Test Bank For The Unfinished Nation A Concise History of the
American People 8th Edition By Alan Brinkley , Andrew
Huebner, John Giggie 9780073513331 ALL Chapters .
Who was the "Father of the Constitution?" - ANSWER: James Madison
What were James Madison's major contributions? - ANSWER: He proposed national government
consisting of a Supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. He drafted most of the constitution
himself. He also resolved the questions of sovereignty and limiting power.
Where did ultimate sovereignty lie? - ANSWER: All power, at all levels of government, flowed
ultimately from the people.
How should power be limited? - ANSWER: A large republic would be less likely to produce tyranny
because no single group would ever be able to dominate it.
What was the issue that almost broke up the Constitutional Convention before its work could get
underway? - ANSWER: Slavery and how slaves would be viewed when taxation was collected.
What were the provisions of the Great Compromise and how did it break the deadlock created by this
issue? - ANSWER: It called for a two-house legislature. In the lower house, the states would be
represented on the basis of population; each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a free person
in determining the basis for both representation and direct taxation. In the upper house, the states
would be represented equally with two members apiece. On July 16, 1787, the convention voted to
accept the compromise.
In the next few weeks, the convention agreed to another important compromise. To placate southern
delegates, who feared the new government would interfere with slavery, the convention agreed to
bar the new government from stopping the slave trade for twenty years.
How did the principle of "checks and balances" work to "curb the excesses of democracy" and to
ensure that one branch of the federal government didn't become dominant over the others? -
ANSWER: It grants the various branches of government the power to oversee or constrain other
branches, so no one part becomes too powerful.
What specific powers were granted to Congress? - ANSWER: Both chambers of congress would have
to agree before any law could be passed.
What specific powers were bestowed on the president? - ANSWER: The president could veto acts of
Congress.
In addition to the system of "checks and balances," what other ways did the framers of the U.S.
Constitution create a government that would withstand the passage of time? - ANSWER: House of
Representatives would be elected directly by the people, senators would be chosen by state
legislators, presidents would be selected by the electoral college.
How did the framers of the constitution deal with the issue of slavery? - ANSWER: With the 3/5ths
clause.
What specific rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment? - ANSWER: Right to petition the
government for a redress of grievances, freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceably to
assemble.
, What might seem to us today to be a striking omission in the Bill of Rights? - ANSWER: The right to
vote.
Why wasn't the right to vote included in the Constitution at this time? - ANSWER: It was left up to the
individual states to decide who was qualified to vote.
What were the basic components of Alexander Hamilton's economic plan for the nation? - ANSWER:
Assuming the state's debts with interest-bearing bonds. Tariffs for imported goods. Establishment of
the national bank.
How would Alexander Hamilton deal with the national debt left over from the American Revolution? -
ANSWER: He would have it sold to bondholders to keep the U.S. in a permanent state of national
debt.
What types of taxes did Hamilton devise to raise revenue for the new government? - ANSWER: Excise
tax on alcoholic beverages and a tariff on imported goods.
What policies were designed to encourage the growth of big business and industry? - ANSWER: He
outlined a plan for stimulating the growth of industry and spoke glowingly of the advantages to
society of a healthy manufacturing sector.
On what grounds did Jefferson and Madison oppose Hamilton's First Bank of the United States? -
ANSWER: Madison, Jefferson, Randolph, and others argued that because the Constitution made no
provision for a national bank, Congress had no authority to create one.
How did Hamilton justify the First Bank of the United States' charter? - ANSWER: Hamilton used a
loose interpretation of the constitution and referred to implied powers.
What were the origins of the two-party political system in the United States? - ANSWER: The different
views of Hamilton and Jefferson created two different political parties.
What are five distinct features of the Federalist Party? - ANSWER: Hostile to the extension of
democracy, i.e. believe in devices such as property requirements to limit the number of citizens who
can vote to only the "best people."
Favor a powerful central government at the expense of states' rights; maintain this strong central
government through a "broad interpretation" of the U.S. Constitution based on "Elastic Clause."
Advocate federal policies that foster big business and industry, i.e. protective tariffs and a Bank of the
U.S.
Adopt Hamilton's idea that the national debt is a "national blessing" and also his desire to create a
large federal bureaucracy.
In foreign affairs, support Great Britain over France.
What are five distinct features of the Democratic-Republican Party? - ANSWER: Want to extend
democracy to the masses; advocate universal manhood suffrage and public education.
Favor states' rights over a strong federal government - believe the central government is a "necessary
evil" that must be held in check by a "strict interpretation" of the U.S. Constitution.
Opposed to federal policies favoring big business and industry such as a protective tariff and a
national bank; hope that the U.S. will remain agrarian.
