What conclusions about motive or what some might refer to as “original intent,” can be reached in a fair assessment of the issue?

Instructions: Choose FOUR of the possible seven questions below and submit answers in essay format
1.) There are characteristics of the American Constitution that most scholars agree upon. What are some of those characteristics? Using a historio-graphical approach, trace the various schools of thought concerning the motive or motives of those who supported ratification of the Constitution. What conclusions about motive or what some might refer to as “original intent,” can be reached in a fair assessment of the issue?
2.) Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s first Treasury Secretary articulated a set of political ideas and values that have had enormous consequences on American life. Always opposed by his colleague, Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Hamilton’s influence on both Washington’s administration and the future of American politics was nevertheless long term and multi-faceted. First, draw a comparative between Hamilton and Jefferson in broad, philosophical terms, and then describe the dominant characteristics of the tradition associated with Hamilton using specific examples to support your description. Finally, analyze Hamilton’s economic program making sure to include in the analysis how each part reflected his political point of view.
3.) A competing set of socio-political ideas and values emerged from the fertile minds of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Using ample specific data to support your analysis, analyze the dominant characteristics of what we know today as “Jeffersonianism.” Take a close look at Jefferson’s Presidential decisions and evaluate whether he, as President, was a “good Jeffersonian.”
4.) Describe the two basic approaches to foreign policy making and use examples to show how each approach might influence foreign policy decision making. Taking special care to notice the tradition used by the founding generation, trace the foreign policy issues in the early republic from Washington’s administration to the 1820s.
5.) The United States after the War of 1812 experienced a surge in the spirit of nationalism. Two events symbolize the era known as “the era of good feelings.” What were these events and how do they function as symbols for the era? What factors both contribute to and reflect the upsurge in nationalism after 1814?
6.) Analyze the components of a democracy. Isolate the evidence of democracy’s growth leading to Jackson’s election. Where did the Jacksonians most usually seek to extend democratic values? What Jacksonian policies reflected this interest? Describe the positive and negative aspects of democracy.
7.) Describe the nature of the Whig Party. What interest groups were dominant in its leadership? Who were some of the party’s leaders and what were their policies? How did the election of 1840 reflect the power of the new democratic ethos?

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