Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton wanted a National Bank. Thomas Jefferson did not. What was their main disagreement about?
A) How much money to spend on the army
B) How to interpret the Constitution
C) Which city should be the capital
B) How to interpret the Constitution
In his final speech, Washington told Americans to have "as little political connection as possible" with Europe. What was he recommending?
A) Starting a war
B) Staying Neutral (not picking sides)
C) Moving to Europe
B) Staying Neutral (not picking sides)
The Sedition Act punished people for writing "scandalous or malicious" things about the government. Critics said this violated:
A) The right to own a gun
B) The right to a trial by jury
C) Freedom of speech and press
C) Freedom of speech and press
After the Louisiana Purchase was signed, what happened to the physical size of the United States?
A) It stayed the same
B) It became smaller
C) It doubled in size
C) It doubled in size
This famous court case gave the Supreme Court the power to decide if a law is "unconstitutional." This power is called:
A) Judicial Review
B) Executive Order
C) Legislative Branch
A) Judicial Review
Alexander Hamilton believed the government could do things that weren't specifically written in the Constitution. This is called a:
A) Strict Interpretation
B) Final Interpretation
C)Loose Interpretation
C)Loose Interpretation
Why did Washington think it was easy for the U.S. to stay out of Europe's fights?
A) We were separated by the Atlantic Ocean
B) We had a better navy
C) We spoke a different language
A) We were separated by the Atlantic Ocean
The Naturalization Act made it take 14 years instead of 5 years to become a citizen. What was the main effect of this law?
A) It made it easier for immigrants to vote
B) It delayed immigrants from becoming citizens
C) It gave immigrants free land
B) It delayed immigrants from becoming citizens
Why did Jefferson want to buy the Louisiana Territory?
A) To build big factories
B) To control the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans
C) To build a vacation home
B) To control the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans
If Congress passes a law that goes against the Constitution, what can the Supreme Court do under the system of checks and balances?
A) Ask the President to fix it
B) Overturn the law (cancel it)
C) Make a new law themselves
B) Overturn the law (cancel it)
Thomas Jefferson argued that if a power (like starting a bank) isn't listed in the Constitution, that power belongs to the States. This is called a:
A) Strict Interpretation
B) Loose Interpretation
C) Federal Interpretation
A) Strict Interpretation
What is the famous name of the speech George Washington gave when he retired from being president?
A) The Gettysburg Address
B) The Inaugural Address
C) The Farewell Address
C) The Farewell Address
Under the Alien Enemies Act, what power did the federal government gain during times of war?
A) The power to deport or detain male non-citizens from enemy nations
B) The power to stop all immigration completely
C) The power to draft immigrants into the U.S. Army
A) The power to deport or detain male non-citizens from enemy nations
Which country did Thomas Jefferson buy the Louisiana Territory from in 1803?
A) Great Britain
B) Spain
C) France
C) France
The decision in Marbury v. Madison was historic because it significantly expanded the power of which branch of government?
A) The Executive Branch (The President)
B) The Legislative Branch (Congress)
C) The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court)
C) The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court)
Which part of the Constitution did Alexander Hamilton use to justify "stretching" the government's power to create a bank?
A) The 10th Amendment
B) The Elastic Clause
C) The Preamble
B) The Elastic Clause
Washington warned Americans that making permanent alliances with foreign countries would:
A) Drag the U.S. into unnecessary foreign wars
B) Make the U.S. lose all of its trade partners
C) Cause the President to lose his power
A) Drag the U.S. into unnecessary foreign wars
Why did opponents of the Alien Enemies Act think the law was unfair to peaceful immigrants?
A) It allowed the government to detain them without a trial (due process)
B) It forced them to pay higher taxes than citizens
C) It didn't allow them to buy houses
A) It allowed the government to detain them without a trial (due process)
Why was Thomas Jefferson personally conflicted or worried about buying this land?
A) France was threatening to attack Washington D.C.
B) The Constitution does not explicitly give the President power to buy foreign land
C) He thought the land was too expensive for the government to afford
B) The Constitution does not explicitly give the President power to buy foreign land
Chief Justice John Marshall is remembered as one of the most important figures in U.S. history because his court decisions always:
A) Increased the power of the federal government and the courts
B) Gave more power back to individual states
C) Allowed the President to ignore Congress
A) Increased the power of the federal government and the courts
Thomas Jefferson based his argument against the National Bank on the 10th Amendment, which says all powers not given to the federal government belong to:
A) The President
B) The Supreme Court
C) The States or the people
C) The States or the people
According to Washington, what should guide the United States when choosing between peace or war?
A) The interests of European nations
B) Our own national interest guided by justice
C) The advice of the King of England
B) Our own national interest guided by justice
Which president's administration passed the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798?
A) George Washington
B) John Adams
C) Thomas Jefferson
B) John Adams
What major concern did critics have about adding such a massive expanse of land to the United States?
A) They thought farms would fail west of the river
B) They feared such a large territory would be difficult to govern and keep unified
C) They were worried Spain would declare war immediately
B) They feared such a large territory would be difficult to govern and keep unified
According to Chief Justice John Marshall, if an ordinary law passed by Congress conflicts with the Constitution, which one must govern the case?
A) The law passed by Congress, because it is newer
B) Whichever one the President prefers
C) The Constitution, because it is the superior law
C) The Constitution, because it is the superior law