Washington
What was the purpose of Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation?
To keep the United States out of foreign conflicts, specifically the French Revolutionary Wars
What was the XYZ Affair?
A diplomatic incident where French officials demanded bribes to negotiate with the U.S.
What was the Great Compromise?
A plan for a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation
What was the primary concern of the Anti-Federalists?
They feared a strong central government would infringe on individual and state rights
Stimulus: Excerpt from Washington’s Farewell Address
"The spirit of party… is a fire not to be quenched; it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame."
Question: What danger was Washington warning against in this excerpt?
a. Parties they threw at the White House being too fast
b. Political parties are getting polarized and might split the nation
c. There will be a Civil War
d. The federal government should have only one political party
b. Political polarization and the divisive effects of political parties.
What was the Whiskey Rebellion, and why was it significant?
A rebellion by farmers against the excise tax on whiskey; significant because it demonstrated the strength of the federal government
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts, and why were they controversial?
Laws that restricted immigration and punished government criticism; seen as violating free speech
What is the Bill of Rights, and why was it added?
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution; added to protect individual freedoms and satisfy Anti-Federalists.
Who were three key leaders of the Federalists?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
(Stimulus: Excerpt from the Constitution, Article I, Section 8): "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises…"
Question: What weakness of the Articles of Confederation does this address?
a. No standing army
b. No land expansion
c. States being more powerful
d. Not being able to tax
d
The inability of the federal government to levy taxes under the Articles.
What term-based precedent did Washington establish regarding the presidency?
He stepped down after two terms, setting a precedent for future presidents.
How did Adams avoid war with France during his presidency?
He strengthened the navy but negotiated peace, ending the Quasi-War
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
An agreement that three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation.
What did the Federalists promise to add to the Constitution to gain Anti-Federalist support?
The Bill of Rights
(Stimulus: Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1776):
"I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands."
Question: What did Abigail Adams urge John Adams to consider during the drafting of the Constitution?
a. Give women rights over their husbands
b. Grant women greater rights and protections for women
c. Grant all people rights and protections
d. Allow women to fight in the Revolutionary War
c. Greater rights and protections for women
How did Washington respond to the Citizen Genêt Affair?
He upheld neutrality and demanded Genêt cease his activities, which reinforced U.S. foreign policy.
What were the Midnight Judges, and why were they significant?
Judges appointed by Adams at the end of his presidency to maintain Federalist influence; led to Marbury v. Madison
How did Federalist 10 argue for the Constitution’s ability to manage factions?
It stated that a strong central government could control the effects of factions by preventing any one group from gaining too much power.
How did Anti-Federalists view the elastic-clause in the Constitution?
They believed it could lead to the government having unlimited, flexible power
- they wanted limited government, limited power
What is the historical context of this excerpt from a flier...
Stimulus: Fugitive Slave Ad from 1790
"Run away from the subscriber, a negro man named Sam, about 25 years of age..."
a. 3/5 Compromise
b. Treaty of Paris
c. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
d. Fugitive Slave Act
d. Fugitive Slave Act
- Contributes to abolitionist movement because it shows the dehumanization of black enslaved people
What were the main warnings in Washington’s Farewell Address?
Avoid political polarization, permanent foreign alliances, and sectionalism.
What were the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?
Written by Jefferson and Madison, these resolutions argued that states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws
How did Marbury v. Madison establish judicial review?
The Supreme Court ruled that it could declare laws unconstitutional, strengthening the judiciary as a branch of government.
What did the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans accomplish in the Election of 1800
The first peaceful transition of power
Stimulus: Excerpt from Mercy Otis Warren’s Observations on the New Constitution, 1788
"There is no provision by a bill of rights to guard against the dangerous encroachments of power, no security for the right of conscience or the liberty of the press."
Question: How did Mercy Otis Warren critique the Constitution?
a. She thinks there aren't enough women's rights
b. She wanted the Judicial branch to not exist
c. She wanted a Bill of Rights, rights written down
d. She said there are no checks and balances
c. She wanted 'positive law' or WRITTEN DOWN rights otherwise her freedoms could be limited