AN EPIC SET OF REVIEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EARLY REPUBLIC
(1789-1823)
Directions: Use your textbook, notes, and other resources to answer the following questions. Some of these
questions will require you to fall back on prior knowledge to complete the answer. Furthermore, many of the
questions require you to think critically about the material and what I am asking in order to answer. Do not
expect to find word for word answers in your notes or book. Normally, I would not give you an assignment of
this nature, but this unit is a bit confusing so I want to make sure you understand it…hopefully this helps.
Domestic and Foreign Politics
1. What might George Washington have meant in 1789 when he said, “I walk on untrodden ground”?
2. What is the job of the president’s cabinet?
3. To what positions were Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton appointed?
4. What was Hamilton’s primary goal as head of the Treasury Department? Given Hamilton’s political
affiliation and ideals, why might that have been?
5. What was the most serious problem facing the U.S. at the beginning of Washington’s presidency?
6. What two things did Hamilton propose be done about the situation?
7. What, specifically, were the concerns members of Congress and Jefferson had about his economic plan?
8. What region seems to have benefited most from Hamilton’s plan? Given Hamilton’s political affiliation
and ideals, why might that have been?
9. How did the Compromise of 1790 (or "dinner table compromise") gain Southern support for Hamilton’s
plan? (Remember, at this time the U.S. capitol was in New York City)
10. What three things would be done by the First National Bank (Bank of the United States)?
11. What group of people was most affected by the Whiskey Tax? Given Hamilton’s political affiliation and
ideals, why might that have been?
12. How did those people respond, and what did the Federal Government do about it?
13. Compare and contrast Jefferson and Hamilton's visions for the U.S., support base (region, social class,
political party, etc.), and beliefs about France and the French Revolution?
14. What was Washington’s decision about U.S. involvement in the French Revolution?
15. What concerns led Washington to send John Jay to Britain to negotiate a treaty?
16. What were the conditions of Jay’s Treaty? How effective was the treaty?
17. When he left office in 1797, what did Washington tell the new nation?
18. Following Jay’s Treaty, especially, the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists were increasingly in
conflict. What took place in relation to France which helped the Federalists gain support?
19. What did the Alien Act allow President John Adams to do? Why do you think it was passed?
20. What did the Sedition Act make a crime? What was the immediate result of the act? Do you think it was
reasonable?
21. By 1800, what was the general sentiment among the American public about the Federalists?
22. Who was elected president in 1800? What party did he represent? What was his election called, and why
was it such a big deal? How did he attempt to temper (or ease) the unstable political situation in the U.S.?
23. What did Adams do as he left office in 1801? What major political change was it a response to?
24. The circumstances of Marbury v. Madison is admittedly complex. The legal decision making behind the
decision is likewise so. While you do not need to understand the intricacies of the case, you must understand
what important right the Marshall Court’s decision established for the Supreme Court. What was that right?
25. What is called when a nation forces members of another nation into its military? What treaty should have
prevented the British from capturing as many as 10,000 American sailors in the early 1800s?
26. Why might Jefferson have been afraid of a war with Britain?
27. What is an embargo? How effective was the Embargo Act of 1807 at forcing the French and British to do
as Jefferson wanted?
28. Though the entire nation suffered, what region was most negatively impacted by the Embargo Act of
1807? What political party was traditionally in power in that region? Based on his actions before leaving
office, do you think Jefferson intentionally created this situation?
29. Following Jefferson’s presidency, another Democratic-Republican, James Madison, became president. A
group of Western politicians came into power in Congress at the same time. What were they called and what
did they want?
30. What three “insults” did the War Hawks claim the British had heaped upon America? What treaty should
have presented these insults from occurring?
31. Why did Madison agree to go to war in 1812?
32. What did the War Hawks claim would be the result of the War of 1812?
33. Why did the war end in 1814?
34. Based on what you have read in the book, do you think the War of 1812 achieved anything?
35. What were the five most important (1 being the most important, 5 the least) events, decisions, policies, etc.
covered in this section? Why?
Territorial Expansion
36. In the 1760s, what was the border of the American Frontier? In 1763, what legislation was passed to
ensure that the British colonists stayed behind that border? Why were the colonists upset about that
legislation?
37. What was the Warrior’s Path and where did it lead?
38. Who expanded the Warrior’s Path and what did it come to be known as?
39. Why did Jefferson want to purchase New Orleans? Who did he send to negotiate the deal?
40. How much was paid for the Louisiana Purchase? How much larger did it make the U.S.?
41. Who did Jefferson send to explore the Louisiana Territory? What was the purpose of their expedition?
42. What government was in place when the Northwest Ordinance was passed? (Hint: it was really the only
thing that government achieved)
43. What were the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance?
44. The people heading west were a cross section of poor and middling people. Who, then, from an economic
perspective, was not heading west? Why might that have been? Given what you have learned, what political
party might those Americans supported?
45. What versatile transportation method was used by many westward settlers in the early 1800s?
46. How did the farms in the frontiers of the North and South reflect the colonial origins and subsequent
histories of those regions?
47. What were the roles/jobs of men and women on the frontier?
48. Explain what happened in Ohio between 1790 and 1794. What does this remind you of?
49. What did the Shawnee leaders Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh promise their followers in Tecumseh's
Confederacy?
50. During William Henry Harrison’s presidential campaign in 1840 a supporter composed a song titled
“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” (John Tyler was his vice presidential candidate). The song told the story of the
heroism of Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe and, of course, encouraged citizens to vote for him on the
basis of that heroism. What was the Battle of Tippecanoe? How does the song reflect the sentiment towards
Native Americans in the 1800s?
51. While many Native Americans resisted white settlement, the Cherokee did not. What did Sequoyah do?
What other examples are there of the Cherokee attempting to acculturate to (or adopt) white customs,
traditions, and political institutions in the early 1800s?
Economics
52. Considering economic policy, tariffs, and the political aims of western farmers, before 1800 what cost
more: bringing a ton of goods from England to the U.S. or from the U.S. coast nine miles inland?
53. What is a turnpike? What was the most important American turnpike of the early 1800s called?
54. What transportation development made New York City the primary Eastern seaport?
55. Until 1815 Henry Clay was opposed to the Bank of the U.S. and a strong central government. What
famous American does he remind you of?
56. Around 1815 Henry Clay changed his mind. He wanted a strong central government with expansive
economic power. Now what famous American does he remind you of?
57. Briefly explain the American system. Do you think it is a good idea?
58. What region was most benefited by the increase in tariffs passed in 1816 as part of the American System?
What would be the effect of increased tariffs on the South?
59. What past Americans would have supported the American System? Who would have been opposed to the
idea?
60. Sectionalism is defined as “loyalty to the interests of one's own region or section of the country, rather
than the needs of the nation as a whole”. What examples of sectionalism do you see in the American System?
Can you think of any other examples of sectionalism we have studied this year?