Topic 6 Study Guide

Question 1

Who was the first president of the United States?

Answer 1

George Washington

Question 2

Who was the Vice President of George Washington?

Answer 2

John Adams

Question 3

Who was the Secretary of Treasury under George Washington?

Answer 3

Alexander Hamilton

Question 4

Who was the Secretary of State under George Washington?

Answer 4

Thomas Jefferson

Question 5

What was the Whiskey Rebellion?

Answer 5

A protest against Hamilton’s whiskey tax by Pennsylvania farmers

Question 6

What was significant about the Whiskey Rebellion?

Answer 6

It showed the strength of the federal government when George Washington personally led troops to suppress the tax protest

Question 7

What did the Judiciary Act of 1789 establish?

Answer 7

The federal court system and the U.S. Supreme Court

Question 8

What was the Neutrality Proclamation?

Answer 8

Washington’s declaration to keep the U.S. out of European conflicts

Question 9

What warnings did Washington give in his Farewell Address?

Answer 9

Political parties and foreign alliances

Question 10

Why was the election of 1800 significant?

Answer 10

It marked the first peaceful transition of power between different political parties. Thomas Jefferson won after a tie.

Question 11

What was a major accomplishment of Jefferson’s presidency?

Answer 11

The Louisiana Purchase from France (It doubled the size of the U.S. and expanded westward opportunities.)

Question 12

How did the Louisiana Purchase happen?

Answer 12

France was unable to maintain the territory due to wars (This led to the purchase of land between the Mississippi River and Rocky Mountains.)

Question 13

How many terms did John Adams serve as president?

Answer 13

One term

Question 14

What was the XYZ Affair?

Answer 14

Adams sent representatives to France to keep relationship with France on good terms. Minister Talleyrand would NOT meet with the US. Later three French agents came to US representatives and said for $250,000 (bribe) and 12 million dollar loan-they could meet. Adams referred to these agents as X, Y and Z. The US did not accept these terms

Question 15

What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?

Answer 15

Laws that restricted immigration and limited free speech against the government

Question 16

What were the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?

Answer 16

Arguments that states could challenge and nullify unconstitutional federal laws

Question 17

Who fought in the War of 1812?

Answer 17

The United States and Great Britain

Question 18

What were the main causes of the War of 1812?

Answer 18

• British impressment of American sailors
• British support for Native American resistance
• War Hawks pushing for war

Question 19

What were the effects of the War of 1812?

Answer 19

• Increased American nationalism
• Weakened Native American resistance
• Boosted U.S. manufacturing

Question 20

Which major city suffered great loss during the War of 1812?

Answer 20

Washington DC (The British burned significant buildings, including the White House.)

Question 21

What treaty ended the War of 1812?

Answer 21

The Treaty of Ghent

Question 22

Who was president during the War of 1812?

Answer 22

James Madison

Question 23

Who was Frances Scott Key?

Answer 23

A lawyer who wrote ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ (He witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry and was inspired to write what is now our national anthem.)

Question 24

What was the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 24

A period of technological growth. New inventions, new machines, factories and industry-mass production-growth of cities and urbanization.

Question 25

Who was Eli Whitney and what did he invent?

Answer 25

An American inventor known for the creation of the Cotton Gin and the idea of interchangeable parts

Question 26

What were textile mills and who primarily worked in them?

Answer 26

Factories that transformed fibers into textiles; mostly women and young children worked there.

Question 27

What is a tariff and which region supported it?

Answer 27

A tax on imported goods; it was supported by the northern region to protect manufacturers.

Question 28

Which region of the U.S. had an economy based on agriculture?

Answer 28

South

Question 29

Which region of the U.S. had an economy based on manufacturing?

Answer 29

North

Question 30

What were positive results of the construction of the Erie Canal?

Answer 30

* Boosted New York's economy * Facilitated westward expansion * Transformed New York City into a major commercial hub

Question 31

Who was Henry Clay?

Answer 31

An American lawyer and member of Congress known for his compromises (He proposed the American System.)

Question 32

What was the American System?

Answer 32

An economic plan promoting national unity through tariffs, a national bank, and federal funding for infrastructure; it aimed to balance agriculture, commerce, and industry.

Question 33

What is sectionalism?

Answer 33

Division based on regional beliefs and values (It caused loyalty to regions instead of the nation.)

Question 34

What issue caused tension between the North and the South during the early 1800s?

Answer 34

Slavery

Question 35

What was the Missouri Compromise?

Answer 35

An attempt to resolve the balance of slave and free states; Maine entered the union as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. (Moving forward, any new state to join would be free if they were above the 36/30 latitude line and allow slavery if they were below.)

Question 36

What was the Embargo Act of 1807?

Answer 36

An attempt to avoid war by stopping trade with Britain and France (It ended up harming the U.S. economy.)

Question 37

What was the significance of Marbury vs Madison?

Answer 37

Established judicial review, strengthening the Supreme Court's power