How much of John Smith's story is true?

How did Europeans justify colonization of territory in the New World?

How did race based slavery evolve in the Southern and Cheasapeake colonies, and what role did a shortage of labor play in this evolution?

Compare and contrast the development of society in Virginia with that of South Carolina. What were the origins of the Carolina colony? Did immigrants from Europe and Africa experience the colonies in the same way?

Compare and contrast the development of society in Virginia with that of New England.

Explain the phenomena of the Salem witch trials.

Explain fully why New England had a sense of "decline" after 1640.

Compare and contrast the demographic make-up of society of New England with that of the Middle Colonies.

What caused many British colonists on the North American mainland to view themselves as "American"?

How unreasonable were British demands for increased taxation on the American colonies? How did taxation in American compare with taxes in the home country?

What is ideology and how did American ideology differ from British ideology? How could these differences have led to revolution?

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? What were its sources of inspiration? When was it approved?

If the arguments before the Revolution were mainly about "Home Rule," whether Parliament or the colonial legislative assemblies should determine the laws governing Americans, then why should non-elites get worked up over what seems a fight between an elite at home or the elite over seas?

How did Silas Deane die? What does concern about his death show about how historians work?

Explain why it took so long to ratify the Articles of Confederation. Who held out and why? Who made the most important concession? Who was the last to concede?

Explain Shay's Rebellion and the effect it had on the leaders of the newly free United States? Who were the Shaysites, and against whom did they rebel? How did Shay's Rebellion reflect the political activities prior to Independence? What constitutional issues were affected by the rebellion?

Who were the antifederalists and what was their contribution to the American constitution? Explain.