View source for American History Homework Three Answers - Student 32

My apologies for the late submission. I always write out my homework ahead of time, and due to shared internet times I'll submit it the day of class. However yesterday (Thursday) I was entirely out of it (spawning such brilliance as 'monopulated') and forgot to submit my homework. Either way, here it is:

: No problem!

Joe B

American History Homework Three

1.	One weakness of the Articles of Confederation would be that concerning foreign policy. The federal government was so physically impaired as a result of the Articles that it could not maintain its own borders, nor uphold the provisions of its own treaties (as it could not impose such provisions upon the states effectively). Another weakness of the Articles of Confederation was its financial inability. There were no federal taxes, and the federal government could not force the states to contribute to the upkeep of central government.

: Not "would be", but "was".  Good analysis otherwise.

2.	Article I of the Constitution establishes Congress and the powers of Congress. Article II of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch and the powers thereof. Article III of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court.

: Good, but could add what those powers can do.

3.	George Washington’s patriotism, or commitment to the country, was perhaps his most admirable characteristic. Though he was not a skilled tactician, or a brilliant diplomat, he still managed to win independence for the colonies (thereby becoming the United States) and protect that independence during the formative years of the Constitution. His commitment to the American people was further displayed through his willingness to step aside when the nation no longer needed him. Though he could have probably obtained anything he asked of the American people, and could indeed have served in command until his very death, he felt that American independence had been far too dearly bought to be placed subservient to his own ambition. 

: Excellent!
 
4.	The most important invention of the 1790s was Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, which enabled the increased production of cotton (as one machine could do the work of 50 men) in the South. Due to this the South became even more of an economic powerhouse, and in fact became the biggest producer of cotton in the world.

: Good.

5.	The political cartoon looks as though it depicts the ratification of the United States Constitution. The title reads “Federal Superstructure” and the pillars of this superstructure, each in representation of one of the states who has achieved ratification, are the foundation upon which the whole is built. Another interesting clue is that the sixth state to ratify the Constitution, Massachusetts, is depicted as being the sixth pillar being put into position by what would seem to be heavenly means. All the states being in order of ratification, and Massachusetts being the one currently put into its place in the Federal Superstructure, the cartoon seems to specifically reference Massachusetts’s ratification of the Constitution, or at least the anticipation thereof. The argument at the time this was most likely drawn was whether or not the Constitution should be ratified by the states; the Federalists thought it should, whereas the Anti-Federalists believed that it should not. Due to the cartoon’s heavenly involvement in aligning Massachusetts with the other ratifying states it is most likely that the cartoon was written from the perspective of a Federalist.

: Superb analysis.  Don't need an 's after Massachusetts.

6.	The most important achievement of the Articles of Confederation was the establishment of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787. One significant achievement of the Northwest Ordinance was that it set a precedent for the creation of new states, with a specific process on how they were to be developed as territories and eventually admitted to the Union as states. A second significant achievement of the Northwest Ordinance was its protection of individual rights, such as religious freedom, which foreshadowed the later adoption of such individual rights as a part of the Bill of Rights.

: Excellent.

7.	The most significant part of the John Adams presidency was the signing into law of the Alien and Sedition Acts and the reaction of the states to the acts. The Alien Act gave the Executive Branch the authority to deport immigrants, and the Sedition Act made it illegal to criticize the federal government (that is in spirit, the actual legislation was a bit more drawn out and less to the point). The opposing party, the Democratic-Republican Party, and the leaders of the party (Jefferson and Madison) saw this as being directed specifically at them and drafted state resolutions to nullify the acts as unconstitutional. This set a precedent for the Southern states to later attempt to nullify federal laws and secede from the Union.

: Superb.

: Well done.  In fact, perfect:  70/70.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 19:05, 4 October 2008 (EDT)
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