Question

( 100 POINTS!! )

How important was George Washington's role in designing the government of the United States? Give two or three examples of his influence on the government's design.

2. Describe how the election of John Adams created division between Democratic-Republicans and Federalists.

3. Describe how John Adams handled foreign conflicts, including wars and the XYZ Affair. Was his foreign policy position different from George Washington's?

4. Describe the Alien and Sedition Acts. What were they designed to do? Why did some citizens disagree with these acts?

5. Based on both his successes and his challenges, do you think John Adams was an effective president? Why or why not?

6. Describe how Justice John Marshall helped decide how powerful the federal government would be.




Using what you've learned in the lesson, write a paragraph arguing whether the United States would benefit today from the policies proposed by the Federalists. Your paragraph should include a topic sentence, at least three supporting details, and a concluding sentence. Be sure to write in complete sentences using appropriate spelling and mechanics.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

1. George Washington's role in designing the government of the United States was of great importance. Here are a few examples of his influence on the government's design:

a) Washington's leadership as the first President set important precedents for the office. He established the tradition of a two-term presidency, which was followed by most subsequent presidents until the ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951.

b) Washington played a crucial role in shaping the structure of the executive branch. He established the Cabinet system, advising him on various matters, and he appointed key figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury, respectively.

c) Washington's Farewell Address was a significant contribution to the country's political landscape. In it, he emphasized the importance of unity and warned against the dangers of political parties and permanent foreign alliances. His address set a precedent for the principle of non-intervention in foreign conflicts.

2. The election of John Adams in 1796 created a division between the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists. Adams, a Federalist, became the second President of the United States, while his opponent Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, became the Vice President. This election highlighted the deep ideological differences between the two parties. The Federalists, led by Adams, favored a strong central government, a pro-British foreign policy, and policies that supported the commercial and industrial interests of the country. On the other hand, the Democratic-Republicans, led by Jefferson, advocated for a limited federal government, strict interpretation of the Constitution, and a pro-French foreign policy. The contentious nature of the election and the opposing viewpoints held by Adams and Jefferson deepened the political divisions in the young nation.

3. John Adams faced significant foreign conflicts during his presidency, including the Quasi-War with France and the XYZ Affair. His approach to handling these conflicts differed from George Washington's foreign policy. Washington had advocated for neutrality and avoiding permanent alliances, while Adams took a more confrontational stance. The XYZ Affair, in which French agents demanded bribes from American diplomats, led to an undeclared naval war with France. Adams responded by building up the military, expanding the Navy, and passing the Alien and Sedition Acts to suppress domestic opposition. His actions demonstrated a departure from Washington's cautious approach to foreign entanglements.

4. The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress during John Adams' presidency. The Alien Act empowered the President to detain and deport non-citizens deemed to be a threat to national security, while the Sedition Act made it a crime to criticize the government. These acts were designed to suppress opposition to the Federalist government and curb the influence of immigrants, who were largely seen as supporting the Democratic-Republicans. Many citizens, particularly Democratic-Republicans, disagreed with these acts, viewing them as unconstitutional and a violation of freedom of speech and press. They argued that the acts violated the principles of the First Amendment and undermined democratic values.

5. Evaluating John Adams' effectiveness as President is a subjective matter. Adams faced numerous challenges during his presidency, including foreign conflicts, internal divisions, and political opposition. While he successfully navigated the Quasi-War with France and strengthened the military, his presidency was marked by controversy, particularly due to the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts led to widespread opposition and the erosion of civil liberties. Additionally, Adams struggled to maintain unity within his own party and faced significant political opposition from the Democratic-Republicans. Despite these challenges, Adams made important contributions to the nation's early development, such as his efforts to prevent war with France and his commitment to preserving the rule of law. Whether he was effective as a president depends on one's perspective and the weighing of his successes against the controversies and challenges he faced.

Answer 2

Answer: George Washington played a key role in drafting the Constitution of the United States in 1787. As the first president of the United States, he set several important precedents for the federal government. For example, he established a federal government, a national bank, a national university, a national military academy, and a unifying capital city. Washington’s decision to stay neutral during the French Revolution set a precedent for the United States government to practice isolationism as its main foreign policy strategy for over a hundred years.

John Adams, a Federalist, was the second president of the United States. His presidency was marked by conflicts between the two newly formed political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. The conflicts between the two political parties centered on foreign policy and the balance of power between the federal government and the states’ governments.

The Federalists envisioned a strong central government and a thriving manufacturing sector, while the Democratic-Republicans yearned for an agrarian republic centered on the values of the yeoman farmer. The Democratic-Republicans tended to side with France while the Federalists sided with Great Britain

One of the most pressing issues during John Adams’ presidency was the XYZ Affair. The XYZ Affair was a series of diplomatic events that involved the U.S. and France during the late 1790s. This incident resulted in an undeclared war known as the Quasi-War. Peace was restored with the Convention of 1800 also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine.

The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of four laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 1798 during the administration of President John Adams. The laws restricted the activities of foreign residents in the country and limited freedom of speech and of the press, particularly when it was critical of the president or the government.

The Naturalization Act increased residency requirements for U.S. citizenship from five years up to 14 years. The Alien Friends Act allowed the president to imprison and deport non-citizens. The Alien Enemies Act gave the president additional powers to detain non-citizens during times of war. The Sedition Act criminalized false and malicious statements about the federal government.

As an AI, I don’t have personal opinions. However, John Adams’ presidency is often evaluated by historians in terms of his successes and challenges. Some of his successes include avoiding a full-scale war with France and his role in the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. On the other hand, some of his challenges include conflicts between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans and the controversy surrounding the Alien and Sedition Acts.

John Marshall was the fourth chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1801-1835). He played a key role in asserting the Supreme Court’s authority to determine the constitutionality of the nation’s laws a principle known as judicial review and shaped the judicial branch into a powerful force in the U.S. government.

As a steadfast Federalist, Marshall also interpreted the U.S. Constitution in a way that expanded the power of the federal government relative to the states. In particular, his ruling on McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) upheld the authority of Congress to create the Bank of the United States and declared unconstitutional the right of a state to tax an instrument of the federal government.