Chapter 10 & 11 Us History

Chapter 10:

1. What were the most important issues facing the new federal government, and how did the Washington administration address them?

Americans thoughts about the central government were that they were evil, they distrusted them because of King George III. The revenue had declined to a trickle, the public debt with interest was huge, there was worthless paper money (both state and national), and metallic money was scarce. Washington established a cabinet of men, the Secretary of State (Jefferson), Secretary of the Treasury (Hamilton), and Secretary of War (Knox). This cabinet was so dutiful they actually had homework and meetings gradually evolved into the Washington administration. He commanded his followers by strength of character rather than by the arts of politics.

2. Explain the purpose and significance of the Bill of Rights. Did these Ten Amendments significantly weaken federal authority, or actually enhance it?

The Bill of Rights purpose was to safeguard some of the most precious American principles. It protected freedom of religion, speech, and the press; the right to bear arms and be tried by a jury, and the right to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances. The significance of it was to define the guarantees of individual rights and states ratified the Constitution thinking that such reforms would be amended into the Constitution. The Bill of Rights enhanced federal authority because it preserved a strong central government by issuing these god given rights to men.

3. What were Hamilton’s basic economic and political goals, and how did he attempt to achieve them?

He wanted to shape the fiscal policies of the administration (Articles of Confederation) in such a way as to favor the wealthier groups; which would lead them to gratefully lend the government money and political support. His first goal was to bolster the national credit, he urged Congress to “fund” the entire national debt “at par” and to assume...