CHAPTER 7
The Early Republic, 1800–1815
TRUE/FALSE
1. Due to the disputed election of 1800, the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson was marred by
much bloodshed and violence.
2. Marbury v. Madison was sparked by Jefferson’s attempts to repeal the judgeships initiated
by Adams’s last-minute appointments.
3. President Jefferson was delighted that the Marbury decision granted the Supreme Court the
right of judicial review, a power not mentioned in the Constitution.
4. Once in office, Jefferson set out to dismantle Hamilton’s Federalist economic program.
5. From 1763 to 1803, the Louisiana Territory belonged to France.
6. During Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, the national debt grew much larger.
7. Thomas Jefferson signed an act outlawing the importation of foreign slaves from Africa
as of 1808.
8. During the early 1800s, the British were more likely than the French to respect American
shipping rights.
9. The Embargo Act revived the political appeal of the Republicans and led Jefferson to reduce
the power of the federal government.
10. The congressional vote to declare war for the War of 1812 was the closest in America’s
history of warfare.
11. Tecumseh was a Shawnee leader who supported the United States in the War of 1812.
12. Most “war hawks” were New England Federalists.
13. The War of 1812 was a continental war, as it was three wars fought on three fronts:
the Chesapeake Bay, the South, and the North closer to Canada.
14. William Henry Harrison was the American hero at the Battle of New Orleans.
15. The Battle of New Orleans was meaningless since it was fought after the war had officially
ended.
16. The Hartford Convention was a success and led to a resurgence of Federalist support.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Between 1800 and 1840, the nation’s most dramatic population expansion occurred
a.
west of the Appalachians.
d.
in the Deep South.
b.
in New England.
e.
west of the Mississippi.
c.
in Atlantic seaports.
2. Jefferson’s inauguration was notable for
a.
his support for a return of British rule in the United States.
b.
the luxurious surroundings.
c.
his emphasis on the “plain and simple” ways of the “common man.”
d.
its being held in Philadelphia.
e.
its immediate call to arms against Britain.
3. Thomas Jefferson’s inaugural address reflected
a.
his strong partisan desire to oppose the Federalists now that he was in office.
b.
his desire to adopt Federalist principles now that he was in office.
c.
an affirmation of educational elitism and commitment to continued governmental formality.
d.
a tone of republican simplicity and conciliation.
e.
his hopes for a new war to unify the country.
4. Who said, “We are all Republicans—we are all Federalists”?
a.
Alexander Hamilton
d.
James Madison
b.
Thomas Jefferson
e.
John Adams
c.
George Washington
5. Which of the following was true of the democracy that emerged at the turn of the century?
a.
Federalists generally supported it.
b.
Common men were no longer content to be governed by an aristocracy.
c.
It was the result of an increasingly educated American society.
d.
It emerged out of George Washington’s farewell address.
e.
It found significant support among the southern slaveholding population.
6. One way in which Jefferson was contradictory by nature was that he
a.
nearly went bankrupt personally due to expensive tastes but championed government frugality.
b.
opposed the British in the Revolution and then advocated for a military alliance as president.
c.
defended the institution of slavery while freeing approximately 200 of his slaves.
d.
wrote the Declaration of Independence but then refused to sign it.
e.
supported executive power, then refused to wield it and purchase Louisiana.
7. President Jefferson’s cabinet
a.
included no one from New England.
b.
was marked for its mediocrity.
c.
shared his objective of destroying the Federalists.
d.
included Madison as secretary of state.
e.
never actually met.
8. In the case of Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court decided that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was
a.
constitutional, as it put into law the Supreme Court’s commitment to prioritizing and defending
states’ rights rather than federal matters.
b.
constitutional, as the Constitution stated that as part of the separation of powers only the Supreme
Court could approve judicial appointments.
c.
unconstitutional, because the Constitution had specified term limits and a popular election process
as part of the appointment of justices.
d.
unconstitutional, because it gave the president less control over the appointment of judges than had
been specified by the Constitution.
e.
unconstitutional, because the Constitution only specified that the Court should have original
jurisdiction in cases involving foreign ambassadors or nations.
9. In the case of Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court chief justice who established the
principle of judicial review was
a.
Albert Gallatin.
d.
John Marshall.
b.
John Jay.
e.
