Early US Politics
During George Washington’s presidency, Federalists and Democratic-Republicans emerged as two political parties deeply divided over
A whether the president should serve one term or several. whether the president should serve one term or several.
B whether to pay the debts left by the Revolutionary Warwhether to pay the debts left by the Revolutionary War
C what powers were granted to the federal government by the Constitution what powers were granted to the federal government by the Constitution
D which states should be allowed to use enslaved people as workers
C Federalists interpreted the constitution "loosely", Democratic Republicans interpreted it "strictly"
Why did Madison & Jefferson oppose a national bank?
A. They argued that the Constitution did not directly give Congress the power to create a national bank.
B. They thought that a national bank would make it impossible for states to maintain independence.
C. They were concerned that a national bank would mainly benefit small shopkeepers and farmers.
D. They believed that a national bank would make trade between states more difficult
A - Madison and Jefferson were Democratic-Republicans, they believed in a "strict" interpretation of the Constitution
What caused the War of 1812?
A) British Impressment of US Sailors & Capturing natives
B) Spain blocked Mississippi river
C) France stole ships
D) U.S. debt issues
A - British were "impressing" or capturing US Sailors, and arming the natives, provoking them to attack America
Why did Jefferson complete the Louisiana purchase?
A) Integrate the Natives
B) Gain control of the Mississippi
C) To Rival Britain
D) Get access to Pacific ports
B - Jefferson wanted control of the Mississippi river to help farmers and promote westward expansion
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
A. supported a strong national government
B. opposed the principle of states’ rights.
C. claimed states could nullify federal laws.
D. supported increased tarrifs.
C - The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were made by Madison and Jefferson, who supported states rights. They said states could nullify federal laws.
Why did the Industrial Revolution in the United States begin in New England?
A. Rivers and streams in New England offered the waterpower needed to run factory machinery.
B. People in New England were generally better educated than people elsewhere in the nation.
C. Cotton was more plentiful there than elsewhere and most industries were based on it.
D. New England laws favored establishing corporations more than elsewhere in the nation.
A - Rivers and streams powered factories in New England
Which event in the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write his poem “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
A. the American defense of Fort Henry and the city of Baltimore
B. the British attack on the Capitol and the president’s mansion in Washington, D.C.
C. the British defeat of French commander Napoleon
D. the American victory in the Battle of Lake Champlain
A. the American defense of Fort Henry and the city of Baltimore
What did Federalists and Republicans mainly disagree on?
A) Foreign policy
B) Slavery
C) States powers vs. Federal power
D) Presidential Powers
C - They disagreed on whether the federal (national) government or state governments should be more powerful
How did Washington handle the Whiskey Rebellion?
A) Met with farmers
B) Lowered the whiskey tax
C) Let the governors handle it
D) Sent federal troops
D - George Washington sent federal troops to stop the rebellion
Which of the following was a result of the Battle of New Orleans?
A. It proved that the United States could achieve a quick victory over Britain.
B. It led Britain to reconsider its alliance with Native Americans.
C. It convinced Britain that the war with the United States was too costly to pursue.
D. It increased national pride and made Andrew Jackson a hero.
D - Battle of New Orleans was fought after the war was over, but securing a win against Britain increased national pride and made Jackson a national hero
How did France get Louisiana in 1802?
A) Took from Spain by force
B) With help from the Natives
C) In a secret deal with Spain
D) U.S. gave it to them
C - France initially gained control of the Louisiana Territory in a secret deal with Spain
The Missouri Compromise of 1819 signaled
A. rising sectionalism of the North, the South, and the West.
B. rising demand to settle territories in the West quickly.
C. rising pressure to avoid entanglement with European colonies.
D. rising tensions between Native American peoples and settlers.
A - The Missouri Compromise was a disagreement over slavery between the north and south, this is SECTIONALISM
In a free enterprise system that developed in the new nation, investors played a role in
A. deciding who could own property.
B. funding new businesses.
C. limiting where people work.
D. assigning work to people.
B - Funding new businesses
The Adams-Onís Treaty
A. gave control of Florida to the United States.
B. ended American claims to territory in Oregon.
C. established a firm border between Canada and the United States.
D. recognized French sovereignty over Texas.
A. gave control of Florida to the United States.
What was Hamilton’s goal as Treasury Secretary?
A) Encourage Northwest settlement
B) Prove the national bank was unnecessary
C) Strengthen the economy
D) Buy Louisiana
Washington’s Farewell Address warned against:
A)Establishment of Political parties
B) A national bank
C) Income tax
D) Federal courts
A - George Washington warned against creating political parties
What impact did the War of 1812 have?
A) Canada got independence
B) U.S. got international respect
C) U.S. took land west of Mississippi
D) U.S. amended the Constitution
B - US held their own against Britain, and this gave the country international respect
How did Thomas Jefferson determine that he had authority to buy the Louisiana Territory?
A. He claimed that negotiations with the French and with Native Americans gave the United States this right.
B. He claimed that the government’s treaty-making powers included the right to buy new land.
C. He met with French and American leaders
D. He met with British authorities and American leaders
B - Jefferson used his treaty making powers as justification for the Louisiana purchase
What caused the embargo act of 1807?
