Deck 6: Strengthening the New Nation

Question 1

By raising taxes in the early 1780s,the Confederation was able to reduce the national debt.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Under the Constitution,each slave would count as one person for purposes of representation,but only as half a person for taxation.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The partisan divisions of the 1790s ended the friendship of Adams and Jefferson for an extended period.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The phrase "critical period" refers to:

A)the time of the Revolutionary War.
B)the summer the Constitution was written.
C)America under the Articles of Confederation.
D)George Washington's presidency.
E)the years of tension over British taxes.

Question 5

Which of the following was NOT part of the Northwest Ordinance?

A)Slavery was prohibited in the territory above the Ohio River.
B)Statehood was allowed when a territory had a population of 60,000 people.
C)Religious freedom was guaranteed in a "bill of rights."
D)New states formed from the Northwest Territory promised that Indian land would never be taken from them without their approval.
E)Territorial governors were to be chosen by Congress.

Question 6

The Bill of Rights originally consisted of twelve amendments to the Constitution.

Question 7

The New Jersey Plan proposed keeping unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Question 8

Under the Articles of Confederation,western lands would be:

A)divided up among the existing states.
B)free of slavery.
C)recognized as belonging to the Indians.
D)owned by the national government.
E)extended to the Pacific.

Question 9

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention sharply debated whether to establish a monarchy or a republic.

Question 10

The Supreme Court has final interpretive power over the Constitution.

Question 11

George Washington was appointed president without any kind of election process.

Question 12

The Constitution mentioned the word "slave" (or "slavery")eighteen times.

Question 13

Which of the following gave the Confederation government the most trouble?

A)finances
B)Indian affairs
C)land policy
D)postal service
E)immigration policy

Question 14

Anti-Federalists favored a decentralized federal system of government.

Question 15

The 640-acre sections created by the Land Ordinance of 1785:

A)would be given to settlers for free.
B)raised enough money to pay the national debt.
C)would be reserved for veterans of the Revolution.
D)would be sold by local banks.
E)were part of six-square-mile townships.

Question 16

According to Alexander Hamilton,the United States needed a national bank to provide a stable currency and act as an engine of prosperity.

Question 17

The XYZ affair came about as part of the so-called Quasi War with France that Adams inherited as president.

Question 18

On the issue of the assumption of state debts,James Madison agreed with Alexander Hamilton.

Question 19

George Washington recognized Shays's Rebellion as an indicator of the need for a stronger form of government.

Question 20

Conflicts with Britain and France in the 1790s created a spirit of national unity.

Question 21

Madison's Virginia Plan:

A)would create a president for life.
B)would create a two-house Congress.
C)was most favored by the small states.
D)would simply amend the Articles of Confederation.
E)would abolish the state governments.

Question 22

Shays's Rebellion was led by:

A)merchants.
B)factory workers.
C)bankers.
D)indebted farmers.
E)ambitious politicians.

Question 23

On the question of women's rights,the proposed Constitution:

A)denied the vote to females.
B)was surprisingly progressive for its time.
C)defined women as the property of their husbands.
D)accepted the advice of prominent women.
E)said nothing.

Question 24

The Founding Fathers viewed the most "democratic" branch of the government as the:

A)presidency.
B)Senate.
C)Supreme Court.
D)cabinet.
E)House of Representatives.

Question 25

The Constitutional Convention,which assembled in May 1787,was supposed to:

A)write a new Constitution.
B)address the country's financial crisis.
C)revise the Articles of Confederation.
D)nominate someone for president.
E)discuss better trade relations with Britain.

Question 26

The Constitutional Convention's most gifted political philosopher and the man who emerged as its central figure was:

A)Alexander Hamilton.
B)George Washington.
C)Benjamin Franklin.
D)Patrick Henry.
E)James Madison.

Question 27

After the Revolutionary War,American trade with Britain:

A)was illegal.
B)was limited to the West Indies.
C)resumed,but without access to the West Indies.
D)was minimal.
E)was unrestricted.

Question 28

The Constitution was to be considered ratified as soon as it had been approved by:

A)the Constitutional Convention.
B)the Continental Congress.
C)all thirteen states.
D)nine of the states.
E)a majority popular vote.

Question 29

The Great Compromise:

A)was negotiated by Benjamin Franklin.
B)showed the South's determination to protect slavery.
C)listed the explicit powers of Congress.
D)created a four-year term for president.
E)settled the question of congressional representation.

Question 30

After Shays's Rebellion:

A)Massachusetts was governed by martial law.
B)farmers throughout America were watched by local committees of safety.
C)England prepared for the possibility of resuming the war.
D)there were numerous calls promoting a stronger central government.
E)taxes were increased.

Question 31

The Federalist essays were written by:

A)Madison and Washington.
B)John Jay.
C)Patrick Henry.
D)Hamilton,Madison,and Jay.
E)John Adams.