Wish to retire the national debt ASAP and also reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy.
American People 8th Edition By Alan Brinkley , Andrew
Huebner, John Giggie 9780073513331 ALL Chapters .
Who was the "Father of the Constitution?" - ANSWER: James Madison
What were James Madison's major contributions? - ANSWER: He proposed national government
consisting of a Supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. He drafted most of the constitution
himself. He also resolved the questions of sovereignty and limiting power.
Where did ultimate sovereignty lie? - ANSWER: All power, at all levels of government, flowed
ultimately from the people.
How should power be limited? - ANSWER: A large republic would be less likely to produce tyranny
because no single group would ever be able to dominate it.
What was the issue that almost broke up the Constitutional Convention before its work could get
underway? - ANSWER: Slavery and how slaves would be viewed when taxation was collected.
What were the provisions of the Great Compromise and how did it break the deadlock created by this
issue? - ANSWER: It called for a two-house legislature. In the lower house, the states would be
represented on the basis of population; each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a free person
in determining the basis for both representation and direct taxation. In the upper house, the states
would be represented equally with two members apiece. On July 16, 1787, the convention voted to
accept the compromise.
In the next few weeks, the convention agreed to another important compromise. To placate southern
delegates, who feared the new government would interfere with slavery, the convention agreed to
bar the new government from stopping the slave trade for twenty years.
How did the principle of "checks and balances" work to "curb the excesses of democracy" and to
ensure that one branch of the federal government didn't become dominant over the others? -
ANSWER: It grants the various branches of government the power to oversee or constrain other
branches, so no one part becomes too powerful.
What specific powers were granted to Congress? - ANSWER: Both chambers of congress would have
to agree before any law could be passed.
What specific powers were bestowed on the president? - ANSWER: The president could veto acts of
Congress.
In addition to the system of "checks and balances," what other ways did the framers of the U.S.
Constitution create a government that would withstand the passage of time? - ANSWER: House of
Representatives would be elected directly by the people, senators would be chosen by state
legislators, presidents would be selected by the electoral college.
How did the framers of the constitution deal with the issue of slavery? - ANSWER: With the 3/5ths
clause.
What specific rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment? - ANSWER: Right to petition the
government for a redress of grievances, freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceably to
assemble.
, What might seem to us today to be a striking omission in the Bill of Rights? - ANSWER: The right to
vote.
Why wasn't the right to vote included in the Constitution at this time? - ANSWER: It was left up to the
individual states to decide who was qualified to vote.
What were the basic components of Alexander Hamilton's economic plan for the nation? - ANSWER:
Assuming the state's debts with interest-bearing bonds. Tariffs for imported goods. Establishment of
the national bank.
How would Alexander Hamilton deal with the national debt left over from the American Revolution? -
ANSWER: He would have it sold to bondholders to keep the U.S. in a permanent state of national
debt.
What types of taxes did Hamilton devise to raise revenue for the new government? - ANSWER: Excise
tax on alcoholic beverages and a tariff on imported goods.
What policies were designed to encourage the growth of big business and industry? - ANSWER: He
outlined a plan for stimulating the growth of industry and spoke glowingly of the advantages to
society of a healthy manufacturing sector.
On what grounds did Jefferson and Madison oppose Hamilton's First Bank of the United States? -
ANSWER: Madison, Jefferson, Randolph, and others argued that because the Constitution made no
provision for a national bank, Congress had no authority to create one.
How did Hamilton justify the First Bank of the United States' charter? - ANSWER: Hamilton used a
loose interpretation of the constitution and referred to implied powers.
What were the origins of the two-party political system in the United States? - ANSWER: The different
views of Hamilton and Jefferson created two different political parties.
What are five distinct features of the Federalist Party? - ANSWER: Hostile to the extension of
democracy, i.e. believe in devices such as property requirements to limit the number of citizens who
can vote to only the "best people."
Favor a powerful central government at the expense of states' rights; maintain this strong central
government through a "broad interpretation" of the U.S. Constitution based on "Elastic Clause."
Advocate federal policies that foster big business and industry, i.e. protective tariffs and a Bank of the
U.S.
Adopt Hamilton's idea that the national debt is a "national blessing" and also his desire to create a
large federal bureaucracy.
In foreign affairs, support Great Britain over France.
What are five distinct features of the Democratic-Republican Party? - ANSWER: Want to extend
democracy to the masses; advocate universal manhood suffrage and public education.
Favor states' rights over a strong federal government - believe the central government is a "necessary
evil" that must be held in check by a "strict interpretation" of the U.S. Constitution.
Opposed to federal policies favoring big business and industry such as a protective tariff and a
national bank; hope that the U.S. will remain agrarian.
Wish to retire the national debt ASAP and also reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy.