John Quincy Adams.
c.
John Pickering.
10. Thomas Jefferson believed that a large federal debt would
a.
mean even more debt and public corruption.
b.
be a national “blessing.”
c.
help American bankers and investors make money from the federal government.
d.
be easily paid off in fifty years.
e.
cause another revolution.
11. Jefferson showed his commitment to limited government by
a.
cutting military spending.
d.
abolishing the Postal Service.
b.
selling the national bank.
e.
canceling the national debt.
c.
instating a whiskey tax.
12. In the early 1800s, the United States paid bribes to the Barbary pirate states of North Africa
to leave American shipping alone. What led Jefferson to send warships and fight a naval war?
a.
France backed the pirates’ demands for higher blackmail payments and attacked American
shipping.
b.
Tripoli insisted on higher payments to free captured American sailors.
c.
Britain aided Moroccan pirates in intercepting American slave ships from Africa.
d.
Jefferson had promised to launch a war on North Africa when he assumed the presidency.
e.
Canadian smugglers were using North African ships to fish illegally in New England waters.
13. To President Jefferson, the main incentives to purchase Louisiana were to secure American
access to the Mississippi River and to
a.
gain the support of the Federalists.
b.
avoid French control of New Orleans.
c.
earn the military protection of the British.
d.
prove that the United States had become a world power.
e.
acquire new ports on the Pacific.
14. The Louisiana Purchase was made possible by
a.
Jefferson’s threat to take the land by force.
b.
Britain’s support of the U.S. effort.
c.
Napoléon’s disastrous setback in Haiti.
d.
the fact that France offered it for free.
e.
the political backing of the Federalists.
15. The Louisiana Purchase was Jefferson’s greatest achievement as president and risky as
a.
it meant a political and military alliance with France.
b.
Napoléon had joined forces with Great Britain.
c.
James Monroe was opposed to the purchase.
d.
it was not clearly constitutional.
e.
it quickly led to war with Great Britain.
16. Why did Jefferson go through with the Louisiana Purchase, despite the potential ideological
problems it posed?
a.
He was able to acquire investments from the Spanish to offset the high cost of
the purchase.
b.
Native Americans came forward to propose a treaty, which made him feel better about taking their
lands.
c.
The climate of the land being purchased made it not well suited economically for slavery, an
institution he opposed.
d.
He wanted to create a protective buffer separating the United States from the rest
of the world.
e.
It would help give the two political parties a shared goal since both saw the value in
the acquisition of more land.
17. Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to map out and explore well beyond the Mississippi.
They eventually
a.
caused Jefferson’s support in the South and West to deteriorate.
b.
established a settlement in Colorado.
c.
captured California.
d.
spread Christianity westward.
e.
made it to the Pacific Ocean.
18. Lewis and Clark’s expedition
a.
led the United States to claim Oregon Country.
b.
was a spectacular failure.
c.
fought against Spaniards in Texas.
d.
engaged only in conflict with Native Americans.
e.
concluded that the West was uninhabitable.
19. Why did some Federalists attempt to elect Aaron Burr as governor of New York?
a.
to help build support for Jefferson in both New England and what would become the future states
of the Louisiana Territory
b.
to stretch the “implied powers” of the Constitution to accommodate the Louisiana Purchase
c.
to link New York to New England politically, out of fear the Louisiana Territory would be
dominated by Jeffersonian Republicans
d.
to help unify the Republican party in the face of a warring Congress following Jefferson’s
reelection
e.
to compromise their states’ rights principles in order to maintain national tariffs on imports
20. The Twelfth Amendment was added to the Constitution to avoid the problems associated with
the presidential election of 1800. What did the Twelfth Amendment put into law?
a.
It outlawed multiple-party candidates.
b.
It declared that it would be illegal for a president to run for a third term.
c.
It changed the qualifications for president, including age.
d.
It required that electors had to use separate ballots to vote for a president and a vice president.
e.
It made popular vote the method by which presidents would be chosen.
21. The 1804 presidential election resulted in
a.
a comeback for the Federalists.
b.
Aaron Burr’s duel with Alexander Hamilton.
c.
Jefferson’s landslide reelection.
d.
the rise of a powerful third party.
e.
months of confusion over the actual winner.
