Chapter 11: Political Developments in the Early Republic

Chapter 11 History Alive! Jigsaw Activity

Expert Group 1

Setting the Stage: Launching the New Republic

Focus Questions:

1. Highlight major changes that took place between 1789 and 1839. Some items might be specific and others

may be general, big changes.

Section 1: Introduction

2. Provide some information about each of the following men who were involved in Washington’s presidency,

including their positions within the new government:

- Henry Knox, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson

Section 2: Launching the New Government

3. What developing issue caused Washington to be nervous as he took office for the first time?

4. a) Describe the three departments that were created at the start of Washington’s presidency, including their

purpose/functions and who was in charge?

b) What did this group of advisors and department administrators come to be called?

Section 3: Washington as President

5. What was the most critical problem facing the new government?

6. Describe the Whiskey Rebellion, including its cause and the government’s response. (Hint: Include information

About the excise tax and Thomas Jefferson’s concern about the government’s response.)

7. Explain how the issue of the French Revolution helped to divide the Republicans and Federalists even more.

Describe each group’s view about the revolution, who we should support, etc.. Important!: Stop when you get to the part about Washington’s Farewell Address.

Expert Group 2:

Focus Questions:

Section 3: Washington as President (only part of it)

Important: Skip down through the section until you reach the part about Washington’s Farewell Address. Start

your reading and analysis there.

1. What were three major points made by Washington in his Farewell Address?

2. What accomplishments did Washington and the nation have as he left office?

Section 4: Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Party

3. What was Hamilton’s view of human nature? Of the “common man”?

4. Who did the Federalists believe should run the country? Why?

5. How much power did Hamilton and the Federalists want the federal government to have? 6. What did Hamilton believe was necessary in order for the U.S. to achieve greatness?

7. What was the basis of the U.S. economy in 1790? What did he want the economy to be based upon?

8. What role did he see the federal government having regarding the economy?

Important!: Stop when you get to the part about the new nation needing to pay off huge debts. Expert Group 3:

Focus Questions:

Section 4: Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Party (part of it)

Important!: Skip down to the part about the new nation needing to pay off huge debts. Start your reading and

analysis there.

1. What issue led to the federal government’s capital being placed in the South (in present-day Washington,

D.C.)? Explain.

2. Why did Hamilton believe the U.S. needed a national bank? What would/could it do?

3. a) How did opponents to the idea of a national bank react? Why?

b) Discuss the concepts of “strict” & “loose” construction & explain how they relate to this issue.

c) In the end, what happened regarding the bank?

4. Why did Hamilton and other Federalists support Britain in their war against France?

Section 5: Thomas Jefferson and the Republican Party

5. How did Jefferson view Hamilton’s actions? Good or bad for the nation?

6. What were Jefferson’s views on human nature?

7. What were his (and other Republicans’) views regarding government and who should run it? (Be certain to

focus upon the issue of strict construction and loose construction).

8. What did Jefferson believe should be the basis of the nation’s economy?

9. What were Jefferson’s views regarding the creation of a national bank? Why?

10. What were Jefferson’s views regarding who the U.S. should support in the war between England and France? Expert Group 4:

Focus Questions:

Section 6: The Presidency of John Adams

1. What became an obvious problematic issue regarding the results of the Election of 1796?

2. What were the Alien and Sedition Acts and why were Jefferson and the Republicans against them? 3. Jefferson and James Madison claimed that states had a duty to nullify laws – such as the Alien and

Sedition Acts – that were created by, as they claimed, Congress going beyond the Constitution? What did

they mean by this?

4. Describe the “states’ rights theory” and explain how it relates to this controversy. Did the theory result in

anything happening at the time?

Section 7: The Election of 1800

5. Who ran for the Republicans? Who ran for the Federalists?

Section 8: A Deadlock and a New Amendment

6. What was the problem with the initial election results?

7. How many times did the House of Representatives need to vote in order to pick a winner of the election?

8. Who won the presidency? Who had helped him to win it? Describe how/why this was strange.

9. What long-term change came about because of this election? Describe the change that it made to the

election process.

10. Why did Jefferson call the Election of 1800 a “peaceful revolution”? Chapter 11 Test

1. What is an excise tax? A. a tax on property B. a tax on income earned C. a tax on the production or sale of a product CORRECT D. a tax on money inherited or received as a gift

2. All of these were part of President Washington’s cabinet except the A. Department of War. B. Department of State. C. Treasury Department. D. Education Department. CORRECT

Mastering the Content Circle the letter next to the best answer.

3. What was the cause of the Whiskey Rebellion? A. Farmers refused to pay taxes on whiskey. CORRECT B. Farmers refused to use grain to produce whiskey. C. The government would not allow the trade of whiskey. D. The government made the production of whiskey illegal.

4. Why did President Washington order the army to end the Whiskey Rebellion? A. He feared the citizens would start another revolution. B. He felt it was his responsibility to protect tax collectors. C. He saw the rebellion as a threat to the new government's authority. CORRECT D. He was more comfortable as a military leader than a political leader.

5. What advice did President Washington give to Americans in his Farewell Address? A. Pay taxes without complaint. B. Support the revolution in France. C. Do not address the president with royal titles. D. Do not let political party loyalty divide the nation. CORRECT

6. All of these occurred in President Washington’s administration except A. the nation was at peace. B. the country grew in size. C. political parties were eliminated. CORRECT D. cabinet members were selected.

7. All of these occurred in President Washington’s administration except A. the nation was at peace. B. the country grew in size. C. political parties were eliminated. CORRECT D. cabinet members were selected.

8. Which of these was a major issue dividing the Federalist and Republican parties? A. how to divide the nation's wealth equally B. how many terms a president should serve in office C. how large and powerful the military should be D. how large and powerful the federal government should be CORRECT

9. What did Alexander Hamilton believe was important for the United States to become a great nation?

10. Republicans believed that the U.S. economy should be based on A. trade. B. business. C. agriculture. CORRECT D. manufacturing.

11. Why did most Republicans support the French Revolution? A. They believed democracy was worth the fight. CORRECT B. They admired the orderliness of the revolution. C. They admired the strength of the French monarchy. D. They believed the wealthy were best prepared to lead France

12. Why did most Federalists favor good relations with Great Britain? A. They feared their military power. B. They depended on their business. CORRECT C. They wanted to be protected by them. D. They hoped to move there someday.

13. According to Alexander Hamilton, how would a national bank serve the country’s interests? A. It would eliminate the need for taxes. B. It would provide loans to businesspeople. CORRECT C. It would create jobs for U.S. citizens. D. It would be a place for foreign countries to deposit money.

14. Which of these was one of the ways Republicans viewed the Alien and Sedition Acts? A. as a tool to remove political parties B. as a way to increase citizen's rights C. as an attack on the right of free speech CORRECT D. as a necessity to keep order in the new nation 15. Based on the states’ rights theory of the Constitution, what does each state have the authority to do? A. nullify federal law CORRECT B. choose the president C. rewrite the Bill of Rights D. increase the number of U.S. senators

16. Which of these events led to the addition of the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution? A. the election of 1800 CORRECT B. the Whiskey Rebellion C. the Alien and Sedition Acts D. the establishment of a national bank

17. Why did Jefferson call the election of 1800 a peaceful revolution? A. Fighting in France ended. B. Slaves were able to vote for the first time. C. Serious differences were resolved without violence. CORRECT D. Those who opposed his election moved out of the country.