History 3 American Civilization, 1607-1877 Take Home Exam, Spring 2016
In a well written, well-organized essay of 4-6pp. answer the following question:
From the inauguration of George Washington as the nation’s first president in 1789 until the presidential election of in 1840, the United States and the American people faced a number of challenges to the viability of the fledgling democratic republic that tested the confidence demonstrated by the founders’ belief in the real possibility of establishing a viable and stable popular government. These challenges were addressed by both the national government and the people at large in a variety of ways.
Beginning with the presidency of George Washington and concluding with the presidential election of 1840, discuss the development and evolution of the American nation in terms of its political culture, economic orientation and development, and social structure. In developing your answer, you should include an explanation of the significance of each of the following in understanding this crucial early period of the nation’s history:
Topics -Middle class
-American System
-Federalists political philosophy
-Second Bank Of the United States
-Democratic Republicans
-Protective Tariff
-Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution
-South Carolina Exposition and Protest
-Slavery -Ordinance of Nullification
-Nullification and secession
-Webster/ Hayne Debate
-First and second party “system”
-Missouri Compromise and expansion
-Compact theory
-Market Revolution
-Election of 1824 & 1828
-Reform(s) Temperance, Prohibition
-Jacksonian Democracy and “Democrats” Abolition, Women’s rights
-Whigs -Second Great Awakening/Protestant
-War of 1812 v. Catholic “thinking”
Instructions: In answering this question you should use the above topics in assisting you in developing your essay. You may/should also include additional topics. You may consult among yourselves if you wish, but the answer to the question must be your own answer in your own words. You should use the assigned reading as well as the lectures in developing your answer. The use of outside sources is prohibited. Excessive (beyond a few words) direct quotation from the textbook is not permitted while citing the source of information, stated in your own words, is not. Simply transplanting passages from the text will not be sufficient and constitutes plagiarism.
Please note: Information available exclusively through a www. location is not permitted as a source for the completion of this assignment. Therefore, citing a “web address” is not permitted. Your answer should be typed, using standard margins and font size (12), double-spaced. Your grade will be based on both form and content, and should be written in Standard English.
This question requires the development of a logically developed narrative and not simply the presentation of a listing of information. Refer to the course syllabus for further information on the completion of your essay. Simply providing a definition for each of the above issues is not sufficient.
Boldface and italicizes each of the topics in the body of your essay.
