Points for Discussion

 

1.   Why did Americans decide to draft a new Constitution in 1787? How were questions concerning the extent, division, and control of governmental powers resolved?

2.   Discuss the debate among historians concerning the background of the Constitution and the possible motives of the delegates.

3.   What were Hamilton’s plans for taxation, assumption, and currency regulation? What were his motives? Why did his plans upset Jefferson and Madison?

4.   Compare and contrast the political, economic, and social philosophies of Jefferson and Hamilton. What sort of nation did each hope to build? How do you suppose the two men might react to current American political and economic issues of your choosing?

5.   Did the original Constitution protect individual American citizens from violations of their rights? What safeguards did the Bill of Rights add? The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions? In what later federal authority vs. states’ rights conflicts were the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions later applied?

6.   What were the most critical international problems facing the new nation in the 1790s? How did the Federalists handle these problems? How well did they handle them?

7.   How did the organization, election, and powers of the House and Senate reflect political and social attitudes of the time? How were they, if at all, a violation of revolutionary ideology? How did the office of the president reflect those same political and social attitudes? Was it a greater violation of revolutionary ideology? Why or why not?

8.   Compare and contrast the two political parties of the 1790s in terms of their goals, methods, and philosophies. If both parties believed that the new Constitution of 1787 created the best form of government, what was the basis for their disagreements during the 1790s? Were these disagreements fundamental or more procedural? Make a case one way or the other.

9.   Considering the beliefs of the Federalists and anti-Federalists, which group was more progressive? Which group was more tradition-bound? Which group asked for greater public trust in government? Given the development of the United States to it present condition, which group would you argue was more correct in their approach to government authority?

10. Most historians regard George Washington as a successful president. Is his reputation deserved? Make a case for or against this assertion.

11. How and why did the Federalists seem to overreact to the emergence of the Republicans as powerful contenders for national favor? How did the Republicans respond to that apparent overreaction?

12. How did American relations with England, Spain, and France affect the two political parties of the 1790s? How did the American political system respond to foreign interference?