US History Chapter 7 Review Questions
Evaluate the ways the limited central government under the Articles of Confederation reflected the issues behind the Revolution and fears of losing individual liberties.
America saw centralized power as a danger to liberty. National government couldn't levy taxes or regulate commerce. Shay's rebellion demonstrated the need for more central government to ensure private liberty (right to property).
Evaluate the major arguments against the Constitution put forth by the Anti-Federalists.
Argued that a republic had to be small and that a large government would lead to oppression. Denounced the protections for slavery. Thought that the power of congress was too broad.
Briefly explain the ideas and motivations that pushed Americans to expand west.
Government didn't distinguish between the indian tribes over what side they supported in the war. Claimed since they supported the British, they forfeited the right to their land. The right to take possession of land was an essential element of American freedom.
Evaluate the major arguments in favor of the Constitution given by the Federalists.
Hamilton argued that government is an expression of freedom, not its enemy. Large size of the US was a source of stability, not weakness. Government must be based on the will of the people, but people have shown themselves to be susceptible to dangerous enthusiasms.
Support and argument about the accuracy of Hector St. John de Crevocoeur's description of America.
His description of America was not very accurate. He described America as a melting pot of Europeans. Like many white Americans, he excluded blacks and indians from his conception of American people.
Support and argument about the assertion that the Constitution was a "bundle of compromises" that shaped the direction of the new nation. Detail which compromises were most significant.
In the original draft of the Constitution it condemned slavery, but that was taken out by other delegates. The Constitution instead ended up with protections for slavery: prohibiting the abolition of slave importation; fugitive slaves were required to be returned; and 3/5 clause was created. 3/5 clause was very significant because it gave the southern states much more political power.
Describe the events and ideas that led to the belief in 1786 and 1787 that the Articles of Confederation were not working well.
The country went into an economic crisis that the central government didn't have the power to solve. The government had borrowed a lot of money finance the war, and now without a source of revenue they couldn't pay back those debts. States had to step in an enforce their own economic policies, such as import tariffs and postponing of debt collection. As well, they all printed a lot of money which caused massive inflation.