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Here are additional tips on answering multiple-choice history questions:

Here are additional tips on answering multiple-choice history questions:

#Determine the period in time.

#First determine the time period.

#Determine in your mind who was president.  Was there a war going on?  If it was during colonial times, what was going on?  What other significant events affected this period?

#Then determine who was president.  Was there a war going on?  If it was during colonial times, what was going on?  What other significant events affected this period?

#Have mental landmarks for each time period: something that you know very well, so that you find your perspective on that period of time.  It is like knowing how to start from a landmark in your town, and then being able to find somewhere else in relation to it.

#Have mental landmarks for each time period: something that you know very well, so that you can find your "way around." It is like knowing how to start from a landmark in your town, and then being able to find somewhere else in relation to it.

After 1788, the easiest "landmark" for each period is the President.  That does not mean he is the most important person.  Not by a long shot.  But being able to identify the President is an easy way to organize the events.  By the end of this course, I should be able to name any date and you should be able to say who was President.

After 1788, the easiest "landmark" for each period is the President.  That does not mean he is the most important person.  Not by a long shot.  But being able to identify the President is an easy way to organize the events.  By the end of this course, I should be able to name any date and you should be able to say who was President.

Let's try it now:  1798.  Who was president?<ref>John Adams.</ref>1793?<ref>George Washington.</ref>  1790?<ref>Also George Washington.</ref>

Let's try it now:  1798.  Who was president?<ref>John Adams.</ref>1793?<ref>George Washington.</ref>  1790?<ref>Also George Washington.</ref>

In this class we have reached 1800.  The federal or national government has been in operation for a dozen years.  How did it pay for its operations?  George Washington was President.  Did he serve for free?  Who paid for his buildings?  Where was his office?

In this class we have reached the year 1800.  The federal or national government has been in operation for a dozen years.  How did it pay for its operations?  George Washington was President.  Did he serve for free?  Who paid for his buildings?  Where was his office?

Tariffs on imports supported the federal government all the way until World War I in 1916.  What is a tariff?

Tariffs on imports supported the federal government all the way until World War I (1917).  What is a tariff?

A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, which are goods brought into our country from another country.  When a foreign country sent goods to the United States, our federal government would impose a "tariff" or surcharge on those goods as a condition for them to be sold in this country.  The more goods we import, the more the revenue from the tariffs.  Tariffs were ultimately replaced by the income tax on individuals as the primary means for supporting our government, because President Woodrow Wilson thought tariffs caused wars.  Others think tariffs are the best way to raise revenue for the government, far better than income taxes.  Some tariffs still exist today.

A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, which are goods brought into our country from another country.  When a foreign country sent goods to the United States, our federal government would impose a "tariff" or surcharge on those goods as a condition for them to be sold in this country.  The more goods we import, the more the revenue there would be from the tariffs.  Tariffs were ultimately replaced by the income tax on individuals as the primary means for supporting our government, because President Woodrow Wilson thought tariffs caused wars.  Others think tariffs are the best way to raise revenue for the government, far better than income taxes.  Some tariffs still exist today.

A tariff often has a protective effect on domestic (United States) businesses by increasing the costs of their competition.  If you owned a factory that produced computers, and there was a tariff imposing a $100 tax on all imported computers, then you would be thrilled because you could undersell the competition and make more profits.  Tariffs were often used to protect developing domestic industries, but were disliked by the South because the tariffs did not help them sell more cotton.  In fact, tariffs hurt them because it made it more costly for the farmers to buy the equipment and other materials they needed to produce their cotton.

A tariff often has a protective effect on domestic (United States) businesses by increasing the costs of their competition.  If you owned a factory that produced computers, and there was a tariff imposing a $100 tax on all imported computers, then you would be thrilled because you could undersell the competition and make more profits.  Tariffs were often used to protect developing domestic industries, but were disliked by the South because the tariffs did not help them sell more cotton.  In fact, tariffs hurt them because it made it more costly for the farmers to buy the equipment and other materials they needed to produce their cotton.

In sum, remember this:  a "protective tariff: is a tax on imports which both raises money to fund the federal government '''and''' protects domestic manufacturers against imports.  An example today of a protective tariff would be a tax on the importation of Toyota cars in order to raise money and help General Motors and Ford compete more easily.

In sum, remember this:  a "protective tariff" is a tax on imports which both raises money to fund the federal government '''and''' protects domestic manufacturers against imports.  An example today of a protective tariff would be a tax on the importation of Toyota cars in order to raise money and help General Motors and Ford compete more easily.

By 1800 decisions about tariffs and all other federal laws were being made in the marshy land now known as the District of Columbia.  This was a compromise between the North and the South.  Our capital was initially in New York City, but then Hamilton brokered a compromise with Jefferson whereby the capital would move to Philadelphia in 1791 for ten years, and then in D.C. starting in 1800.  In exchange, Hamilton was able to have the federal government assume the war debt.  So Washington suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion by riding from Philadelphia, not from Washington, D.C., because the capital was in Philadelphia at that time.

By 1800 decisions about tariffs and all other federal laws were being made in the marshy land now known as the District of Columbia.  This was a compromise between the North and the South.  Our capital was initially in New York City, but then Hamilton brokered a compromise with Jefferson whereby the capital would move to Philadelphia in 1791 for ten years, and then to D.C. starting in 1800.  In exchange, Hamilton was able to have the federal government assume the war debt.  So Washington suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion by riding from Philadelphia, not from Washington, D.C., because the capital was in Philadelphia at that time.

This class we focus on the period from 1800 to 1840.

This class we focus on the period from 1800 to 1840.

After becoming president, Jefferson remained so afraid of speaking that he refused to read his annual address to Congress, instead insisting on sending it to Congress in written form.<ref name="Jefferson"/>  On other occasions he would have someone else read his speech for him.

