UNITED STATES HISTORY STUDY QUESTIONS
Chapter 6: The New Republic
Chapter 6, section 1
1.
Who was elected the first president of the United States of America?
The electoral college (a group of people representing each state) elected George
Washington as the first president in 1789.
2.
What steps did President Washington and Congress take to establish a new government?
Since there were no precedents, Washington and Congress filled in the details with the Judiciary Act of 1789 and creating the cabinet.
3.
What was the significance of the Judiciary Act of 1789?
It created a Supreme Court--consisting of a chief justice and five associate justices.
It also established federal circuit and district courts which allowed state court decisions involving the federal constitution to be appealed to a federal court.
4.
Why did federal law have to be “the supreme law of the Land” in the new nation?
If states could pass laws that contradicted federal law, the authority of the federal government might be underminded and this would jeopardize the stability of the union.
5.
What is a cabinet? What departments comprised the nation’s first cabinet? List their names and the functions of each department?
Cabinet is a group of advisors who are part of the Executive branch of the government. It only consisted of four (4) members under George Washington.
Thomas Jefferson (author of Declaration of Independence) was the Secretary of
State –deals with foreign affairs. HenryKnox—Secretary of War—authorize to handle military matters. Alexander Hamilton was the Secretary of Treasury— authorized to manage finances. Edmund Randolph was the Attorney General— chief lawyer of the federal government.
6.
What were the differences between Hamilton’s and Jefferson’s views of government?
Hamilton—wanted a strong central government; wanted an economy that will help with trade and industry; wanted to set up the Bank of the U.S.; distrusted the common people, loose interpretation of the Constitution. Jefferson—wanted a weak central government; wanted an economy that favored farmers; thought the
Bank of U.S. was unconstitutional; trusted the common people, strict interpretation of the Constitution.
7.
What were the main components of Hamilton’s economic plan?

Funded by both the federal government and wealthy private investors.

This bank would issue paper money and handle tax receipts.


The economic plan was to pay off national debts from the Revolutionary
War.
 This would tie the wealthy investors to the nation’s success of stabilizing the financial part of the country.
8.
Why did the new nation need to pay off its debts?
If the country demonstrated that the new government was financially responsible it would show the creditors, including foreign governments the country was credible.
It would also bolster the government’s reputation.
9.
How did the nation’s capital come to be located in Washington, D.C.?
The nation’s capital moved to the location of Washington D.C. because many politicians wanted to win the support of the debt problem from the southern states.
Madison and Jefferson believed that a southern site for the capital would make the government more responsive to their interest.
10.
What were the main differences between the Federalists and the Democratic-
Republican?
Federalists—wanted a strong central government; wanted the wealthy and elite to contribute to the national bank; received support from wealthy investors; economy based on trade and industry, supported loose construction of the Constitution.
Democratic-Republican—wanted a strong state government; opposed the national bank; received support from farmers and southerners; economy based on agriculture, supported a strict construction of the Constitution.
11.
What prompted the Whiskey Rebellion and how did it end?
In 1789, Congress had passed a protective tariff, an import tax on good produced in
Europe. This was their way of encouraging American production of goods.
Farmers in western Pennsylvania found that the most economical way to transport their (corn) harvest was to first distill it into whiskey and then bring it to market.
The federal government passed an excise tax on the whiskey (extra tax on whiskey).
The tax discouraged the sale of whiskey which hurt the farmers’ economy and the farmers revolted. This revolt was quickly put down by 15,000 militiamen who were called by the government.
12.
How was the Whiskey Rebellion an opportunity for the federal government to demonstrate its authority?
George Washington’s orders to end revolt by exercising his right as Commander in
Chief (authority to act within a state). It also showed that the new government would act decisively in times of a crisis.
Chapter 6, Section 2
1.
What was America’s reaction to the French Revolution?
Most Americans initially support the French Revolution because it was inspired by the ideal of Republican rule (American Revolution). In this revolution the French set out to create a government based on the will of the people.

2.
Why did the United States want to maintain its neutrality?
There was a general agreement that war was not in the nation’s best interest (due to weak military and slow economy). Also, George Washington did not want to take the chance of probably fighting against the British.
3.
What was the result of Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain?
1. Spain gave up all rights to territory east of the Mississippi River (except
Florida). 2. the 31 st parallel as the southern boundary the United States and the northern boundary of Florida. 3. The Mississippi River was now open to all traffic whether by Spanish subjects and U.S. citizens to allow traders to use the port of
New Orleans.
4.
Why did the United States want access to the Mississippi River?
Travel and trade were difficult on the frontier and the access to the Mississippi
River would offer an easier means of transportation for frontier farmers and merchants.
5.
Why did Native Americans demand negotiations with the United States over the
Northwest Territory?
In the past the Native Americans have been excluded from negotiation that led to the Treaty of Paris and therefore has no influence over what was being done to their lands.
6.
Who was Little Turtle?
Little Turtle was a brilliant military strategist chieftain of the Miami tribe who defeated the American generals.
7.
What were the causes and consequences of the battle of Fallen Timbers?
With many defeats over the present-day Ohio Territory, George Washington appointed General Anthony Wayne to lead federal troops against the Native
Americans. General Wayne defeated the Miami Confederacy in a 40 minute battle which was later called the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Victory ended Native
Americans resistance and they gave up most of the land in Ohio in exchange for
$20,000 worth of goods and an annual payment of nearly $10,000. This agreement was known as the Treaty of Greenville.
8.
What was the outcome of Jay’s Treaty?
The nation would control territories west of the Appalachian mountains British would evacuate the northwest territory posts but continue to fur trade.
9.
Why were so many Americans dissatisfied with Jay’s treaty with Britain?
Jay’s Treaty barely passed the U.S. Senate, because it allowed for the British to continue their fur trade on the U.S. side of the Canadian land.
10.
How did political parties affect the results of the election of 1796?
Because the two top vote getters in 1796 were Federalists (John Adams) and
Democratic-Republican (Thomas Jefferson). Respectively in the Constitution, the