22. John Randolph became an “Old Republican” and supported
a.
the faction of the Republican party known as the Nationalist Republicans, who promoted a strong
federal government.
b.
many new taxes and tariffs to help build the American economy following the end of the War of
1812.
c.
Federalist’s efforts to industrialize the United States in an effort to become a commercial and
industrial world power.
d.
Thomas Jefferson’s efforts to end slavery and return to the early colonial systems of indentured
servitude.
e.
an agrarian society rooted in slavery and opposed any strengthening of the federal government at
the expense of state power.
23. Which of the following did Aaron Burr and General James Wilkinson plan?
a.
to foment revolt in the West and declare the Louisiana Territory as an
independent republic
b.
to assassinate Jefferson so that Burr could become president of the Union
c.
to meet a large British fleet off the coast of Florida and capture Pensacola
d.
to link up with Spanish forces in California and invade Russian-controlled Alaska
e.
to join forces with a large French army on Lake Erie and invade Canada
24. Jefferson’s ending of the international slave trade
a.
enacted the abolishment of slavery in the North and an organized process of gradual emancipation
in the South.
b.
inspired lawmakers to pass legislation protecting Native Americans and their lands
as well.
c.
was part of his effort to increase the federal budget and, thus, it increased the
federal debt.
d.
was successfully opposed by southerners because they felt African-born slaves
were far less likely to revolt.
e.
failed to stop the illegal importation from Africa of hundreds of thousands of
enslaved Africans.
25. In May 1806, the British Parliament passed the Orders in Council; these orders
a.
reaffirmed British sovereignty over the United States.
b.
blockaded the European coast to prevent shipping from the United States and other nations.
c.
recognized the right of the United States to trade freely with France.
d.
blocked American merchants from trading with Canada.
e.
imposed heavy tariffs on American lumber and steel imported to Great Britain.
26. Which of the following is true of impressment in the early nineteenth century?
a.
The Chesapeake incident was the initial cause of the introduction of the practice of impressment.
b.
There was a lengthy process of determining the citizenship of sailors before “impressing” them.
c.
British warships stopped American merchant ships and forced sailors into the British navy.
d.
American merchant ships rarely attracted deserted British sailors because they paid very little.
e.
Impressment became far less frequent due to the dangers posed by the Anglo–French war.
27. Which of the following is true of the Leopard’s attack upon the Chesapeake?
a.
It resulted in an American victory.
b.
It occurred on the Great Lakes.
c.
It created war fever in the United States.
d.
It brought an official British apology.
e.
It ended the British practice of impressment.
28. Which of the following statements accurately describes Jefferson’s Embargo Act?
a.
It forced a change in British policy.
b.
It boosted the American economy.
c.
It had widespread public backing.
d.
It sought to stop all American exports.
e.
It ended Jefferson’s presidency on a successful note.
29. President Madison’s attempts to deal with British and French interference with American trade
a.
were far more effective than Jefferson’s.
b.
showed his belief in peace at any price.
c.
boosted the domestic economy.
d.
revealed that Napoléon could be trusted.
e.
led to war with the British.
30. The greatest support for the declaration of war in 1812 came from
a.
the New England area.
b.
the areas in which commerce and international trade were a primary occupation.
c.
the manufacturing centers.
d.
the agricultural regions from Pennsylvania southward and westward.
e.
the anti-Federalists.
31. The Shawnee leader Tecumseh
a.
worked to unite Indians in a vast confederacy.
b.
encouraged the buying and selling of ancient Indian lands.
c.
befriended western settlers.
d.
attacked British Canada.
e.
won a battle when Americans attacked his capital.
32. Which of the following occurred in the Battle of Tippecanoe?
a.
British forces defeated a larger American army.
b.
American forces defeated a larger British army.
c.
American frontiersmen battled Spanish settlers in Florida.
d.
The hope of an Indian confederation to protect their lands was ended.
e.
The Indians overwhelmingly defeated William Henry Harrison.
33. Western settlers and politicians believed war with Britain might enable
a.
a monopoly of the fur trade.
d.
an alliance with Tecumseh.
b.
expansion to the Pacific.
e.
an alliance with Napoléon.
c.
the conquest of Canada.
34. Which of the following did the United States feel would occur with only slight pressure?
a.
It could seize Florida from England.
b.
