Election Resources

A site that allows you to take a quiz that matches your views with the views of the candidates can be found here.

The website procon.org also has a great site that shows each candidates positions (through their own statements) on may different issues.

A good site that allows you to plot diffeernt election day scenarios is 270 to Win

The best, most up-to-date analysis of polls and election predictions is the blog Five Thirty Eight

The Federalists: Washington, Hamilton and Adams

For Tuesday: Topic - Washington & Hamilton: Read 190-201
1. Who was Alexander Hamilton?
2. What were Alexander Hamilton’s goals and plans?
3. Know the basic recommendations of the Reports on the Public Credit, Manufactures, and the Bank.
4. Why were they so controversial?
5. Explain the ideological and political differences between the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans (Jeffersonian Democrats).
6. Who were the leaders of each party? What groups supported each party?
7. Why was the Whiskey Rebellion significant? (Think about the recent rebellions.)
8. What threats were there to the nation from American Indians, the British, and the French? How did they resolve each threat? Were they successful in resolving each threat?
9. What were Washington’s feelings about the development of parties? Look to his “Farewell Address.” Do you agree with him?
10. Was Washington a good president? What were his achievements and precedents?

Know the significance of the following: John Jay, Henry Knox, Report on the Public Credit, Report on Manufactures , Bank of the United States, strict interpretation/construction, loose interpretation/construction, Elastic Clause (Art. I, Sec. 8), Whiskey Rebellion, Citizen Genet, Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne, Battle of Fallen Timbers (1795), Treaty of Greenville (1795), Jay’s Treaty (1795), Pinckney’s Treaty (1796), Federalists, Democratic Republicans, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison

The Essential Debate Between Fedralists and Democratic-Republicans:


For Thursday: Topic - John Adams: Read 201-209
1. What was Adams like? Was he a good politician? Was he a good president?
2. Why was Jefferson his vice president? Was this a good situation?
3. Evaluate Adams’ presidency. Pay particular attention to the Alien and Sedition Acts, the XYZ Affair, and the Quasi-War with France.
4. Why was the election of 1800 so important?
Know the significance of the following: XYZ Affair, Quasi-War (1798-1800), Alien Act (1798), Alien Enemies Act (1798), Sedition Act (1798), Naturalization Act (1798)

John Adams at his best and worst in the two videos below:

Constitution Assignments

For Wednesday: Using your textbook and the resources found in the Study Guides and Resources page, learn the followingthe following:
1. What is federalism?
2. What does separation of powers mean?
3. Who has the power to declare war?
4. Who controls the military?
5. Who negotiates treaties?
6. Who approves treaties?
7. Who decides the constitutionality of laws?
8. How are federal judges chosen?
9. How are cabinet members chosen?
10. What is the process by which laws are made?
11. What is the process by which amendments are made?
12. What is the Electoral College?
13. How are judges and executive officials removed from office?
14. How are Senators selected and how long are they in office?
15. How are members of the House of Representatives selected and how long are they in office?




For Thursday Read 190-192 and Bill of Rights. Prepare for Chunky Monkey Case (found in the Study Guides and Resources page . Bring copy of Constitution to class for use during class. The Constitution can be found in your textbook or you can bring it in another form.
As you read pages 190-192, consider the follwoing questions

1. Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
2. Why was it written?
3. What basic rights does it protect?




For Friday: Chunky Monkey Assignment due

The Creation of Our National Government

for Monday: Read pages 164-176. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. How did the revolution change society? Were the changes radical?
2. How did the revolution change the lives of African-Americans, women, and American Indians? Were these changes substantial or incremental?
3. In the new governments, what was kept of English traditions and what was new?
4. What two groups or forces struggled over the form and direction of the new state governments?
5. How was the government under the Articles of Confederation different from our government under the Constitution?
6. What were the Articles of Confederation’s weaknesses?

Know the Significance of the following: Land Ordinance of 1785; Northwest Ordinance of 1787; Shays’s Rebellion.


For Tuesday: Read pages 177-189. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. Why did the writers of the Constitution want a new form of government?
2. What role did Shay’s Rebellion play in this decision?
3. How was the new Constitution different from the Articles of Confederation?
4. What groups opposed the Constitution and what groups supported it?
5. Why did it gain ratification?

Know the significance of the following: Philadelphia Convention; James Madison; Virginia Plan; William Patterson; New Jersey Plan; Roger Sherman; Connecticut Compromise; bicameral legislature; separation of powers; federalism; Senate; House of Representatives; Supreme Court; 3/5 Compromise; democratic; republican; Federalists; Anti-Federalists; Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; The Federalist Papers.

The War for Independence

for Tuesday: Read pages 150-156. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. Who should have won the Revolution and why?
2. What were the most significant events and battles that enabled the Americans to win?
3. Was Washington a great general?
for Friday: Read pages 156-163. Consider the following questions as you read:
1. Why did the Americans win their independence?
2. What were the most significant events and battles that enabled the Americans to win?
3. Was the Peace of Paris a good treaty for the United States? Why?
By Wednesday, know the significance of the following:
Thomas Paine;“Common Sense"; Battles of Lexington & Concord, 1775; Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775; Benedict Arnold; George Washington; Whigs; Tories; Continental Army; militias; Hessians; Henry Knox; Battle of New York, 1776 ; Battle of Trenton, 1776; Battle of Saratoga, 1777; Gen. Howe; Gen. Burgoyne; Gen. Cornwallis; Joseph Brant; Valley Forge; Friedrich von Stueben; George Rogers Clark; Marquis de Lafayette; Battle of Yorktown, 1781