Question :Part I: Primary Source Identifications

Directions: Read and identify 3 of the 5 passages listed below. Your answer must address:

1) Who is the author and what is his/her position in history?
2) When is the document written, and under what circumstances is it written?
3) What argument is the author making?
4) Why is this passage significant? In other words, what larger theme in US History is this passage speaking of?

"The people of this island and of all the other islands which I have found and seen, or have not seen, all go naked, men and women, as their mothers bore them, except that some women cover one place only with the leaf of a plant or with a net of cotton which they make for that purpose. They have no iron or steel or weapons, nor are they capable of using them, although they are well-built people of handsome stature, because they are wondrous timid."

"The next morning, after we had cleared the ships of the tea, it was discovered that very considerable quantities of it was floating upon the surface of the water; and to prevent the possibility of any of its being saved for us, a number of small boats were manned by sailors and citizens, who rowed them into those parts of the harbor wherever the tea was visible, and by beating it with our oars and paddles, so thoroughly drenched it, as to render its entire destruction inevitable."

"But the day is past. The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.-I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Part II: Essay

Directions: Choose ONE of the following questions to answer. Answers should be APPROXIMATELY 3-5 pages in length, Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Those who do not adhere to these standards will be penalized.

Assess the weaknesses and failings of the Articles of Confederation. What do you think were the most significant weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? Why were the Articles initially created to be so weak?