Summer Reading for Advanced
Honors US History I
Advanced Honors US History I
Summer 2009 assignment: Founding Brothers
After reading Founding Brothers, answer the following
questions in a succinct manner. When answering the questions, keep in mind that
your answers should not simply regurgitate passages from the chapter. Instead,
you should concisely summarize or capture the main points of the chapter in your
own words. Do not throw all the information you think is relevant into your
answer, but critically think about what the question is specifically asking you.
At the end of the answer, you must provide a page reference
in parenthesis; ie (pg 113-115). Your answers should be in Times New Roman, 12
font, single space. Your answers should be in paragraph format with its own
clear internal logic.
Under each chapter are listed terms that you should
familiarize yourself with before you read the chapter in order to understand the
concepts better.
Preface: The Generation
Glossary: Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
- What “paradox” had to be overcome for the Revolution
to survive?
- Cite three compromises that were critical to American
“nationhood.”
- List four reasons why this particular group of men was
able to accomplish a lasting Revolution according to Ellis.
- What can you infer about the study of history from
Ellis’s focus on this particular group of people?
Chapter One: The Duel
- Why do you think Ellis includes the Hamilton-Burr duel
in his book? In other words, what is so significant about this event? Why
does he place it first?
- What political conflicts that marked the founding of
our nation also fueled the animosity between the two men?
Chapter Two: The Dinner
Glossary: Federalists
Anti-federalists
Federalist Papers (Federalist
Paper #10)
Hamilton’s economic plan,
“assumption”
- Summarize the key ideological differences among the
revolutionary generation that eventually led to two parties: the Federalists
and the southern-based Anti-federalists.
- What critical issues or conflicts were side-stepped in
order that the nation could be unified under a constitution?
- Describe the significance of the location of America’s
capital.
- Why did Virginia carry so much significance in the
emerging nation?
Chapter Three: The Silence
Glossary: Pennsylvania Abolition Society
3/5 Compromise
- What beliefs and motivations lay beneath the positions
of the North, Virginia and the South on slavery?
- What two compromises allowed the Constitution to go
forward without a definitive stance on slavery?
- What two overriding issues complicated the abolition
of slavery?
- Distinguish the positions of George Washington &
Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.
Chapter Four: The Farewell
Glossary: Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation
Jay’s Treaty
Whiskey
Rebellion
- What was so “visionary” about Washington’s
understanding of the future of the United States? What was so enlightened
about his understanding of the role of the U.S. in world affairs?
- Explain the differences that developed between
Washington and Jefferson over the governance of its people?
- Define the concept of a “democracy” as it applied to
America’s founding years.
Chapter Five: The Collaborators
- How did foreign policy issues during Adams’ presidency
reflect domestic differences?
- What changes in United States politics did the
evolution from the Adams-Jefferson collaboration to the Jefferson-Madison
collaboration represent?
Chapter Six: The Friendship
- Based on Ellis’s description of the correspondence
between Adams and Jefferson, give two or three factors that comprise the
legacy of these two founding fathers.