The French Revolution would reignite with better results.
c.
It would gain control of Canada, separating it from Great Britain.
d.
France would stop impressing American sailors.
e.
Indian conflicts would cease.
35. Which war hawk loudly proclaimed that his state of Kentucky was ready to march on Canada and rid the Northwest
of its so-called “Indian problem”?
a.
Felix Grundy
d.
Albert Gallatin
b.
Henry Clay
e.
Andrew Jackson
c.
John Randolph
36. What was the significance of the response of the American public to the War of 1812?
a.
The resounding public support for the war ensured that when the Federalists opposed the war, they
lost much of their political base.
b.
Like the Revolution, the war was very much a civil war, with divided allegiances among former
American Loyalists, Americans, and Canadians.
c.
The lack of public support for the war resulted in a major shortage of troops on both sides and, thus,
a mandatory draft.
d.
The American public viewed the war as an opportunity to rebuild relationships with Native
Americans after the Revolution, resulting in far fewer Native American–British alliances.
e.
The unity and force with which the Americans approached the war resulted in one of the most
decisive military victories in American history.
37. As the War of 1812 started, one strength of the United States was
a.
a large standing army.
b.
a small but capable navy.
c.
a surplus in the federal budget.
d.
the national bank’s stabilization of the economy.
e.
President Madison’s genius as commander in chief.
38. Commodore Perry’s victory on Lake Erie resulted in
a.
a victory for Tecumseh as well.
b.
British control of Michigan.
c.
a rapid series of decisive military battles in the north.
d.
British withdrawal from Upper Canada.
e.
the Louisiana Purchase.
39. The American attack on the city of York
a.
proved to be the least successful American expedition of the War of 1812.
b.
was used to justify the burning of Washington, D.C.
c.
caused the naval defeat of Oliver Hazard Perry on Lake Ontario.
d.
was a fiasco, as the American army surrendered without having fired a shot.
e.
forced the British to abandon Upper Canada.
40. At Horseshoe Bend, Andrew Jackson won a sound victory over the
a.
Cherokees.
d.
Spaniards.
b.
Shawnees.
e.
Creeks.
c.
British.
41. The British invasion of the mid-Atlantic coast in 1814 resulted in
a.
their capture of Baltimore.
b.
their defeat by American militia.
c.
the capture and burning of Washington, D.C.
d.
Madison’s resignation as president.
e.
the U.S. decision to sue for peace.
42. One of the MOST remembered aspects of the British assault upon Baltimore was
a.
the complete destruction of Fort McHenry.
b.
the large number of civilian casualties.
c.
the length of the siege that followed.
d.
its inspiration for the eventual national anthem.
e.
the superb performance of the U.S. Navy.
43. The British attack on Baltimore’s Fort McHenry
a.
resulted in the destruction of the British fleet.
b.
made a national hero of Andrew Jackson.
c.
increased support for the war in New England.
d.
did not force the fort’s surrender.
e.
resulted in an embarrassing American defeat.
44. What did the Treaty of Ghent do?
a.
It made civil war and financial ruin more likely in the United States.
b.
It gave the British access to the Mississippi River.
c.
It recognized the clear U.S. victory.
d.
It ended the War of 1812 and restored previous boundaries.
e.
It gave the United States part of Canada.
45. The British defeat at New Orleans is best explained by
a.
their attack upon a strong defensive position.
b.
Andrew Jackson’s military genius.
c.
their loss of energy in the southern heat.
d.
the sharpshooting of the Americans.
e.
prior awareness that a peace treaty had been signed.
46. Why was the Battle of New Orleans significant?
a.
It led the British to revise the Treaty of Ghent in their favor.
b.
It was the first battle that the Americans ever fought without the help of Native Americans.
c.
It was fought as more of a formality and resulted in few casualties on both sides.
d.
It resulted in an American victory that helped set up Jackson as a possible presidential candidate.
e.
It forced Jackson to accept defeat and hand over western Florida to the British.
47. The Hartford Convention illustrated deep opposition in ________ to the war.
a.
the South.
d.
the West.
b.
New England.
e.
Congress.
c.
New York.
48. Which of the following did the delegates at the Hartford Convention do?
a.
They voted to secede from the Union.
b.
They proposed a series of constitutional amendments to limit Republican influence in government.
c.
