearing figure; "we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us"

consumption: the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing; "the consumption of energy has increased steadily"

carnage: slaughter, the savage and excessive killing of many people

concession: a point conceded or yielded; "they won all the concessions they asked for"

treason: a crime that undermines the offender's government

encompass: include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory; "This group encompasses a wide range of people from different backgrounds"; "this should cover everyone in the group"

corroborate: support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm; "The stories and claims were born out by the evidence"

fuedal: any system that resembles the one used in the middle ages, where the people provided labour and military service to a lord in return for the use of his land. A form of contractual servitude.

prominent: standing out, or projecting; jutting; protuberant; Likely to attract attention from its size or position; conspicuous; Eminent; distinguished above others