Questions may serve to identify a problem or topic, and also serve as a means to dissect and analyze the topic. The narrative section of this publication entitled, THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE: VIRGINIA, 1763-1783, deals with selected aspects of questions contained in this section. However, in order to expand the scope and understanding of Virginia's role in the winning of independence, as well as to provide an improved perspective for students to see new meaning in familiar events, the following questions have been prepared for the classroom teacher.
1. How did the "Intellectual Awakening" in Europe reflect the changing image of man in relation to economic organization, religious reforms, political activities, and social changes? How did this intellectual ferment influence the American Revolution and the "American Experience"?
2. How will a study of the following topics establish a framework for an inquiry into the Colonial Period?
(a) Historical forces which gave rise to exploration and which were influencing European civilization centuries before Columbus' journey.
(b) Various reasons for colonization and objectives and methods of colonization for different nations.
3. What contributions will an analysis of the emergence of capitalism (with its wage system, market economy, banking structure, and corporate organization) and the impetus which capitalism provided for colonization make to the development of insights into the nature of European society and the Colonial Period?
4. How did capitalism influence the American Revolution and how was capitalism influenced and/or changed by the American Revolution?
5. Was there a discrepancy between the objectives of the European colonizers and the growth and development of the Virginia colony? In what ways can a study of Virginia illustrate the beginnings of the "American Experience"?
6. How will a study of the acceptance, rejection, or modification of European ideas and institutions by the colonies establish a framework for analyzing the unique nature of the "American Experience"? How "American" were the colonies? How "American" was the Revolution?
7. What environmental factors influenced colonial settlements? How will a study of these factors help to explain the differences which developed in the thirteen colonies? (Example: economic differences) What was the influence of environment in the colony of Virginia? How would these differences influence the nature of the participation of the thirteen colonies in the Revolution?