Question 32

Shays's Rebellion:

A)spread to several northern states.
B)was supported by George Washington and other elite figures.
C)was repressed by state militia.
D)resulted in massive bloodshed and property destruction.
E)made Americans more fearful of strong central government.

Question 33

The Constitution addressed slavery by:

A)referring numerous times to "slaves" or "slavery."
B)counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of apportionment.
C)requiring that all slaves count toward a state's congressional representation.
D)making it legal in every state.
E)requiring that slaves have full legal protections.

Question 34

According to the Constitution,the president has the authority to do all of the following,EXCEPT:

A)veto acts of Congress.
B)resign and choose his successor.
C)serve a four-year term.
D)act as commander in chief of the armed forces.
E)appoint diplomats and judges.

Question 35

Shays's Rebellion broke out in:

A)Boston.
B)New York City.
C)Massachusetts.
D)Rhode Island.
E)Pennsylvania.

Question 36

The Federalist Number 10 explains how a republic can:

A)defend itself.
B)become a democracy.
C)create a just society.
D)pays its debts.
E)be successful in a large,diverse society.

Question 37

The delegates who met at the Constitutional Convention:

A)included John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
B)tended to be elderly.
C)wanted a weaker central government.
D)included many participants in the Revolution.
E)arrived knowing what they wanted.

Question 38

Who among the following was an anti-Federalist?

A)Alexander Hamilton
B)John Jay
C)George Mason
D)James Madison
E)George Washington

Question 39

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787:

A)banned slavery in the Northwest.
B)made Ohio and Indiana states immediately.
C)established colonies in the Ohio Valley.
D)denied self-government to that region.
E)provided for joint occupation of that area with the British.

Question 40

One serious economic problem under the Articles of Confederation was:

A)a scarcity of good farmland.
B)a shortage of "hard money."
C)the impossibility of obtaining credit.
D)excessively high income taxes.
E)low wages caused by an oversupply of labor.

Question 41

Opposition to Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey was strongest among:

A)merchants.
B)Federalists.
C)veterans.
D)frontier farmers.
E)churchgoers.

Question 42

In regard to religion,the Constitution:

A)makes the United States a Christian nation.
B)reflects the atheism of the Founding Fathers.
C)prohibits the states from having official churches.
D)expresses hostility toward religion.
E)prevents Congress from establishing an official religion.

Question 43

In his inaugural address,President Washington emphasized:

A)his economic plans.
B)party politics.
C)national unity.
D)relations with Britain.
E)his cabinet selections.

Question 44

The Bank of the United States:

A)would be totally owned by the federal government.
B)had unanimous support in Congress.
C)was specifically authorized by the Constitution.
D)would provide a stable national currency.
E)was ultimately opposed by President Washington.

Question 45

The emergence of political parties:

A)was anticipated by the writers of the Constitution.
B)was strongly encouraged by President Washington.
C)resulted from a division between monarchists and republicans.
D)brought the United States to the brink of civil war.
E)reflected basic philosophical differences between Jefferson and Hamilton.

Question 46

Edmond Genet:

A)came to the United States to escape the revolutionary excesses of the French Revolution.
B)encouraged Americans to attack English and Spanish vessels.
C)quickly won the sympathy of Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists.
D)was deeply involved in the XYZ affair.
E)became a leading member of the Republican party.

Question 47

Washington's farewell address:

A)praised the emerging party system.
B)urged greater involvement in Europe.
C)was soon forgotten since Washington was a poor speaker.
D)was pessimistic about the nation's future.
E)opposed permanent alliances.

Question 48

The Bill of Rights did all of the following,EXCEPT:

A)safeguard freedoms such as press,speech,and assembly.
B)appease some initial critics of the Constitution.
C)constitute the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
D)protect against "cruel and unusual" punishment.
E)settle all questions about federal versus state authority.

Question 49

Pinckney's Treaty resulted in:

A)American ownership of the Mississippi River.
B)expulsion of the Indians from the Southwest.
C)American trade access to Spanish New Orleans.
D)Spain's withdrawal from Florida.
E)the right of Americans to settle in Texas.

Question 50

Madison decided to support Hamilton's debt proposals in return for an agreement to:

A)give more money to the original bondholders.
B)make the states pay their own debts.
C)cut taxes.
D)limit future federal spending.
E)relocate the nation capital southward.

Question 51

The Federalist argued that:

A)the size and diversity of the large new country would make it impossible for any one faction to control the government.
B)the Constitution was necessary to prevent one faction from taking control of the nation.
C)a republican form of government could not work in a nation as large as the United States and therefore the Constitution was necessary.
D)the Constitution would promote control of the government by one faction,which would be good for the nation.
E)if the Constitution failed,the country could always go back to the Articles of Confederation.

Question 52

One key element of Hamilton's program to encourage manufacturing was his proposal for:

A)a cutoff of trade with Britain.
B)high protective tariffs.
C)government-owned factories.
D)importation of cheap foreign labor.
E)government colleges for industrial education.

