©THEBRIGHT EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/22/2024 12:54 PM
The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of
the American People. Exam Questions With
Correct Answers.
Who was the "Father of the Constitution?" - answer✔✔James Madison
What were James Madison's major contributions? - answer✔✔He proposed national government
consisting of a Supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. He drafted most of the
constitution himself. He also resolved the questions of sovereignty and limiting power.
Where did ultimate sovereignty lie? - answer✔✔All power, at all levels of government, flowed
ultimately from the people.
How should power be limited? - answer✔✔A large republic would be less likely to produce
tyranny because no single group would ever be able to dominate it.
What was the issue that almost broke up the Constitutional Convention before its work could get
underway? - answer✔✔Slavery and how slaves would be viewed when taxation was collected.
What were the provisions of the Great Compromise and how did it break the deadlock created by
this issue? - answer✔✔It called for a two-house legislature. In the lower house, the states would
be represented on the basis of population; each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a free
person in determining the basis for both representation and direct taxation. In the upper house,
the states would be represented equally with two members apiece. On July 16, 1787, the
convention voted to accept the compromise.
In the next few weeks, the convention agreed to another important compromise. To placate
southern delegates, who feared the new government would interfere with slavery, the convention
agreed to bar the new government from stopping the slave trade for twenty years.
How did the principle of "checks and balances" work to "curb the excesses of democracy" and to
ensure that one branch of the federal government didn't become dominant over the others? -
answer✔✔It grants the various branches of government the power to oversee or constrain other
branches, so no one part becomes too powerful.
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/22/2024 12:54 PM
What specific powers were granted to Congress? - answer✔✔Both chambers of congress would
have to agree before any law could be passed.
What specific powers were bestowed on the president? - answer✔✔The president could veto acts
of Congress.
In addition to the system of "checks and balances," what other ways did the framers of the U.S.
Constitution create a government that would withstand the passage of time? - answer✔✔House
of Representatives would be elected directly by the people, senators would be chosen by state
legislators, presidents would be selected by the electoral college.
How did the framers of the constitution deal with the issue of slavery? - answer✔✔With the
3/5ths clause.
What specific rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment? - answer✔✔Right to petition the
government for a redress of grievances, freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceably to
assemble.
What might seem to us today to be a striking omission in the Bill of Rights? - answer✔✔The
right to vote.
Why wasn't the right to vote included in the Constitution at this time? - answer✔✔It was left up
to the individual states to decide who was qualified to vote.
What were the basic components of Alexander Hamilton's economic plan for the nation? -
answer✔✔Assuming the state's debts with interest-bearing bonds. Tariffs for imported goods.
Establishment of the national bank.
How would Alexander Hamilton deal with the national debt left over from the American
Revolution? - answer✔✔He would have it sold to bondholders to keep the U.S. in a permanent
state of national debt.
What types of taxes did Hamilton devise to raise revenue for the new government? -
answer✔✔Excise tax on alcoholic beverages and a tariff on imported goods.
What policies were designed to encourage the growth of big business and industry? -
answer✔✔He outlined a plan for stimulating the growth of industry and spoke glowingly of the
advantages to society of a healthy manufacturing sector.
On what grounds did Jefferson and Madison oppose Hamilton's First Bank of the United States?
- answer✔✔Madison, Jefferson, Randolph, and others argued that because the Constitution made
no provision for a national bank, Congress had no authority to create one.
How did Hamilton justify the First Bank of the United States' charter? - answer✔✔Hamilton
used a loose interpretation of the constitution and referred to implied powers.
The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of
the American People. Exam Questions With
Correct Answers.
Who was the "Father of the Constitution?" - answer✔✔James Madison
What were James Madison's major contributions? - answer✔✔He proposed national government
consisting of a Supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. He drafted most of the
constitution himself. He also resolved the questions of sovereignty and limiting power.
Where did ultimate sovereignty lie? - answer✔✔All power, at all levels of government, flowed
ultimately from the people.
How should power be limited? - answer✔✔A large republic would be less likely to produce
tyranny because no single group would ever be able to dominate it.
What was the issue that almost broke up the Constitutional Convention before its work could get
underway? - answer✔✔Slavery and how slaves would be viewed when taxation was collected.
What were the provisions of the Great Compromise and how did it break the deadlock created by
this issue? - answer✔✔It called for a two-house legislature. In the lower house, the states would
be represented on the basis of population; each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a free
person in determining the basis for both representation and direct taxation. In the upper house,
the states would be represented equally with two members apiece. On July 16, 1787, the
convention voted to accept the compromise.
In the next few weeks, the convention agreed to another important compromise. To placate
southern delegates, who feared the new government would interfere with slavery, the convention
agreed to bar the new government from stopping the slave trade for twenty years.
How did the principle of "checks and balances" work to "curb the excesses of democracy" and to
ensure that one branch of the federal government didn't become dominant over the others? -
answer✔✔It grants the various branches of government the power to oversee or constrain other
branches, so no one part becomes too powerful.
, ©THEBRIGHT EXAM STUDY SOLUTIONS 8/22/2024 12:54 PM
What specific powers were granted to Congress? - answer✔✔Both chambers of congress would
have to agree before any law could be passed.
What specific powers were bestowed on the president? - answer✔✔The president could veto acts
of Congress.
In addition to the system of "checks and balances," what other ways did the framers of the U.S.
Constitution create a government that would withstand the passage of time? - answer✔✔House
of Representatives would be elected directly by the people, senators would be chosen by state
legislators, presidents would be selected by the electoral college.
How did the framers of the constitution deal with the issue of slavery? - answer✔✔With the
3/5ths clause.
What specific rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment? - answer✔✔Right to petition the
government for a redress of grievances, freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceably to
assemble.
What might seem to us today to be a striking omission in the Bill of Rights? - answer✔✔The
right to vote.
Why wasn't the right to vote included in the Constitution at this time? - answer✔✔It was left up
to the individual states to decide who was qualified to vote.
What were the basic components of Alexander Hamilton's economic plan for the nation? -
answer✔✔Assuming the state's debts with interest-bearing bonds. Tariffs for imported goods.
Establishment of the national bank.
How would Alexander Hamilton deal with the national debt left over from the American
Revolution? - answer✔✔He would have it sold to bondholders to keep the U.S. in a permanent
state of national debt.
What types of taxes did Hamilton devise to raise revenue for the new government? -
answer✔✔Excise tax on alcoholic beverages and a tariff on imported goods.
What policies were designed to encourage the growth of big business and industry? -
answer✔✔He outlined a plan for stimulating the growth of industry and spoke glowingly of the
advantages to society of a healthy manufacturing sector.
On what grounds did Jefferson and Madison oppose Hamilton's First Bank of the United States?
- answer✔✔Madison, Jefferson, Randolph, and others argued that because the Constitution made
no provision for a national bank, Congress had no authority to create one.
How did Hamilton justify the First Bank of the United States' charter? - answer✔✔Hamilton
used a loose interpretation of the constitution and referred to implied powers.