After becoming president, Jefferson remained so afraid of speaking that he refused to read his annual address to Congress, instead insisting on sending it to Congress in written form.<ref name="Jefferson"/>  On other occasions he would have someone else read his speech for him.

But Jefferson benefit from the formation of political parties.  John Adams, the incumbent president in 1800, was a member of the "Federalist Party," which was strong in the northeast (especially Massachusetts).  It favored a strong national government, friendly dealings with England, and a liberal interpretation of the Constitution ("loose constructionism").  In opposition to this party, the Democratic-Republican Party formed to represent the opposite:  a weak national government (keeping the power at a local level), friendly dealings with France, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution ("strict constructionism").  The Democratic-Republican Party was strongest in Virginia.  Politics is a team sport, and the fortunes of political candidates rose or fell based on the strength of the political party at that time (the same is true today).   

Jefferson benefited from the formation of political parties.  John Adams, the incumbent president in 1800, was a member of the "Federalist Party," which was strong in the northeast (especially Massachusetts).  It favored a strong national government, friendly dealings with England, and a liberal interpretation of the Constitution ("loose constructionism").  In opposition to this party, the Democratic-Republican Party formed to represent the opposite:  a weak national government (keeping the power at a local level), friendly dealings with France, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution ("strict constructionism").  The Democratic-Republican Party was strongest in Virginia.  Politics is a team sport, and the fortunes of political candidates rose or fell based on the strength of the political party at that time (the same is true today).   

In 1800, when the Federalist Party leader John Adams was President, the Democratic-Republican Party ran Thomas Jefferson (who had founded the party) against him in the presidential election.

In 1800, when the Federalist Party leader John Adams was President, the Democratic-Republican Party ran Thomas Jefferson (who had founded the party) against Adams in the presidential election.

The presidential election in 1800 became known as the "[[Revolution of 1800]]," because it was the first '''''peaceful''''' change in power due to election in modern history.   

The presidential election in 1800 became known as the "[[Revolution of 1800]]," because it was the first '''''peaceful''''' change in power due to election in modern history: the group in power, the Federalist Party, had been defeated by a group not in power, the Democratic-Republican Party.  The Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, were victorious over the incumbent John Adams.<ref>Thomas Jefferson had been John Adams Vice President, which seems odd today.</ref>  The victory by Jefferson and Burr against Adams was a victory for limited government and a "strict constructionist" interpretation of the Constitution.

At the time, the electoral college voted for both president and vice president.  Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, each received 73 electoral votes.  Thus, the vote was thrown into the House of Representatives.

At the time, the electoral college voted for both president and vice president.  Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, each received 73 electoral votes.  It made sense that everyone who voted for Jefferson would also vote for his running mate, since both were with the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans.  But the inability of the election system to resolve this "tie" reflected a mistake in the Constitution in how Presidents and Vice Presidents were chosen, which had to be fixed by the [[12th Amendment]].  Prior to the 12th Amendment, the House of Representatives had to resolve the tie.

In the House of Representatives, many Federalists supported Burr and liked him more than Jefferson.  At last, the House of Representatives elected Jefferson on the thirty-sixth ballot.

In the House of Representatives, many Federalists supported Burr and liked him more than Jefferson.  But Burr was actually a bad guy.  As the grandson of [[Jonathan Edwards]], Burr had access and wealth, and a good deal of charm.  Yet even the charitable [[George Washington]], who got along well with everyone, felt compelled to banish Burr during the Revolution.  Now the House of Representatives needed to choose between Burr and Jefferson as to which would be President.

Thus, the Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, were victorious over the incumbent John Adams.<ref>Thomas Jefferson had been John Adams Vice President, which seems odd today.</ref> The victory by Jefferson and Burr against Adams was a victory for limited government and a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution.

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew that Burr was rotten to the core. So Hamilton persuaded congressmen to make Jefferson President.  He said that Burr was "the most unfit man in the United States for the office of president."  Some suspect that Jefferson privately cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as President than Jefferson would have otherwise.  After many "ballots" (votes), the House of Representatives at long last elected Jefferson on the thirty-sixth (36th) ballot.

Jefferson and his running mate, [[Aaron Burr]], won the same number of votes and thus tied for President.  It made sense that everyone who voted for Jefferson would also vote for his running mate, since both were with the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans.  But the inability of the election system to resolve this "tie" reflected a mistake in the Constitution in how Presidents and Vice Presidents were chosen, which had to be fixed by the [[12th Amendment]].  Prior to the 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.

Jefferson had a surprise waiting for him when he was sworn into the office of President.  Before President Adams left office, Congress passed a Judiciary Act which created new federal courts.  President Adams immediately appointed Federalist judges to all of the new positions.

When Jefferson took office, he refused to pay the salaries of these "midnight judges" appointed by Adams.  This led to the famous court case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a provision of the Judiciary Act to be unconstitutional.  This was the first time that the Supreme Court held a federal law to be unconstitutional.

 

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew that Burr was rotten to the core.  So Hamilton persuaded Congress to make Jefferson President.  He said that Burr was "the most unfit man in the United States for the office of president." Some suspect that Jefferson privately cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as President than Jefferson would have otherwise.

 

Jefferson turned out to be an excellent president.  Although he despised public speaking, he was intelligent and well-versed in relations with Europe.  He eliminated unnecessary taxes such as the whiskey tax and decreased the size of government.

 

Before President Adams left office, Congress passed a Judiciary Act which created new federal courts.  President Adams immediately appointed Federalist judges to all of the new positions. 

 

When Jefferson arrived, he immediately repealed the Judiciary Act and impeached a few judges.  This led to the famous court case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a federal law to be unconstitutional for the first time.

== Jefferson Administration ==

== Jefferson Administration ==