APUSH AMSCO VOCAB NEW 2025
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Kentucky and Virginia Resolution - Answer- Were put into practice in 1798 by Jefferson
and James Madison. These were secretly made to get the rights back taken away from
the Alien and Sedition Acts. These also brought about the later compact theory which
gave the states more power than the federal government.
Alien and Sedition Acts - Answer- Contains four parts: 1) Raised the residence
requirement for American citizenship from 5 to 14 years. 2) Alien Act - Gave the
President the power in peacetime to order any alien out of the country. 3) Alien Enemies
Act - permitted the President in wartime to jail aliens when he wanted to. (No arrests
made under the Alien Act or the Alien Enemies Act.) 4) The Sedition Act - Key clause
provided fines and jail penalties for anyone guilty of sedition. Was to remain in effect
until the next Presidential inauguration.
XYZ Affair - Answer- 1798 - A commission had been sent to France in 1797 to discuss
the disputes that had arisen out of the U.S.'s refusal to honor the Franco-American
Treaty of 1778. President Adams had also criticized the French Revolution, so France
began to break off relations with the U.S. Adams sent delegates to meet with French
foreign minister Talleyrand in the hopes of working things out. Talleyrand's three agents
told the American delegates that they could meet with Talleyrand only in exchange for a
very large bribe. The Americans did not pay the bribe, and in 1798 Adams made the
incident public, substituting the letters "X, Y and Z" for the names of the three French
agents in his report to Congress.
John Adams - Answer- He was the second president of the United States and a
Federalist. He was responsible for passing the Alien and Sedition Acts. Prevented all
out war with France after the XYZ Affair. His passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts,
which severely hurt the popularity of the Federalist party and himself
Battle of Fallen Timbers - Answer- An attack made by American General "Mad Anthony
Wayne" against invading Indians from the northwest. The defeat of the Indians ended
the alliance made with the British and Indians
Pinckney's Treaty - Answer- Treaty negotiated by Thomas Pinckney in which Spain
recognized the right of Americans to navigate the Mississippi and use the New Orleans
port. Spain also agreed to fix the northern boundary of Florida along the 31st parallel
and prevent Indians from launching raids across the border into the U.S.
, Jay's Treaty - Answer- Treaty negotiated by John Jay in 1794 establishing American
sovereignty over the entire Northwest and producing a satisfactory commercial
relationship with Britain.
Proclamation of Neutrality - Answer- A formal announcement issued by President
George Washington on April 22, 1793, declaring the United States a neutral nation in
the conflict between Great Britain and France.
Excise Tax - Answer- Tax on a few domestic items, notably whiskey, the new levy of
seven cents a gallon eventually touched off the Whiskey Rebellion
Judiciary Act - Answer- Created effective federal courts under this act, organized the
Supreme Court, federal district, circuit courts, and the office of attorney general
Checks and Balances - Answer- A system that ensured that no particular branch of
government gained too much power over another. It demonstrated the fear of absolute
power in one group/individual as well as preventing one branch from overpowering the
others.
Alexander Hamilton - Answer- Hamilton emerged as a major political figure during the
debate over the Constitution, as the outspoken leader of the Federalists and one of the
authors of the Federalist Papers. Later, as secretary of treasury under Washington,
Alexander Hamilton spearheaded the government's Federalist initiatives, most notably
through the creation of the Bank of the United States.
Bill of Rights - Answer- Although the Anti-Federalists failed to block the ratification of the
Constitution, they did ensure that the Bill of Rights would be created to protect
individuals from government interference and possible tyranny. The Bill of Rights,
drafted by a group led by James Madison, consisted of the first ten amendments to the
Constitution, which guaranteed the civil rights of American citizens.
Federalist Papers - Answer- ...
Federalists - Answer- Federalists Led by Alexander Hamilton, the Federalists believed
in a strong central government, loose interpretation, and encouraged commerce and
manufacturing. They were staunch supporters of the Constitution during ratification and
were a political force during the early years of the United States. The Federalist
influence declined after the election of Republican Thomas Jefferson to the presidency
and disappeared completely after the Hartford Convention.
