SAMPLE STUDENT 3/3 SAQ ANSWER
a) One major difference between the historical interpretations of Bailyn and Draper is their focus on the primary motivation behind the American Revolution. Bailyn argues that the Revolution was driven by ideology and perception, specifically the colonists' growing belief that a "deliberate assault" was being launched against their liberties by "plotters" in England. In contrast, Draper interprets the conflict as a pragmatic struggle for power , asserting that the fundamental issue was not an "intellectual exercise" but rather a dispute over who held the "ultimate decisions"—the British Parliament or the American colonial assemblies.
b) The passage of the Intolerable Acts (1774) supports Bailyn’s argument regarding the colonists' fear of a conspiracy against liberty. These punitive measures, which included the closing of Boston Harbor and the suspension of the Massachusetts government, were viewed by colonists not just as bad policy, but as definitive proof of the "unmistakable" pattern of British tyranny. This development served as the "inner accelerator" Bailyn describes, convincing many colonists that there was indeed a "deliberate assault" being launched surreptitiously against their rights, pushing them toward open revolution.
c) The Stamp Act Congress (1765) supports Draper’s argument that the Revolution was a struggle for decision-making power. When representatives from nine colonies met to draft a list of grievances, they were specifically challenging the authority of Parliament to tax them without their consent. This meeting was a clear example of the "struggle for power" Draper mentions, as the colonists were asserting that their own assemblies, rather than Parliament, should make the "ultimate decisions" regarding internal taxation. This event highlights the central conflict of "dependence versus independence" that Draper identifies as the core of the struggle.
a) One major difference between the historical interpretations of Bailyn and Draper is their focus on the primary motivation behind the American Revolution. Bailyn argues that the Revolution was driven by ideology and perception, specifically the colonists' growing belief that a "deliberate assault" was being launched against their liberties by "plotters" in England. In contrast, Draper interprets the conflict as a pragmatic struggle for power , asserting that the fundamental issue was not an "intellectual exercise" but rather a dispute over who held the "ultimate decisions"—the British Parliament or the American colonial assemblies.
b) The passage of the Intolerable Acts (1774) supports Bailyn’s argument regarding the colonists' fear of a conspiracy against liberty. These punitive measures, which included the closing of Boston Harbor and the suspension of the Massachusetts government, were viewed by colonists not just as bad policy, but as definitive proof of the "unmistakable" pattern of British tyranny. This development served as the "inner accelerator" Bailyn describes, convincing many colonists that there was indeed a "deliberate assault" being launched surreptitiously against their rights, pushing them toward open revolution.
c) The Stamp Act Congress (1765) supports Draper’s argument that the Revolution was a struggle for decision-making power. When representatives from nine colonies met to draft a list of grievances, they were specifically challenging the authority of Parliament to tax them without their consent. This meeting was a clear example of the "struggle for power" Draper mentions, as the colonists were asserting that their own assemblies, rather than Parliament, should make the "ultimate decisions" regarding internal taxation. This event highlights the central conflict of "dependence versus independence" that Draper identifies as the core of the struggle.