highest vote getter will become President and the next highest would become Vice
President. This caused sectionalism in the Executive branch. The president was
John Adams and the Vice President was Thomas Jefferson. Both had different views for the country and always caused political turmoil.
11.
What was the XYZ affair?
The American delegation planned to meet with the French foreign minister,
Talleyrad. Instead the directory sent three low level officials (Adams adressed as X,
Y, Z in his Congress report) who demanded a $250,000 bribe to meet with Talleyrad in order to stop harrassment of the American ships. This proved a wave of Anti-
French feeling at home and the United States declared naval war with France.
12.
What was the purpose of the Alien and Sedition Acts?
The Anti-French feelings caused many people to believe the French would try to overthrow our government (because of the new arrivals of French immigrants). To counter this increase of immigrants…the government sought measures for protection. Alien acts—raised the residence requirement for American citizenship from 5 to 14 yrs and allowed the government to deport or jail any alien considered undesireable. Sedition acts—set fines and jail terms for anyone trying to hinder the operation of government or expressing “false, scandalous, and malicious statements” against the government
13.
How did the Kentucky Resolutions challenge the authority of the federal government? What was the theory of nullification?
They asserted the principal of nullification, which held that, if a state considered an act by congress to be unconstitutional, it had the right to declare that action null and void—that is not binding to the law.
14. How was the presidential election of 1800 decided?
The Electoral College balloting resulted in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and
Aaron Burr, the House of Representatives were called upon to choose between the two highest vote getters: Thomas Jefferson finally won and Aaron Burr became
Vice President.
Chapter 6, Section 3
1.
How did Jefferson simplify the presidency? What were the successes and failures of the Jefferson administrations?
Jefferson simplified the federal government and emphasized the importance of ordinary citizens through policies such as free trade, cut spending and taxes.
Successes: reduction of the nation’s debts, the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and
Clark Expedition, peace treaty with the Barbary States; Failures: the British embargo, refusal to build a bigger navy.
2.
What was the principle of judicial review?
This gave the Supreme Court the right of Judicial Review--ability to declare a law, an act of Congress, or Executive branch action Unconstitutional. The Supreme
Court checks the power of Congress and President to determine if they are constitutional.

3.
Why was Marbury v. Madison so important?
It established the concept of judicial review, which helped to expand the power of the Supreme Court and of the federal government.
4.
How did America gain the Louisiana Territory? Why was the United States concerned about the Louisiana Territory?
The United States purchased Louisiana in 1803, (under the administration of
President Thomas Jefferson) from Napoleon Bonaparte of France. It cost 15 million dollars. It doubled the size of the United States. Jefferson wanted to resolve any problems with French presence in the U.S.
5.
What parts of the country did Lewis and Clark explore?
Thomas Jefferson was the President during the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804.
They explored the area for two years and four months. It was called the Corps of
Discovery (from St. Louis to the pacific coast) they was to collect scientific information about unknown plants and animals in route to the pacific and learn as much as possible about the Native American tribes encountered along the way.
6.
Who was Sacajawea?
Sacajawea was the Native American woman who served as an interpreter and guide.
7.
What British activities angered Americans?
The war between France and Great Britain threatens American shipping. Great
Britain had seized more than 1,000 American ships and confiscated their cargoes.
This action restricted American shipping. Great Britain decided that the best way of attacking Napoleon’s Europe was to blockade it. The British policy of impressment infuriates the United States (practice of seizing American ships at sea and “impressing” or drafting them into the British navy).
8.
What was Jefferson’s reasoning behind the embargo of 1807?
Thomas Jefferson declared an embargo—a ban on exporting products to other countries. He believed that the Embargo Act of 1807 would hurt Britain and force them to honor American neutrality. The Embargo Act 1807, blockades of European ports, and seizures of American vessels at sea which hurt all American foreign trade.
Chapter 6, Section 4
1.
Why did many Americans blame Britain for their problems? Why did the war hawks call for the war with Britain?
They believed that British actions were harming their economy and threatening expansion into western lands. War Hawks discovered that Native Americans in
Tecumseh’s Confederacy had been supplied with whiskey and ammunition (guns) from British Canada. James Madison decided to go to war with Britain.
2.
Why did the Americans meet with military failure in Canada?
The American military was unprepared for war with Great Britain. In addition, after the British captured Detroit there followed many setbacks when the

Americans tried to take Montreal. Major setback—the British sack and burn
Washington, D.C. in 1814.
3.
What role did Andrew Jackson play in the war?
After six (6) months of fighting (military campaign) involving four (4) battles,
Jackson defeated Native Americans of the Creek tribe at the Battle of Horseshoe
Bend in March of 1814. Also, the Battle of New Orleans Americans win in 1815 under the leadership of Andrew Jackson, a general from Tennessee but the war was over**
4.
What were the provisions of the Treaty of Ghent?
The Treaty of Ghent—armistice (cease fire) to end of the war which resulted in peaceful relations develop between U.S. and Great Britain.
 In 1815, Commercial Treaty reopening trade (American industries grow).

In 1817, the Rush-Bagot agreement limited the number of warships on the Great Lakes.

In 1818, a British-American commission set the northern boundary of the Louisiana territory at the 49th parallel as far west as the Rocky
Mountains.

10-year joint occupation of Oregon territory

American independence is confirmed and nationalism grows in country.