Question 53

Daniel Boone's route into Kentucky was the:

A)Fincastle Turnpike.
B)Great Valley Road.
C)Appalachian Trail.
D)Warrior's Path.
E)Wilderness Road.

Question 54

In his debate with Jefferson over the national bank's constitutionality,Hamilton:

A)emphasized states' rights.
B)strictly interpreted the Constitution.
C)used the doctrine of implied powers.
D)emphasized the Tenth Amendment.
E)had Madison's support.

Question 55

Under President Adams,a war between the United States and France:

A)was an undeclared naval conflict.
B)was ended by the XYZ affair.
C)halted partisan divisions.
D)ended in American victory.
E)led to French attacks on the U.S.coast.

Question 56

In early 1789,the new Congress gathered in the national capital,which was:

A)Philadelphia.
B)New York City.
C)Boston.
D)Washington,D.C.
E)Baltimore.

Question 57

Alexander Hamilton's basic vision of America was to make it:

A)a vibrant capitalist power.
B)a democratic model for the world.
C)a mighty empire like ancient Rome.
D)committed to limited government and social equality.
E)an example of racial tolerance and diversity.

Question 58

Jay's Treaty:

A)shut American merchants out of the West Indies.
B)ended a war with the British.
C)was most strongly opposed in New England.
D)infuriated Republicans for its concessions to the British.
E)forced Hamilton's resignation from the cabinet.

Question 59

When Britain and France went to war in 1793,the United States:

A)supported Britain because of its conservative government.
B)supported France because of the Franco-American alliance.
C)expressed neutrality,warning Americans not to aid either side.
D)allied with other nations to oppose both Britain and France.
E)sharply increased its military spending.

Question 60

The first of these states to ratify the Constitution was:

A)Delaware.
B)New York.
C)Rhode Island.
D)Virginia.
E)Massachusetts.

Question 61

What major compromises were made at the Constitutional Convention,and what issues did they settle? What issues remained unsettled?

Question 62

Assess Alexander Hamilton's contributions to establishing national economic policy.

Question 63

Describe the presidency of John Adams.Be sure to include both the domestic and foreign issues that confronted his administration and how he succeeded in dealing with these issues.

Question 64

Just before he left office,Adams:

A)repealed Hamilton's tax policies.
B)questioned the fair outcome of the election.
C)cemented Federalism within the judiciary.
D)destroyed his official records.
E)renewed his friendship with Jefferson.

Question 65

Discuss the background,details,and results of Shays's Rebellion.In what way did the rebellion impact the debate about the type of governmental structure America should adopt for its future?

Question 66

What was George Washington's greatest achievement as president? What was his worst failure? Overall,was his administration a success for the nation? Was it a success for the Federalists?

Question 67

It is sometimes assumed that because the Articles of Confederation were weak,they were unpopular.Discuss the merits of this statement.

Question 68

Examine the argument that the Alien and Sedition Acts destroyed John Adams's presidency.

Question 69

Describe the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.Why had the articles been written that way?

Question 70

The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions argued that:

A)states could nullify federal laws.
B)taxes imposed by Congress were unconstitutional.
C)immigrants should be expelled from the country if they were not loyal to the American cause.
D)the "freedom of speech" clause in the Bill of Rights did not apply to purely political rhetoric.
E)new Western states should be admitted as quickly as possible.

Question 71

Trace the development of political parties during Washington's administration and describe their basic philosophies.

Question 72

The Judiciary Act of 1801:

A)created three new positions on the Supreme Court.
B)was the first act passed by the Republicans.
C)allowed federal judges to be impeached under the Sedition Act.
D)was the legacy of the Federalists as they left office.
E)was vetoed by President Jefferson.

Question 73

Describe the system of checks and balances in the Constitution.

Question 74

Examine the Whiskey Rebellion with an eye on the issue of whether or not it was a serious threat to the life of the young nation.

Question 75

Jefferson's election in 1800:

A)continued the Federalist domination of the U.S.government.
B)had to be settled by the House of Representatives.
C)was assured when Aaron Burr agreed to withdraw as a candidate for president.
D)was assured when George Washington announced his support of Jefferson just three weeks before the election.
E)ended party divisions.

Question 76

Examine George Washington's motives in declaring that the United States would remain neutral in the conflict between England and France.

Question 77

Examine the importance of the Bill of Rights regarding the establishment of trust and law between the new nation and its citizens.

Question 78

Discuss the conflict between Federalists and anti-Federalists in the writing and ratification of the Constitution.

Question 79

Trace the Confederation government's policies concerning diplomacy.How effective was the government in dealing with outside interests?

Question 80

The Sedition Act was aimed primarily at:

A)foreign immigrants.
B)anti-war Federalists.
C)Republican newspaper editors.
D)French spies.
E)draft evaders.