Anti-Federalist - Answer- Anti-Federalists rose up as the opponents of the Constitution
during the period of ratification. They opposed the Constitution's powerful centralized
government, arguing that the Constitution gave too much political, economic, and
military control. They instead advocated a decentralized governmental structure that
granted most power to the states
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Kentucky and Virginia Resolution - Answer- Were put into practice in 1798 by Jefferson
and James Madison. These were secretly made to get the rights back taken away from
the Alien and Sedition Acts. These also brought about the later compact theory which
gave the states more power than the federal government.
Alien and Sedition Acts - Answer- Contains four parts: 1) Raised the residence
requirement for American citizenship from 5 to 14 years. 2) Alien Act - Gave the
President the power in peacetime to order any alien out of the country. 3) Alien Enemies
Act - permitted the President in wartime to jail aliens when he wanted to. (No arrests
made under the Alien Act or the Alien Enemies Act.) 4) The Sedition Act - Key clause
provided fines and jail penalties for anyone guilty of sedition. Was to remain in effect
until the next Presidential inauguration.
XYZ Affair - Answer- 1798 - A commission had been sent to France in 1797 to discuss
the disputes that had arisen out of the U.S.'s refusal to honor the Franco-American
Treaty of 1778. President Adams had also criticized the French Revolution, so France
began to break off relations with the U.S. Adams sent delegates to meet with French
foreign minister Talleyrand in the hopes of working things out. Talleyrand's three agents
told the American delegates that they could meet with Talleyrand only in exchange for a
very large bribe. The Americans did not pay the bribe, and in 1798 Adams made the
incident public, substituting the letters "X, Y and Z" for the names of the three French
agents in his report to Congress.
John Adams - Answer- He was the second president of the United States and a
Federalist. He was responsible for passing the Alien and Sedition Acts. Prevented all
out war with France after the XYZ Affair. His passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts,
which severely hurt the popularity of the Federalist party and himself
Battle of Fallen Timbers - Answer- An attack made by American General "Mad Anthony
Wayne" against invading Indians from the northwest. The defeat of the Indians ended
the alliance made with the British and Indians
Pinckney's Treaty - Answer- Treaty negotiated by Thomas Pinckney in which Spain
recognized the right of Americans to navigate the Mississippi and use the New Orleans
port. Spain also agreed to fix the northern boundary of Florida along the 31st parallel
and prevent Indians from launching raids across the border into the U.S.
, Jay's Treaty - Answer- Treaty negotiated by John Jay in 1794 establishing American
sovereignty over the entire Northwest and producing a satisfactory commercial
relationship with Britain.
Proclamation of Neutrality - Answer- A formal announcement issued by President
George Washington on April 22, 1793, declaring the United States a neutral nation in
the conflict between Great Britain and France.
Excise Tax - Answer- Tax on a few domestic items, notably whiskey, the new levy of
seven cents a gallon eventually touched off the Whiskey Rebellion
Judiciary Act - Answer- Created effective federal courts under this act, organized the
Supreme Court, federal district, circuit courts, and the office of attorney general
Checks and Balances - Answer- A system that ensured that no particular branch of
government gained too much power over another. It demonstrated the fear of absolute
power in one group/individual as well as preventing one branch from overpowering the
others.
Alexander Hamilton - Answer- Hamilton emerged as a major political figure during the
debate over the Constitution, as the outspoken leader of the Federalists and one of the
authors of the Federalist Papers. Later, as secretary of treasury under Washington,
Alexander Hamilton spearheaded the government's Federalist initiatives, most notably
through the creation of the Bank of the United States.
Bill of Rights - Answer- Although the Anti-Federalists failed to block the ratification of the
Constitution, they did ensure that the Bill of Rights would be created to protect
individuals from government interference and possible tyranny. The Bill of Rights,
drafted by a group led by James Madison, consisted of the first ten amendments to the
Constitution, which guaranteed the civil rights of American citizens.
Federalist Papers - Answer- ...
Federalists - Answer- Federalists Led by Alexander Hamilton, the Federalists believed
in a strong central government, loose interpretation, and encouraged commerce and
manufacturing. They were staunch supporters of the Constitution during ratification and
were a political force during the early years of the United States. The Federalist
influence declined after the election of Republican Thomas Jefferson to the presidency
and disappeared completely after the Hartford Convention.
Anti-Federalist - Answer- Anti-Federalists rose up as the opponents of the Constitution
during the period of ratification. They opposed the Constitution's powerful centralized
government, arguing that the Constitution gave too much political, economic, and
military control. They instead advocated a decentralized governmental structure that
granted most power to the states