A. Barbary pirates imprisoned a crew of American sailors.
B. France demanded that the United States stop trading with Great Britain.
C. Great Britain refused to stop the impressment of American citizens.
D. Cheap imported goods were putting American manufacturers out of business.
C - Britain was "impressing" or capturing US sailors, America tried to punish them with the embargo act
What was one result of the invention of the cotton gin?
A. It sparked increased industrialization in Southern states.
B. It made factory work even more dangerous for unskilled workers.
C. It paved the way for the growth of corporations in the Northeast.
D. It tied the Southern economy even more closely to agriculture.
D - It tied the southern economy even more closely to agriculture
Whom did Democratic-Republicans believe should run the federal government?
A. white male citizens
B. all educated citizens
C. educated white male citizens
D. all white citizens
A. white male citizens
Which is one way that a Supreme Court ruling in the early 1800s strengthened the federal government?
A. The Court ruled against tariffs that favored Northern manufacturing.
B. The Court instituted the Missouri Compromise to allow new states.
C. The Court upheld the practice of business monopolies.
D. The Court ruled that the national bank was constitutional.
D- In McCulloch V Maryland, The US Supreme court ruled the National Bank was constitutional and strengthened the federal government.
What role did Sacagawea play in the expedition of Lewis and Clarke to ensure they succeeded?
A) Travel guide
B) Cook
C) Interpreter
D) Scientist
A - As a travel guide, sacagawea provided help that ensured Lewis and Clarke were successful
Why did Tripoli declare war on the U.S. in 1801?
A. The United States interfered with the internal affairs of the government of Tripoli.
B. The United States refused to pay to keep pirates from seizing American merchant ships.
C. The United States continued to trade with Britain and France, who was fighting with Tripoli.
D. The United States refused to let merchant ships from Tripoli dock in American ports.
B - The Americans refused to pay "tribute" to the pirates, so Tripoli declared war
Lewis and Clark were sent into the Louisiana Territory primarily to
A. force Spanish settlers to leave.
B. search for gold and silver.
C. buy the land from Native Americans.
D. explore and map the region
D - Lewis and Clarke expedition was meant to explore and map the region
Which of the following led directly to the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798?
A. President Adams's postponment of negotiations regarding a dispute with France
B. Native Americans' demand of payment for lands in the Northwest Territory
C. citizens' anger over foreign attempts to influence the American government
D. armed mobs in Pennsylvania attacking tax collectors and burning buildings
C - Citizens were angry about the "XYZ" affair, where french foreigners tried to influence our government
What effect did farming in the West have on newer American cities such as Pittsburgh and Cincinnati?
A. Urban growth was discouraged because farmland was considered more valuable.
B. Farmers’ increasing political power led to a shift toward Federalist policy in the cities.
C. The populations of these cities declined as people moved west to farm.
D. The cities grew quickly as farmers shipped more products by river
D - the cities grew quickly as farmers shipped more products by river
Henry Clay’s American system called for
A. lower tariffs to promote imported goods.
B. higher tariffs to promote U.S. goods.
C. laws to prohibit child labor.
D. a minimum wage for factory workers.
B - Higher tariffs to promote US Goods
Tariffs were meant to protect US business from British competition
Southern states opposed Hamilton’s debt plan because:
A. Southerners strongly resented Northern hostility toward slavery.
B. Many Southern states already paid off their debt.
C. Few Southerners had fought in the US Revolution.
D. The South was in the midst of a depression.
B - Southern states already paid off their debt, they did not want to pay for Northern debt that wasn't theirs.
How did President Jefferson try to prevent Federalist judges from gaining too much power?
A. by choosing hundreds of judges to replace those appointed by the Adams administration
B. by making the secretary of state deliver commissions withheld by the Adams administration
C. by asking the Supreme Court if presidential appointments to the courts were constitutional
D. by preventing the judges from receiving their commissions
D - President Jefferson blocked Adam's appointed judges by refusing to deliver their commissions
Which statement about the election of 1800 is accurate?
A. Americans supported Federalist ideals.
B. Personal attacks are improper in a campaign.
C. Direct campaigning is effective.
D. The Electoral College system needed changing
D - The electoral college system needed to change because it was difficult to determine who won the election
What did Hamilton think about the Louisiana Purchase?
A) U.S. paid too much
B) Strengthened U.S. power
C) The chance of settling the land was low
D) It had abundant resources
C - Alexander Hamilton believed the chance of actually using the new land was low, and that it was infested with Indians
At the beginning of James Madison’s presidency, the United States teetered on the verge of war with either
A. Britain or France.
B. Britain or Spain.
C. Spain or France.
D. Tripoli or Spain
What was an effect of the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825?
A. Railroads immediately reduced the rates they charged to ship goods.
B. Economic ties between the industrial east and agricultural west were strengthened.
C. The population of New England states increased dramatically.
D. Prices increased for agricultural goods in the Northeast and South.
B. Economic ties between the industrial east and agricultural west were strengthened.
Supreme Court rulings such as Fletcher v. Peck and McCulloch v. Maryland supported the
A. principles of judicial review of any law passed by Congress.
B. powers of the national government over individual state governments.
C. argument that congressional powers were limited to those enumerated in the Constitution.
D. right of states to overturn federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.
B - powers of the national government over individual state governments