American Federalism-DBQ

Directions: Use the following primary source documents and maps to answer the accompanying questions below.

1.) Based on the excerpt from Gordon S. Wood’s book please identify at least two weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation that led to the formation of the Constitutional Convention.

2.) Based on this excerpt from the Federalist, Number 4, state one argument used by John Jay that supports the idea of ratifying the Constitution?

3a.) Based on this document, describe one to two examples of an argument Antifederalists might use to oppose the ratification of the Constitution?

3b.) According to George Mason, what might one strong argument be against ratifying the new Constitution?

4.) Based on the primary source and map, why was the acquisition of New Orleans so important to the United States?

5.) According to Senator John C. Breckenridge, what is one of the main reasons he supports the purchase of the Louisiana Territory?

6.) Based on this document, state two reasons why the Federalist Party opposed the purchase of the Louisiana Territory?

7a.) Based on this document, describe two ways in which President Polk proposed to address the issue of slavery in the territorial areas of the United States?

7b.) Based on the map above, what are two ways the Compromise of 1850 dealt with the issue of expansion of slavery into the territory gained from the Mexican Cession?

8a.) Who does John C. Calhoun ultimately believe should decide if the domestic institution of slavery should be repressed or preserved?

8b.) According to Senator John C. Calhoun, what are two of the main reasons Southerners should be allowed to take their slaves into the newly acquired territories?

9.) According to the primary source, what position did the Republican Party take in 1860 concerning the issue of expanding slavery into the newly territories?

Document 10

10a.) What is Teddy Roosevelt referring to when he says “special interests”?

10b.) What does Teddy Roosevelts comments about what special interest groups are entitled to tell you about his feelings regarding big business and lobbying?

Source: Teddy Roosevelt’s New Nationalism Speech, 1910