They denounced New England merchants who had traded with the British during the war.
d.
They voted to join the Republican party.
e.
They offered generous peace terms to the British.
49. Which of the following was an effect of the War of 1812?
a.
It caused Madison to do away with the national bank, in part due to wavering American patriotism
and economic stability after the war.
b.
It strengthened the message of the Federalists and reaffirmed their attitudes from before the war.
c.
It led the United States to plan to rely more heavily on militiamen in future wars because the lack
thereof had resulted in their hardest losses.
d.
It made the U.S. economy more dependent on that of other countries, especially with the rise of
industrialization.
e.
It reaffirmed American independence but caused a reversal in attitudes among Republicans and
Federalists.
50. As a result of the War of 1812, President Madison
a.
ran for a third term.
b.
was even more committed to limited government.
c.
learned the value of some Federalist policies.
d.
slowed westward expansion to protect Indian lands.
e.
switched parties.
ESSAY
1. Assess the degree to which Jefferson’s election as president can accurately be called the
“revolution of 1800.”
2. “Strict construction of the Constitution is more a matter of politics than principle.” Discuss this
statement in light of the conflicts described in this chapter.
3. Political dissension proved an important factor in the early republic. This can be seen in,
among other things, the Burr conspiracy and the Hartford Convention. How can you account
for these examples, and what generalizations can you draw from them?
4. Discuss the issues that led to the Marbury v. Madison case of 1803. What were the results
of the decision, and what impact did it have on the Supreme Court and the country?
5. Describe President Jefferson’s foreign policy, especially as it related to the Barbary pirates,
the French, and the British.
6. Describe the Lewis and Clark expedition. What impact did it have on developing the
United States west of the Mississippi River?
7. Examine the causes and effects of Aaron Burr’s western conspiracy.
8. Led by John Randolph of Roanoke, the Old Republicans became outspoken critics of Jefferson
during his second term. Examine their criticisms and their vision for America.
9. Thomas Jefferson’s decision to enact the embargo is an often–criticized moment in early
American history. Do you think he made the right decision? Use specific examples from this
period in history to support your answer.
10. Why did the United States go to war with Britain in 1812? Which groups of people supported
and opposed the war? Why?
11. Explain the initial difficulties experienced by the United States in fighting the War of 1812.
12. Examine Tecumseh’s attempt to unify western Indians against the Americans. Was his defeat
an important moment in Indian-Anglo relations? Why or why not?
13. Although it was soon forgotten, Americans had a fixation on incorporating Canada into the
United States in the early nineteenth century. Examine that idea and discuss the philosophy
behind it.
14. “The War of 1812 was an unnecessary conflict that solved nothing and brought no benefit to
either side.” Discuss the validity of this assertion.
15. Explain the impact of the Battle of New Orleans on the Treaty of Ghent and American
perceptions concerning the end of the War of 1812.
MATCHING
Match each description with the item below.
a.
was a Federalist appointed by John Adams as the justice of the peace in the District of Columbia
but never served his appointment
b.
was nicknamed “Old Hickory” due to his toughness as a commander and led an expedition across
Alabama during the War of 1812
c.
was sent by Jefferson to France to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase, later with the help of James
Monroe
d.
was a naval hero against the Barbary pirates and set fire to the frigate Philadelphia after slipping
into Tripoli Harbor
e.
was one of the U.S. diplomats who met with British officials in Ghent to negotiate the end of the
War of 1812
f.
saw the British attack of Fort McHenry from Baltimore Harbor and, as a result, wrote “The Star–
Spangled Banner”
g.
became vice president in 1801, was Jefferson’s ambitious Republican rival, and engaged in a duel
with Hamilton
h.
was a chief justice who set out to strengthen the judiciary and was a chief critic and lifelong enemy
of Jefferson
i.
was an American naval hero in the War of 1812 and defeated the Native American leader
Tecumseh
j.
was appointed to explore the Louisiana Purchase and Far West after having been Jefferson’s private
secretary
1. Aaron Burr
2. Henry Clay
3. Stephen Decatur
4. Andrew Jackson
5. Francis Scott Key
6. Meriwether Lewis
7. Robert R. Livingston
8. William Marbury
9. John Marshall
10. Oliver H. Perry