Unit 4: The Young Nation
Preview Reading: Washington Heads the New
Government
Name: __________________________
Date:__________________
Read pages 182 -186 in your textbook. (Stop at “A Personal Voice” on p. 186) Answer the
following questions thoroughly and in your own words. Do not simply copy from the text.
One American’s Story
1. How would you describe Washington’s feelings about becoming the new President? Why do you think
he felt that way?
The New Government Takes Shape
2. What challenges did the new government face? Summarize the first two paragraphs of this section in
your own words.
3. Summarize the key provisions of the Judiciary Act of 1789. What did it do? Why did they need this new
law?
4. How did Washington shape the Executive Branch? List the three new departments in the Executive
branch and the people Washington appointed to head them.
5. The yellow box (“The Cabinet”) says there are now 14 departments. That’s wrong – there are actually 15
now (your book is old). How many can you list without looking it up? Look them up and list at least 6 of
them. Which one would you most like to work for and why?
Hamilton and Jefferson Debate
6. Hamilton and Jefferson in Conflict: Compare and contrast the views of Hamilton and Jefferson in this
first section. Put related ideas across from each other:
Hamilton
Jefferson
7. You’re in luck! We’ll talk more about Hamilton’s Economic Plan in class.
8. Take notes on Hamilton’s Plan for a National Bank here.
How would it be funded? (Where would the money come from?):
Why did Hamilton want a National Bank like this?
What would the Bank do?
What were the two main arguments against the Bank? (from people like Madison and Jefferson)
Do you think Hamilton was a “strict” constructionist or a “loose” constructionist? What do these things
mean?
9. What compromise did Hamilton offer to get the Southern states to go along with his economic plans?
The First Political Parties
10. What were the first two political parties that formed, and what was the major issue that divided them?