US history

Building a Republic and Forming the New Nation

The Articles of Confederation

Know the basic structure and weaknesses of America’s first national government.

Study:

  • What a confederation is

  • Why the states were more powerful than the national government

  • How states were represented and voted in Congress

  • Congress’s problems with:

    • Collecting taxes

    • Regulating trade

    • Passing laws

    • Changing the Articles

  • Why having no separate executive branch was a problem

  • Why having no national judicial branch was a problem

  • Why many Americans eventually believed the country needed a stronger national government

Western Lands

Understand how the national government handled western territory.

Study:

  • Land Ordinance

    • Organization of western lands

    • Selling western land to raise revenue

  • Northwest Ordinance

    • Creation of new states from the Northwest Territory

    • Rules concerning slavery in the Northwest Territory

    • Importance of the Ohio River as a dividing line

Problems Facing the New Nation

Know some of the economic and political problems that exposed weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Study:

  • Problems with foreign and interstate trade

  • Problems protecting American businesses from European competition

  • The government's difficulty raising money

  • Shays’ Rebellion

    • Economic problems that contributed to the rebellion

    • Why the rebellion worried American leaders

    • How it demonstrated weaknesses in the national government

The Constitutional Convention

Understand why American leaders met to change the country's government.

Study:

  • Why a stronger national government was considered necessary

  • The basic differences between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

  • Which plan favored large states

  • Which plan favored small states

  • Bicameral versus unicameral legislatures

  • James Madison and the Virginia Plan

  • William Paterson and the New Jersey Plan

Compromises and the Constitution

Know that disagreements at the Constitutional Convention were settled through compromise.

Be familiar with:

  • Connecticut/Great Compromise

  • Executive Election Compromise

  • Commerce Compromise

  • Three-Fifths Compromise

  • Slave Trade Compromise

  • Creation of the Supreme Court

  • The process for amending the Constitution

  • How the compromises resulted in a new Constitution

Ratification and the New Government

Know the major groups and individuals involved in creating the new government.

Study:

  • Federalists

  • Anti-Federalists

  • The debate over ratifying the Constitution

  • George Washington as the first President

  • John Adams as the first Vice President

  • The purpose and importance of the Bill of Rights

Washington and the New Government

Understand how the new federal government began operating under President Washington.

Study:

  • The Judiciary Act and creation of the federal court system

  • Washington's first Cabinet

  • Important Cabinet members:

    • Alexander Hamilton — Treasury

    • Thomas Jefferson — State

    • Henry Knox — War

    • Edmund Randolph — Attorney General

  • Why the Whiskey Rebellion was an important test of the new government's power

The First Political Parties

Know the major differences between Federalists and Republicans.

Federalists / Alexander Hamilton

Study their support for:

  • A strong national government

  • Liberal/broad interpretation of the Constitution

  • Manufacturing and business

  • Merchants and urban areas

  • The National Bank

  • Higher protective tariffs

  • National assumption of state debts

  • Friendly relations with Great Britain

Republicans / Thomas Jefferson

Study their support for:

  • Strong state governments

  • Strict interpretation of the Constitution

  • Agriculture

  • Farmers and planters

  • Rural areas

  • Opposition to the National Bank

  • Lower tariffs

  • States handling their own debts

  • Friendly relations with France

John Adams and Problems with France

Understand the major problems involving France during the Adams administration.

Study:

  • French attacks on American shipping

  • The XYZ Affair

    • What French representatives demanded from American negotiators

  • The Quasi-War with France

Alien and Sedition Acts

Know the basic purpose of each law and why they became controversial.

Study:

  • Naturalization Act — changes involving the process of becoming an American citizen

  • Alien Act — government power concerning aliens considered dangerous

  • Alien Enemies Act — treatment of aliens from enemy countries during war

  • Sedition Act — restrictions involving certain writings against the government and government officials

  • Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

  • The idea of nullification

Key People to Know

Be able to identify the general importance or role of:

George Washington
John Adams
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
William Paterson

Important Terms to Review

Articles of Confederation
Confederation
Sovereignty
Land Ordinance
Northwest Ordinance
Shays’ Rebellion
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Bicameral
Unicameral
Great Compromise
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Bill of Rights
Judiciary Act
Whiskey Rebellion
National Bank
Strict Construction
Liberal Construction
XYZ Affair
Alien and Sedition Acts
Nullification