Humanities Homework Help

This week students will begin by reading Chapters 7 and 8: Creating Republican Governments, 1776-1790   The development of state governments will be explored, along with the weaknesses of the initial national government that followed the revolution and the rationale behind establishing a republican style government. The status of women, free and enslaved blacks, and the indigenous population will be furthered explored, as well as problems with the Articles of Confederation. Additional topics include the creation of the American Constitution and a closer look at the Bill of Rights, which are the central focus of the Question of the Week. 

Question 1 

What were the problems facing the United States in the period immediately following the Revolutionary War?  Why was the Confederation Government unsuccessful in addressing these problems? Compare the Articles of Confederation (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/artconf.asp) with the Constitution (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/usconst.asp ). How are they different? How are they similar? In your view, what is the most important difference between the two? When was the Bill of Rights (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rights1.asp )written and why was attached to the United States Constitution? What kind of rights were guaranteed to the citizens and the States by the Bill of Rights? Why do you think the bill of rights remains so central to American political debate?

Question 2

What were Thomas Jefferson’s ideas about the future of America and how it should develop?  How were these ideas expressed in his Presidential administration? How did developments in America after the War of 1812 reflect Jefferson’s basic ideas? Why do you think the era between 1815 and 1824 is known as the “Era of Good Feelings”?   

Question 3 

What were the main foreign policy problems of the United States between 1793 and 1812? What choices was the United States faced within its dealings with Europe in this period? How did the first four Presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison) handle the European problem? What were the causes of the War of 1812? Be sure to include considerations of domestic politics as well as foreign policy. What kind of military record did the United States establish in trying to achieve the goals of this conflict? What was the effect of this conflict on American attitudes?