American History Homework Three Answers - Student Nine

DanielleR

1. Identify two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

America was weak- it had no power to defend itself or to move the British forces stationed near the Great Lakes. Although they needed to use the Mississippi River to transport goods from their newly acquired land, they had no way to persuade the Spanish from allowing them to use it. Also, because America was in great debt, they tried to turn to paper money. However, because they had no way to enforce the use of it, the people used European coins- this caused deflation and depression because there was much less of these coins than paper money.

All true, but not directly responsive to the question. The "Articles of Confederation" is a document that had specific weaknesses. (Minus 1).

2. Identify the first three Articles of the Constitution, and what each Article establishes.

Article I- establishes the Legislative Branch (Congress) Article II- the Executive Branch (President) Article III- Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) Article IV- relationship between the federal government and the states Article V- procedures for amending the Constitution Article VI- declares the Constitution to be the supreme Law of the Land Article VII- the procedure for ratifying the Constitution

Good, but the question asked for only the first three. I want everyone to develop the good habit of responding to the question. (Minus 1).

3. Explain what you like most about George Washington.

I admire how he stepped down after two terms, but what I probably like most about him is how he gave mercy to ‘Citizen Genet.’

Excellent.

4. Describe the most important invention of the 1790s, and its political impact.

The Cotton Gin- a machine that mechanically separated the cotton from its thorny branch and seeds. It turned the South into an economic force and brought prosperity and power to the States.

Good, but note that it brought prosperity to the South. The North had little use for the invention. (Minus 1).

5. Explain the political view expressed by this week's cartoon, and which side of what issue the cartoonist likely represents.

The columns of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut represent the states that had already ratified the Constitution. The hand is lifting Massachusetts’ column up into position signifying it ratifying the Constitution. The cartoonist seems to be in favor of the Constitution.

Excellent.

6. Describe two significant achievements of The Northwest Ordinance.

It established how new states could be created in a peaceful and orderly manner and it also put foreign countries on notice that the United States owned this land and would be settling it.

Superb.

7. Describe what you think was most significant about John Adams' presidency.

I think that Adams’ presidency showed the States that even their government can be flawed and corrupted by human nature- and perhaps led to more discretion in the choosing of future presidents. His presidency also gave more glory to Washington.

Good, though I'm not sure how it gave "glory" to Washington's presidency.

H1. Explain how George Washington's Farewell Address is relevant today.

In his address, Washington stresses the importance of religion and morality- “Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?”, he warns America about permanent foreign alliances- “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world”, and stresses stable public credit (something very relevant to today) “...cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible...avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt....it is essential that you...bear in mind, that towards the payments of debts there must be Revenue, that to have Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised, which are not...inconvenient and unpleasant..”

Superb point about public credit and taxes! I'll use it in our model answers.

H2. Do you think the Anti-Federalists had some good points? Explain.

I do believe that the Anti-Federalists had some good points. Without a Bill of Rights there was nothing standing in the government’s way of overstepping their boundaries and taking away our ‘inalienable rights.’ The Anti-Federalist Papers did not stop the ratification of the Constitution, but it consequently gave us the Bill of Rights.

Superb again. I'll use this answer in the model answers also.

H3. State your view on any discussion topic or mystery concerning the period 1780-1800. Debate- Were State Constitutions right or misguided in concentrating nearly all power in the legislature? No. I think that the state constitutions set themselves up for disaster by giving Congress more power than the President or the Supreme Court. Too much power leads to destruction because of our human nature- this is why we need ‘checks and balances’ among our branches.

Excellent.

Superb honors answers! Score: 97/100.--Aschlafly 10:44, 3 October 2008 (EDT)