homework...

Keith Byam October 30, 2009 US History Homework

1a. Henry Knox (Department of War) Thomas Jefferson (Department of State) Edmund Randolph (Attorney General) Alexander Hamilton (Department of the Treasury)

1b. Washington influenced future presidents in many ways. Washington being the first president was considered a great choice by the people, the wanted Washington to be president since the Constitutional Convention. Presidents after Washington wanted to be like him because he was a great leader (during the French and Indian war, Revolutionary War), smart and creative man (drafted the United States Constitution). He was known for having a top cabinet that was able to aid him more to help the people of America. Presidents after Washington were known to try to do the same thing and have a strong cabinet (example Obama’s cabinet). Washington was a president during wars and inequalities but was still able to prevail, with the help of foreign aid, strong militaries, and great wealth. Presidents like FDR, Nixon and more, when in wars such as WW2, Vietnam, Gulf War try to follow Washington’s tactics to overcome the problems and get there country out of national debt soon.

2a. The main features of Hamilton’s economic plan were to bring the government more income/revenue. Hamilton’s plan also talked about establishing a national bank which would control and maintain the government’s income, credit and make loans to the government. Hamilton came up with this plan because America was in great debt with foreign nations, private lenders and soldiers.

2b. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were the main leaders who opposed the state taxes, they opposed the taxes because the Northern states had a greater debt than the Southern states. If Hamilton’s plan were to be implemented the Southern states would be paying taxes for other states. Alexander Hamilton wanted his plan to go through, so Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and himself came up with a compromise over dinner. The compromise stated that the capital would be in Virginia if the Madison favors the plan.

3a. Jefferson and Hamilton disagree on the bank bill because it came back to the pervious argument about strict and loose construction. Hamilton’s plan falls under loose construction, to Jefferson the national bank idea is not stated in the constitution and therefore shouldn’t be passed. Some like the national bank should be the decision of the state, which was an ideology Jefferson believed in (more power left to the states).

3b. The two opposing points of view were strict and loose construction. These points of view were different ways to interpret the constitution. Loose constitution meant that what is not stated in the constitution can be made by the government. Loose constitution was favorable to people depending on the law and government officials because they could come up with laws that “helped the people of America” but it really helped them. Strict construction meant that the constitution was clear cut and wasn’t open for interpretation. This in some sense is bad because just like life nothing is clear cut, the writers of the constitution can’t state everything something have to be left for the president. If the constitution stated everything the government could do then the need for the government would be unnecessary. And when writing the constitution the people can’t know what problems is going to occur in hundreds of years on in the future, thus they cant state something for all drawbacks.

3c. If the growth of the country was limited to strict construction America would be poor. Throughout history the president has bended the rules to his will which have in the past benefited the country. America would have more allies and there would be less global tension. The USSR would still be a superpower. Though there won’t be some of the problems America has faced in the pass. The Great Depression would never occur because there is no national bank, there would still be a liquor ban because the 22nd amendment won’t be pass. In some ways having a strict construction would help the America because it would keep them from hurting and taking over smaller countries, but in other ways it would hurt America because we wouldn’t be a super power and would be able to fully run a government.