No taxation without representation

“No taxation without representation” has often been given as the reason for the American Revolution. Is this an accurate statement? Why or why not? If not, what were the real reasons for the War and the discontent of Americans? You may want to do a little research at www.historymatters.gmu.edu. You may also want to watch some of the events leading up to the Revolution depicted on film at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR_lTDD6jpwWhat factor do you think had the most impact on the outcome of the Revolution (consider the alliance with France, patriotism, the advantages the colonists had, etc.)? For a visual interpretation on this (that clearly takes French involvement to play a big role), see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkjhu2GKYAs about 20 minutes in to the end.How did minority groups–slaves, free blacks, Native Americans, and women–fare after the American Revolution? Did their lives improve? Or not? Give some examples for each group. For a visual about freed blacks during this period, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24U156LHXYM about 1 hour 26 minutes in to about 1 hour 50 minutesThe Constitution has undergone considerable reinterpretation over the years: Does The Bill of Rights protect citizens from any type of gun control? Is the death sentence “cruel and unusual punishment?” What is the Constitutional basis for the “separation of church and state?” Do you believe that we are currently interpreting that principle in the way the authors of the Constitution intended? How much freedom of speech, etc. do we have? If you have any strong feelings about these or related issues, please express yourself in the form of class discussion. For a visual depiction of the creation of our Constitution, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1AQ8PJq6mk about 6 minutes 50 seconds in to the end.a. Your textbook mentions the Sedition Act, a law against speaking out against the government which Congress enacted during the administration of John Adams. A similar law was enacted (and struck down) during World War I. In recent years, again some have suggested that Americans should refrain from speaking out against the government during a time of war. Is there ever a time when a law like this is appropriate and freedom of speech should be suspended? Explain. b. How do you rate Thomas Jefferson as president? One of the best? One of the worst? Mediocre? Why?Your book states that the Supreme Court was originally given the authority to rule over states in matters of constitutionality. Do you think they were correct? Was it perhaps correct to do this in the late 1700s and not so correct now–i.e. were the reasons for taking this position different then from now? Should controversial matters such as gay marriage, abortion, etc. be turned back to states as some conservatives say?Does the “common man” still have a legitimate place in the American political system? Is it proper that a “street person’s” vote can nullify the vote of someone with a college degree, who performs civic work, and pays thousands of dollars of tax every year? Or, is this “universal” voting practice no longer valid in the 21st century? (See chapters 10, 11)Why do you think women were not very enthusiastic about women’s rights in the pre-Civil War period?a. In your view, was slavery the primary cause of the Civil War? Consider all applicable factors–states’ rights, slave labor vs. paid labor (in the North), Lincoln’s attempt to make slavery a major issue with the Emancipation Proclamation, etc. b. If the South had won the Civil War, would we still have slavery? When, how, and why do you think it would have ended?Most historians agree that Reconstruction was generally a failure. In your view, what were some of the positive accomplishments during the Reconstruction Era? What could have been done to have made the postwar period more effective in uniting the North with the South and establishing the freedmens’ citizenship?